Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

...plus other stuff.

How much slack do you guys 'n gals have in your throttles?

I had the ZZR in for its 48k service and it went in with no slack and came out with 10-15mm of slack...i.e. you twist the throttle and it does nada for the first 10-15mm. Which is f&%king annoying to say the least. If I remember correctly the last time I had my bike serviced elsewhere the dealer did the same thing (which was also f&%king annoying). I normally tighten the bugger up until the slightest twist has an effect - any comments?

The service wasn't too bad, but I had to cop a couple of tyres. The guys recommended Dunlop D220s, they don't seem too bad, although atm I'm riding like the bike is made of glass.

Does anyone use Chain Wax? My new chain is rusting internally and they wanted to replace it...and the sprockets . I'm guessing I'm either not using the stuff properly (maybe the chain isn't warm enough??), or it's not getting into the chain internals. Not happy Jan.

I prefer having no slack and adjust it accordingly.

Mick there should be a little slack to allow the cable to return to the pre set idle when you wind off ... the last thing you would want is not enough slack & the carbs stay open a little when you are trying to come to a stop ... this is definetly more annoying

With the tyres, they will scrub in pretty quick just have a look at the tyre & see the difference of the surface where it has worn.... you basically just need to scrub off the surface layer ... just avoid the wet if possible & when the tyres have warmed up a little during a ride then just ride normally... when we use new race tyres we will just ride at 80 % for 1-2 laps then go for it... just takes a little heat & little less throttle to begin with ... you will be amazed at the new feel you get with perfectly rounded fresh tyres.

with the chain wax it may make allot of mess but use it as much as the chain needs.... you have got to remember that it flings off & needs constant replacement... better than replacing your chain too often... my chains cost round 300 clams for an X ring & can get 2 seasons from 1 chain & thats using wax every race meeting + cleaning with kero to get rid of the crap that gets picked up along the way....

Good Luck dude

Mick
slack??
my book for the GPx says set it 3-5mm at the grip end
for both cables
but I set it about 5-8mm..personal preference
which means I tend not to get any jigging around
comes from riding a few bikes over the years
(like the GPzTurbo) that asked you to be nice with the
throttle or you you got spat orf...

whats ya service manual recommend?
mind you
15mmm seems a bit much, reckon you would run outta wrist
action before the throttle actually worked...

chain wax?
I don't use it, I use one of the other chain lubes
Castrol Belray or Shell,

they look after the bike??? clean all back together??

cheers

Some free play should exist. I'd never have none.

I have very little, but I also find it is what ya useta, got mine back from the last service with 0+ 1mm and of course it felt more responsive immediatly not that it actually was.

Smitty wrote:whats ya service manual recommend?
mind you
15mmm seems a bit much, reckon you would run outta wrist
action before the throttle actually worked...

chain wax?
I don't use it, I use one of the other chain lubes
Castrol Belray or Shell,

they look after the bike??? clean all back together??

cheers

The manual says 2-3 mm, which is what I had. The trouble being they have loosened something at the carby end of the cable and not wound the adjustment at the bars back in before they put it back together. Therefore I reckon I'll run out of adjustment before it's right, and I'll have to pull the tank off to fix it permanently. Given I've just paid nearly $900 on the bugger I feel disinclined to do so atm, but will have to by Monday.

Wrist action? Damn near impossible to blip on downshifts, the blip is soaked up by the slack. Changing up is also crap as the bike doesn't accelerate for a second or so when you wind on. I tried to not let it go back to the end of the slack and keep it at the point where the throttle starts to do something, but it's a bit hit & miss.

The Chain Wax is embedded in the wall of the shed

Bike's not too bad, bit greasy with some evil grey (lithium?) grease. I will be exceptionally pissed off if it's on my new jacket. Goes well in a straight line, I'm just a bit skittish with the new tyres.

Another thing. If you're sitting at the lights with the bike in first and the the clutch pulled in should the bike jerk slightly when you let the clutch out (oh so slowly as the throttle's NQR) just as the clutch bites?

I have none but the adjustment is pretty fine otherwise you come into a 20kish hairpin roll off the throttle and there is a bloody great deadspot where all that slack is and its a pain in the arse.

You dont want it to be so tight that it doesnt close by itself though.

I run as little slack as I can (and a 5th turn insert for 72deg from idle to WOT instead of the normal 90deg)

Idea? why not fit a 1/4 turm racing throttle so goooo to wooooow is a slight movement of the wrist

Got one on the sidecar & instant response is an understatement

Seriously .... on two stroke race bikes Ive had I used to have the cable wound on so there was no slack infact it was staying off the stop screw this allowed for higher revs in tight corners & prevented being able to back off totally as you would on a four stroke...

I think your best bet is to try different positions & find the one that feels comfortable for you

robracer wrote:Idea? why not fit a 1/4 turm racing throttle so goooo to wooooow is a slight movement of the wrist

Stock was 1/4 turn - 90degrees.
Now 1/5 turn - 72degress

Sory steve did not read your post correctly must be the time

Slack was able to be adjusted out without a tank removal

Grease wasn't on my new jacket

New chain lube seems to fling off onto the rim, comes off in a couple of minutes though

...and I've calmed down after 90mins in rush-hour traffic in unfamiliar surrounds with new tyres and a much lighter wallet

Thanks to everyone for their help.

Mick
hows the bike to ride..??
all sweet..?

Smitty wrote:Mick
hows the bike to ride..??
all sweet..?

Too early to tell, all I've done so far is ride her home from Brighton in rush hour, new tyres, no idea WTF I was going, a head cold, cantankerous throttle and it was dark

It should be ok, and I'll soon tell this week as I'm commuting into the city until VLine deigns to return the trains to the tracks.

BTW, the were right, nice bunch of guys 'n gals and Ken speaks well of you . Surprising number of bikes in a small shop as well...

BTW, whereis.com.au is a SHIT site. It should be named whereitmaybeifyou'refarkinglucky.com.au, it put 881 Nepean Highway Brighton East near the corner with Bay Street, when it's actually farking miles away....as I found out walking to the train. I had no idea where the hell I was and it took me 45 minutes and a stop in a milk bar asking directions to walk approx 3.5 km to North Brighton Station. My feet still ache, the boots aren't the best for hiking in

In hindsight the Number 64 tram would have been a better option, although it does take nearly an hour and seems to stop every 15-20 metres. Even Middle Brighton Station was closer...and when I got to work my boss asked me why I didn't call him and he would have picked me up on the way into work