Oil slurper

[bonester]

Was thinking today about your bike Bill. My 01 ZRX has had the airbox to carb rubbers go hard and appear to shrink, so much so that I can't get the airbox back on properly now. Left as it is, unfiltered air would be getting to the carbs, and wearing the engine. Was wondering how yours look? My intake rubbers aren't too flash either and my bike has (if you believe the speedo) 90000km on it. Airbox rubbers are $100 a set, genuine and inlet manifolds $120 a set. Not too much coin considering how much reconditioning is going on.

[billwest]

Thanks mate, all mine are still in good nick, either side of the carbs. 125,000km on the clock.

[bonester]

Good to hear. Previous owner left my bike out in the sun A LOT. My other ZRX is mickey mouse at 63000km coz I look after it. No excess sun exposure.

[billwest]

How is the rebuild progressing, and can I ask how much it is costing?

I have the bike back from the workshop. I had them re-install the rings, pistons and barrels, as well as the reconditioned head. That way they could shim it correctly. All the bits before they went back on looked like new.

All up it is costing me around $1600, including parts (rings, gaskets, valve stem seals, etc). A fair bit of that is labour, such as cleaning up the head, cutting valve seats, cleaning up the pistons and barrels.

Now to put the rest of the bike back together.
I have an Akrapovic system waiting to go on, which means I have to go back to my OEM oil filter, instead of the spin-on. Off come the original headers (which are restricted), and the Yoshi bolt-on.

Can't wait to ride this one again.

[bonester]

Sounds fair. Cost me a grand in parts to do a rebore on my GT550, with me doing the labour.

[billwest]

The REX is back on the road after the rebuild. I'm currently running it in, so taking it easy.
It almost sounds like a sewing machine, and runs very nicely.
The Akrapovic full system is the ant's pant, the bee's knees. Can't wait till the run-in is done.
Big weight saving over the original headers.
Now, what to do with my Yoshi bolt-on?

[bonester]

Awesome it is back. Have you seen this about running in?

http://mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

[billwest]

Aha! Might just do that, although I have just done 250km "nice and easy".

[billwest]

Well, I did just that. I found a nice bit of road north of Perth, about 30km in length. I rode up and back, mostly 3rd and 4th gear, around 7000 RPM
Faark that thing goes with the new pipes! Much better than OEM headers, even with an 18-tooth front sprocket.

Anyway, here it is, at around 126,000 km:



(PhotoBucket chopped off the front wheel...)

[bonester]

Kewl. Forgot it is an S model.