Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

hi im new so i dont want any techno talk.
i want to bring my bike up to todays bikes(add ons)
what sorta stuff can i do to add some more power look in the bike
everything is stock as it was in 1987

any ideas would be great $$$ is a bit tight but i will get my prioritys right and do one by one haha

Mate - before anyone else says this - let me be the first.

You want to bring your bike up to todays bikes.....and you want more power or more look ?

Take a tip - trade it in on a mid-90's ZX6R. That will give you the power and a pretty current look.

But.........if you really want to pour money into a 23-yo bike, then you need to start with the basics...

A set of 17" wheels with decent rubber. Expect to pay about a grand for a set of wheels with good rubber. These may come with disc rotors, they may not. If they need rotors and calipers and a m/c - expect to pay another $500 (min) for all this.

Replace the crappy front suspension with some late-model forks. To buy the forks and set them up properly, expect to pay between $400-$600 for the forks, and another $500 to set them up properly with the right springs, valving and damping. You will then need a custom set of triple clamps (or modified stock clamps, done by an engineering workshop) - custom triples are about $1000, a set of modified OEM clamps will be about $300.

A new rear shock will be just about mandatory in a stock bike that is 23 years old. A good Wilburs shock will cost you around $1500. A good Ohlins will be more. Don't forget to replace all the suspension bearings as well....a couple of hundred here...

To replace all the bodywork, and give it a 'power look' (wtf?) - then a set of race-glass for a ZX6 will cost you around a grand. That is just the cost of supply. You will need to modify the glass to suit, and also make up all your own brackets.

There is a short list, it already runs to about what, $5000+ ??

And we have not even started on engine mods yet, to get the 'power' bit happening.....without even starting to look at costs of parts or labour - bank on at least $2000 as a starting point.

Honestly - a GPz600R in good condition, will be worth far more. If I were in your shoes, I would just do a restoration of what already have ( which will cost enough anyway) - and be happy with it.

You could easily spend >$8000 on doing this bike up to be as good as a current model bike - which it never will be anyway, no matter how much money you throw at it.

Gosling1 wrote:no matter how much money you throw at it.

what if u throw a hammer at it?

But on a serious note, Gos is right... 8k is a lot of money to throw at an old bike, i spent at least 1.5 - 2k fixing up my old Gt550, fixed the engine but it still needed more money to fix it up right... new discs, suspension, wiring harness... too much hassle

In my opinion... get a ZX-6R and do it up

Goodluck anyway on what you do

8K jezz ok guys scrap that idea, restoration idea new shocks? just the bare basics for the rider

I say ride it stock - as Kawasaki designed it - and save your money for a 2nd bike.

then you will have two bikes!

metaltriumph wrote:I say ride it stock - as Kawasaki designed it - and save your money for a 2nd bike.

then you will have two bikes!

+1

I ride an '87 Gpz500 - completely stock except for the pipes (best part of the bike actually ). Do your maintenance, ride it, have fun, work towards a newer bike

utekid2 wrote:....8K jezz ok guys scrap that idea, restoration idea new shocks? just the bare basics for the rider....

If you check with Walter at YSS Suspension (located in Adelaide) - he can talk to you about a new rear shock for the 600. And a set of fork springs. Just these 2 things (well, three actually ) will transform the bike.

A good 4-1 exhaust, jet it properly (on a dyno) - and you will have a great little bike to belt around on.

ok thanks gosling