ZX7R Slappers

[Buck]

Never seen a road ZX7R wiff a steering damper. Old girl always feels stable as a rock one of the things I liked about her at first ride. Today halfway up Mt Tambourine I had my second fully violent lock to lock cant fuckin steer with my toes bitch slapper. The first one 6 months ago I put down to just freaky road surface and let it pass but this is nto confidence inspiring.
At the Track PI, QR and Broadford she is super stable excepting a gentle wave cresting the back straight at the latter.

Whats the technical first offender if any Im guessing rear pogo?
Anyone decided to put a steer damper on the 7 in the past?
Should I just slow down exiting corners on bumpy tar?
This doing the funcky chicken at high speed aint good
Disco Buck

[zenodamper]

Bit of both is quite likely if she is getting on a bit... the shock may need some fresh fluid; may have lost gas too!

The other thing to consider here besides the fork oil having potentially gone too thin, is that most of the 7Rs did not have front preload adjustment - the adjuster they had instead was for ride-height. Feasibly the springs might need some extra spacing; i.e. they might have shortened a little over time...

Check your rider sags vs. static sag differences - the answer might be there.

[6maniac]

G'day zenodamper & welcome to our strange (Neka) but happy (ZZRCHIKKY) place! If u r not careful u will end up with ur own thread as a diagnostic suspension tech. BTW - what do u recommend for the ER-6n arse end? (gratuitous or what?)

[zenodamper]

BTW - what do u recommend for the ER-6n arse end? (gratuitous or what?)

Did you see the one featured in Rapid a whiles back? Had all the WP bits n bobs; actually looked like quite the little intra-metro zooming weapon - or maybe that's just the hoon in me?

One of these:-



..and some slightly sportier fork springs...

PS: I will be posting up a whole list of recommendations and approximate cost bands in the near future - there will be a lot of special prices on shocks and other stuff available only to KSRC members (with Kawasaki's mind!); so just hang in there, and I will likewise price up the ER-6 at the same time!

[Buck]

Bit of both is quite likely if she is getting on a bit... the shock may need some fresh fluid; may have lost gas too!

The other thing to consider here besides the fork oil having potentially gone too thin, is that most of the 7Rs did not have front preload adjustment - the adjuster they had instead was for ride-height. Feasibly the springs might need some extra spacing; i.e. they might have shortened a little over time...

Check your rider sags vs. static sag differences - the answer might be there.

Thanks James
Both the bike and I are old and mildly saggy and although tall, my rideheight clears all bridges and has not shortened over time im not even grey yet! Your advice is overpowering for my feeble technicals but obviously I should see my nanaponti wizard of measurements or barra bob before i bin her. Cheers again

[6maniac]

Cheers mate - look forward to it!

[Lone Wolf]

is that most of the 7Rs did not have front preload adjustment

ummm, never seen a 7R without it actually, both of mine have had it.

Buck, have you raised the rear at all, or stock height? That can do it. I have had mine slap twice, but only on extremely bumpy roads and at high speed

[MadKaw]

is that most of the 7Rs did not have front preload adjustment

ummm, never seen a 7R without it actually, both of mine have had it.

Buck, have you raised the rear at all, or stock height? That can do it. I have had mine slap twice, but only on extremely bumpy roads and at high speed

They have the preload adjuster there and it looks the same as other bikes but it doesn't actually load the spring, it alters the ride height.
You can get similar effect from adjusting it but it doesn't adjust sag in the same way as the std set ups..

[Gosling1]

...... PS: I will be posting up a whole list of recommendations and approximate cost bands in the near future - there will be a lot of special prices on shocks and other stuff available only to KSRC members (with Kawasaki's mind!); so just hang in there, and I will likewise price up the ER-6 at the same time!

I am *really* looking forward to that. The MFP12 has had some basic improvements done on the stock suspension, but I am sure with a bit of work it could be so much better........

[photomike666]

It probably is soft on the hangers, but check the head bearings and tyre wear too. These can be the little things that set the ball rolling and cascade into a full on head wag.

[Buck]

Buck, have you raised the rear at all, or stock height? That can do it. I have had mine slap twice, but only on extremely bumpy roads and at high speed

Thanks for that. I havnt as I just ride the feckin thing and dont poke around with the mechanicals but it would appear the previous owner did and maybe she is too arse high for the road.