Michel's Motors

[bobins]

I'm guessing that the perfect number of ZZR-1100's is n+1 ?

[Michel]

I'm guessing that the perfect number of ZZR-1100's is n+1 ?

Mrs. Michel begs to differ with such a point of view.

My cars - well, one is a Skoda Octvia, thus nothing to report at all, other than replacing the rear discs and pads as they were totally worn out. Obviously, with a Citroen I'd have noticed this some time ago as I'd have had to have the wheels off for *something*. As it was, I've not had any of the wheels off it since we bought it!

The other - the Xsara Picasso 2.0 HDi is just as reliable as the Skoda, and a whole hell of a lot more reliable than my neighbour's 2008 VW Passat TDi estate - so much so, that to avoid her shelling out £500+ to have the VW repaired and MOT'd, I lent her the Picasso for a couple of months and sorted the Passat for her myself, with occasional invaluable help from Mr. H. Razor. The Picasso performed perfectly taking her and her 6 year old to Paris and back, and when her parents came over from Poland, it took them on a couple of long road trips too. I've had the thing over a year now - I was only supposed to recomission it for a friend who has MH issues, but apart from his sister using it for a week when she was over from Oz, I've still got it! I'm growing rather fond of the old bus, despite the pano roof which whistles above 60mph. I'm almost tempted to take it to the South of France myself at the end of August. It'll need another service before that!

The bikes - yes, I bought another ZZR-1100. It's mechanically much better than my original one - as in it's done 20k less miles and had one careless owner since 1997. He's clearly spent lots on it but clearly not particularly maintained it. A curious mix - for example, the air filter didn't appear to have been changed for many, many years as it was utterly black. The engine oil? I don't know either. It's got an aftermarket (expensive, very expensive) stainless 4-2-1 exhaust on it, which needs to be removed *in it's entirety, from the headers* and dropped to remove the oil filter housing as the 2-1 part sits directly below it. Has it been done? Ever? Who knows.... So, this weekend, providing the gaskets arrive, I'll be dropping the exhaust off, changing the oil, and likely be replacing it with the exhaust off the older bike, which I have decided to keep as a spares machine. I also prefer the colour of the older machine, and both being D-Series ZZRs, the panels are all interchangeable.. that will also be this weekend's task, though I might start some of that later today. It's mainly the fairing lowers I need to change last, as the aftermarket exhaust fouls them and has burnt through the one on the older bike some time ago. My original bike also has much stuff on it that's well worth selling, such as an aftermarket seat from Corbin - £655 new, cheapest I can find on eBay is £299 s/h.. plus the horrid exhaust, another £150.. then it has two new tyres on it, recent good chain and sprockets, etc etc, so it's worth keeping as I can't sell it for what I'd lose out. Might as well keep it for bits.

One annoyance was that the new bike was the pre-1995 model, restricted to 125bhp rather than 147bhp. Fortunately, by swapping the carburettor tops over, this little thing can, and has been removed, so nwo we are back to full beans, though with the annoying exhaust that's very drony on the motorway, I don't really use more than about 20% of those ponies.

I did, at least this time, warn Mrs. Michel I was going to buy it, rather than just turning up with it..

[bobins]

You might already be well furnished with parts diagrams for your bikes, but if not -
you might want to click here ------> https://www.megazip.net/zapchasti-dlya- ... 1100-31581
My brother works for a major online bike parts company and they use that megazip site all the time.

[Michel]

You might already be well furnished with parts diagrams for your bikes, but if not -
you might want to click here ------> https://www.megazip.net/zapchasti-dlya- ... 1100-31581
My brother works for a major online bike parts company and they use that megazip site all the time.

That's great, thanks bobins!

I shall pass it on to my mechanic, as once I've got this bike how I like it, I'm giving up working on cars and bikes.

[Gibbo2286]

That's great, thanks bobins!

I shall pass it on to my mechanic, as once I've got this bike how I like it, I'm giving up working on cars and bikes.

I think I might do the same...……...soon.

[Michel]

That's great, thanks bobins!

I shall pass it on to my mechanic, as once I've got this bike how I like it, I'm giving up working on cars and bikes.

I think I might do the same...……...soon.

I'll take it up again when I retire Eric

[Michel]

Operation "Polished Turd" is progressing well. I'll upload some pics later on for those who may be interested. I realise that's very few, but what the hell..

So far, have swapped over the LED headlight, the carburettor tops, all the rear bodywork, handlebar risers, seat and brake/clutch levers from the old bike to the new. Later on I shall do the fuel tank, front fairing, and all the left hand fairings. I'll save the right hand fairing until the weekend when I swap the exhaust over.

[moizeau]

I vaguely remember something about that carb restriction. Is it just to stop the slides lifting fully, cheaper than putting smaller carbs on? If so, check the main jets are the same size.
How many millions did the latest one cost if that's not being too intrusive?

[Michel]

I vaguely remember something about that carb restriction. Is it just to stop the slides lifting fully, cheaper than putting smaller carbs on? If so, check the main jets are the same size.
How many millions did the latest one cost if that's not being too intrusive?

Yes, it's just to stop the slides lifting fully, the jet sizes are the same. Now it's been used for a few days, it seems to be running a lot, lot better - it's not been used much for a year or so.

£750 I paid for this one, one owner for 22 years, MOT until May next year. Parts of it have had an iffy respray - it's definitely a 10-yard bike, but it'll be wearing all but one panel from the other bike by this evening. I can't change the final panel untoil I've changed the exhaust, as the wide stainless pipe touches the bottom of the right fairing, and has burnt through the original. That panel stays on until the other exhaust which doesn't burn panels is on!

[moizeau]

Cracking, less than £1 per cc for both! A bit of a dodgy respray and an aftermarket exhaust. Has if been gently laid down? Why are you not keeping the 1st one intact. Good maintenance outshines low mileage. All the best with them.

[Michel]

The first bike is more worn chassis and frame wise. Looks like it might have been wheelied more as despite 2 lots of headstock bearings, they still shake a bit. The engine is also rattly - needs timing chain, tensioner, valve clearances. Parts alone more than the bike is worth. Rear shock is tired too. I'll get it rebuilt for the "new" bike and set up for a fatty..

New bike - clearly dropped at some point but the chassis and engine are tight as a drum. Just the horrible exhaust and panels let it down now..

Here it is this evening with all the panels from the old bike apart from the right lower fairing, as the silly exhaust doesn't fit right and has melted the old fairing. I'm not using it for a few days so the exhaust will be done first.

[Michel]

So, I have finished the turd-polishing of the Kawasaki ZZR-1100. It now is pretty sorted. I modified the fairing brackets to push them out far enough that the non-standard stainless exhaust won't melt them. I still want to swap the front mudguards as I think the other one looks cleaner. Also got LED instrument cluster bulbs to replace the ones in it, as half of them don't work anyway.

In Henley on Saturday night, mid test-run, to make sure nothing fell off or melted.

Henley Kwak

The only issues were the fact I'd forgotten to attach the fuel sender properly, so the fuel gauge went dead halfway round, and I'd forgotten to tighten the two bolts that hold the front of the tank down, but other than that, rides beautifully. I still need to do an oil filter change, which means dropping the exhaust but I'll put fresh oil in it again later, then run it for a few thousand miles before I do that.
I have more parts I *should* perhaps swap from the older bike, the wheels, chain and sprockets for one. The older bike has very good tyres and wheels on. The purists prefer the chrome, polished rims but I think I may prefer the black ones.

I also went to young Master Michel's cycling club family fun day, and did some showing off on a BMX. It appears every time I join in with the kids, or try to prove I'm not an old fart, I simply prove I am an old fart, and end up in hospital..

No real harm done, I didn't fall off, but all the jumping and tricks must have put a big load up my arms, shoulders and neck. I'd have thought wrestling a superbike around, lifting heavyish weights in the gym most days and keeping fit would generally mean I'd be ok, but no. I began to seize up in the evening, then couldn't sleep through pain. I went to hospital in the morning, to the little minor injuries unit in Henley. The nurse prodded me a couple of times, then next thing I know, I'm in a collar, strapped to a spinal board and on my way for neck x-rays in an Ambulance to Reading hospital. They were clear, no damage to vertebrae or discs, and I was sent on my way with a bollocking from the A&E doctor (a lady biker!) to act my age. It hurt for about 10 days!

Of course, as I'm a pillock, I cancelled my ankle operation on the 6th September, as curiously, during the time of my neck and back injury, it was pretty much ok.

OF COURSE IT WAS. I WAS OFF MY HEAD ON PAINKILLERS! IT WASN'T GOING TO HURT, WAS IT??

What a tw@t.

[Hell Razor5543]

Orange suits you! How long will it take to re-activate the operation?

[Michel]

Orange suits you! How long will it take to re-activate the operation?

I emailed them today. I'm lucky enough to get medical via work and these private places like their money, so they'll probably rearrange it pretty quickly.

Are you perhaps available to run some wheels to Reading for me on Wednesday? I don't have to be with them.... I'm going to get the tyre man to swap the bike wheels over as he has better lifting gear and knowledge. I do, however, need to get the wheels to him and ride the bike over. Mrs. Michel is away with the small one for a few days from tomorrow morning or I'd ask her to do it for me.

[Hell Razor5543]

Tuesday afternoon should work. Because of boating things (such as, we hope, an engine transplant) I will be helping Mum out on Wednesday for a change.