Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Hey all,
i've owned my zxr250 for about a month and a half and the past week ive striped it down for a massive clean and shine.

Im getting most of the grease, dirt and grime but as ive opened it ive realised that its droped a fair amount of oil and now the oil reader near the sump is reading very low, the brake fluids are low and the water coolant is low.

Put this in mind its done 50 000ks and the previous owner reckons hes serviced it at 49 ish thou k'z.

Is it me or do i find something wrong here, the water, and brake fluids shoud not be that low because he said full service. With the oil i took of the left bottom fairing and its been dropping oil but not as much as it should lead to a empty sump.

I want to know at what reading should i know if the sump is full?
and since i need to completely service and top up whatever i need to top up. Any good products i should be using for it. Money is no object here.

I've also been riding it a bit ive only put about 350 k'z max on it, if these readings are that low does anyone reckon i may have caused damage internally or should everything be alright.

cheers fadi!

Everything should be fine.
Continue with your clean and shine as it will teach you things about your new bike.
To check oil level the bike should be upright. On the RH side of the engine case you should see a small glass sight window with an upper and lower mark. Check the level of the oil through that. Older bikes such as yours may be a little hard to read due to the window being stained and darkened. Use a torch to check the level if this is the case.
Given that you have recently purchased the bike and the history of this type of bike is grey at best. Replace all fluids with the specified amounts and monitor it from there.
If you are not sure on how to do this then ask or search around for someone in your neighbourhood that can help - where are you anyway?
Cleaning products for de-gunking a used motorcycle are pretty simple and can pretty much be sourced for relatively little cost.
1. Bag of rags from bunnings $6
2. While your at Bunnos grab a 3 pack of 1" cheapo paint brushes - use them to get into corners, cut them down a bit to make them stiffer if needed
3. Can or 2 of WD spray - cheap $2 stuff from Supercheap is the go. It dissolves built up chainlube and road grime from around the engine and rear wheel area
4. 500ml of Kero from either of the above purveyors - use it in a tin can or similar with one of the paint brushes to clean the chain then use a rag to wipe it dry. Leave for an hour or 2 before lightly lubricating again with chain lube. A little often is better than alot all at once.
5. Silicone spray - for tarting up hoses, cables and natural black plastic. Makes the seats look great too!
6. Once you have cleaned down the engine, frame, wheels and everything else in between refit your fairings and wash the bike with a bucket and sponge - dont use a hose or pressure washer. For detergant I have always used dishwashing liquid because it is non caustic and cannot damage the alloy or paint like car or truck detergent - plus it is cheap and works as well as a "specifically formulated" bike wash that works exactly the same but costs 5 times the price.
7. Good quality chamois to dry the bike and absorb pooled water - alternatively fire up the leaf blower and use it like an automotive hairdryer
8. Can of Mr Sheene. Undisputed best polish for motorcycle body work and plastics used with a soft cloth turned regularly.


I used to do this every sat morning










*Please dont use silicone, armourall, or mister sheene on the seat. And never on the tyres - this includes tyre black.

Slow and wobbly wrote:Everything should be fine.
Continue with your clean and shine as it will teach you things about your new bike.
To check oil level the bike should be upright. On the RH side of the engine case you should see a small glass sight window with an upper and lower mark. Check the level of the oil through that. Older bikes such as yours may be a little hard to read due to the window being stained and darkened. Use a torch to check the level if this is the case.
Given that you have recently purchased the bike and the history of this type of bike is grey at best. Replace all fluids with the specified amounts and monitor it from there.
If you are not sure on how to do this then ask or search around for someone in your neighbourhood that can help - where are you anyway?
Cleaning products for de-gunking a used motorcycle are pretty simple and can pretty much be sourced for relatively little cost.
1. Bag of rags from bunnings $6
2. While your at Bunnos grab a 3 pack of 1" cheapo paint brushes - use them to get into corners, cut them down a bit to make them stiffer if needed
3. Can or 2 of WD spray - cheap $2 stuff from Supercheap is the go. It dissolves built up chainlube and road grime from around the engine and rear wheel area
4. 500ml of Kero from either of the above purveyors - use it in a tin can or similar with one of the paint brushes to clean the chain then use a rag to wipe it dry. Leave for an hour or 2 before lightly lubricating again with chain lube. A little often is better than alot all at once.
5. Silicone spray - for tarting up hoses, cables and natural black plastic. Makes the seats look great too!
6. Once you have cleaned down the engine, frame, wheels and everything else in between refit your fairings and wash the bike with a bucket and sponge - dont use a hose or pressure washer. For detergant I have always used dishwashing liquid because it is non caustic and cannot damage the alloy or paint like car or truck detergent - plus it is cheap and works as well as a "specifically formulated" bike wash that works exactly the same but costs 5 times the price.
7. Good quality chamois to dry the bike and absorb pooled water - alternatively fire up the leaf blower and use it like an automotive hairdryer
8. Can of Mr Sheene. Undisputed best polish for motorcycle body work and plastics used with a soft cloth turned regularly.


I used to do this every sat morning










*Please dont use silicone, armourall, or mister sheene on the seat. And never on the tyres - this includes tyre black.

Took the words right outta my fingers tips.

"slow and wobbly"
thanks alot for that, i am situated in wetherill park, near fairfield/liverpool.
And yes its a grey import.

i shall clean it, replace the oil, clean it some more.

man u guys are really helpful people. i would be lost without ya guys
can't wait to bring it bak on the road
cheers all!

how much do you slide around on your seat S&W with all the silcone spray on it?

Blurr wrote:how much do you slide around on your seat S&W with all the silcone spray on it?

Read his disclaimer . LOL S&W saves his silicone spray for his Knob and wouldn't waste it on a seat

good on ya mate, the scoot will get a better service from you with a bag of rags then any bike shop with a "Time clock". Down load the manual & starta tinkerin' son. It's a lot easier then they make out.