London noob just bought a 7r - with questions!

[R84]

Hi all,

Thought i'd introduce myself - just picked up a 14K mile zx7r P5 for first big bike and although she's heavy I'm really enjoying it. I have a few questions if I may...

The bike has just ticked over to 14K Miles. I think it needs brake fluid and for peace of mind i'd like to get a full service done including the valve clearances - it is main dealer stamped to 12K, would it be worthwhile going to a dealer again? Could they do the 15K service early? What would I expect to pay for this? (London)

Tyre pressures - 36F 41R I have read is too hard - I'm only 70kg - how would 36F 38R work? I have BT-014s if that helps.

It came with a motad can fitted and a Yoshimura GP force can which sounds nice enough, but I noticed the bike has Akrapovic headers. The spring hook is still present near the can, it has just had a 3 stud fitment jubilee clipped on that the Motad/Yosh bolt to. I guess it had an Akra can at some point which was sold separately. Would it be worthwhile getting hold of an Akrapovic can?

Unsure whether this may be related but i've noticed the bike bogs a little under full throttle in 2nd 3rd before getting up and going - could this be a carb issue? I have no idea what if anything has been done inside. There is a receipt for 'dyno time and dynojet kit fitting' - what can that was with I have no idea. Would you recommend more dyno time and setup? Presumably when I've decided on the can. (I'm curious as to HP anyway )

Suspension - the rear shock as far I can tell has around an inch of compression and no discernible rebound. No idea what the ride height is set as. I'd like to know that everything is set up to a reasonable baseline and condition - after 14K miles is it time to consider an upgrade? Rebuild?

I was told that the forks were rebuilt - with what and to what spec I don't know. They do have some cool looking adjusters on the top nuts but theyre too stiff to move. Should I take these off and use a spanner to adjust them? The previous owner told me he "Dialled them right down so it dived" (...!) I want to put them back to standard settings.

Anything else I should know about these bikes and other tips much appreciated.

[Lord Danoir the first]

You have no idea how much excitement your post will be generating among our knuckleheaded fraternity...... we almost never get to answer technical q's regarding Kawasakis.

Welcome to the forum by the way.

[Dom1]

Welcome.

Not to say we don't know, I mean I don't know but some of the others might, but also try asking the above on http://zxr.redmonkey.org/ they are specialists in 7R's.

[R84]

Thanks for the welcome guys. I was actually aware of the redmonkey forum but can't seem to register on it, it hangs on a blank page. Tried the contact us link too, nothing. I don't think they're too bothered about new members!

[m6rk]

well it's nice to be a solid second choice forum contender... 

[MOzZereLLa]

well it's nice to be a solid second choice forum contender... 

Second - it's about 20th in my book......

[R84]

You were ahead of zxforums, pistonheads and BCF if that helps. Seems like the 7 is a bit of a cult bike these days so figured at the least a kawi specific forum would work!

[R84]

Can a mod move to general?

[Manic636]

Where is Bullet when you need him  (resident 7r fanatic and tech expert on them)

Welcome to the forum fella. With regards the shock front and back will probably need some servicing due to time rather than mileage and if the front has been rebuilt at some point then at least getting it serviced will give you some clue as to what they are along with hopefully giving you back some adjustability..

As to the bogging down you'd probably need to be more specific, is where in the rev range is it? Was there a curve printout for the dyno time, who did it when was it which can was on it.. Too many variables to get a solid answer but yes once you decide what can you are going to have then it's a good time to get it setup on a dyno again

Enjoy the forum

[Dom1]

I thought Bullet had ZXR750's not ZX7R's.

In terms of servicing, a major service with valve shims etc on my ZX6R was about £450-550 depending on how many shims needed chaning but I am not sure about London prices.

[R84]

I thought Bullet had ZXR750's not ZX7R's.

In terms of servicing, a major service with valve shims etc on my ZX6R was about £450-550 depending on how many shims needed chaning but I am not sure about London prices.

Cheers. I've heard that figure elsewhere as well so hopefully it'll be around that. Stupid question but will they do a 15k service at 14k?

[Green_Ninja]

I thought Bullet had ZXR750's not ZX7R's.

In terms of servicing, a major service with valve shims etc on my ZX6R was about £450-550 depending on how many shims needed chaning but I am not sure about London prices.

Cheers. I've heard that figure elsewhere as well so hopefully it'll be around that. Stupid question but will they do a 15k service at 14k?

they will if you ask them too - to be honest it's only 1k miles shy so it would be daft to do anything else

[David W]

Tyre pressures?  Stick with recommended.  Quite frankly on the road it makes zero difference and anyone suggesting otherwise is kidding themselves.

As for the dynojet and suspension questions?  It's anyone's guess what the previous owner, and ten years of ownership has done.  I'd be getting new fork oil in it for a starter.  The ZX7R forks were a bit weird in that the preload adjusters don't actually preload the springs at all, they just change the ride height but there were ways that this could be changed to work like traditional preload from memory.  'Rebuilt' could mean anything.

If you want a start point for the suspension, wind the compression damping in to 50% front and rear, and set the rebound at 75% of maximum.  I forget how many clicks that is.
Getting it on a dyno is a good idea, just to see what the fuel/air ratio is like.  It will give you an idea of anything needs doing, or what might have already been done.

How has the bike been maintained?  I'd be tempted to strip the shock linkages and re-grease them, head bearings and strip the brake calipers and see how it feels after that.

[Nat]

I'm afraid I can't answer any mechanical questions, but I loved the 7r.  I almost bought one but for the weight!

Photos required!!!

[the invisible dog]

Photos required!!!

I still want one of these 
and a yellow 748R and a...