Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

The Rex has a leaky fork, oil is pissing out.
May as well upgrade the springs - was thinking racetech or sonic.
Any one in Oz sell them, or is it best to get them from overseas?

I also think the rear shocks may need an upgrade.
I don't race, like to tour but enjoy good corners. I weigh around 100kg.
Funds are not limitless.

Bill.

I had the front and rear re sprung for a 110+kg rider as well as the seals done in the front and a bit of re-valving in the rear (Ohlins) for $600. That's with me dropping the forks and shocks off. There's not much you can do with the rears except upgrade the whole things and if you have a later model ('05 to '08) there's not much you can do with the front end valving either except replace the cartridges or have someone who knows what they are doing machine up bits for them.

Nelso wrote:I had the front and rear re sprung for a 110+kg rider as well as the seals done in the front and a bit of re-valving in the rear (Ohlins) for $600. That's with me dropping the forks and shocks off. There's not much you can do with the rears except upgrade the whole things and if you have a later model ('05 to '08) there's not much you can do with the front end valving either except replace the cartridges or have someone who knows what they are doing machine up bits for them.

Yep, you may be in luck as yours will have the older stsyle forks, they can be re-valved by someone who knows what they are doing. As Nelso said, rear's are shite, even if you get them sorted due to the design they will be buggered again in 6-12 months, nitrogen leaks from the bladder and contaminated the oil.

Up grade to Ohlins, Gazi or something better. Better VFM

I should have looked in his sig to see what model he had.

Yep, I had a look at Gazi - they recommend the Hyper X 750335 shocks, at $780 + shipping.
They said it needs a +30mm extended eye?

Front: Racetech 1.0 kg ($109 ex US) or Sonic 0.9 ($79 ex US) + postage.

Gold emulator valves required?

billwest wrote:Yep, I had a look at Gazi - they recommend the Hyper X 750335 shocks, at $780 + shipping.
They said it needs a +30mm extended eye?

The more I hear about the Gasi shock the more I like them. I was racing at the Barry Sheene a couple of weeks ago & Gasi had a stand there, I had a long talk with the guy, & the very first set of road bike shocks they made were for a ZRX. So they know a lot about them. They supply the shocks with an adjustable eye made for the ZRX, so after the racing season is over I think I'll shout my ZRX a pair of Gasi's...

s man wrote:

billwest wrote:Yep, I had a look at Gazi - they recommend the Hyper X 750335 shocks, at $780 + shipping.
They said it needs a +30mm extended eye?

The more I hear about the Gasi shock the more I like them. I was racing at the Barry Sheene a couple of weeks ago & Gasi had a stand there, I had a long talk with the guy, & the very first set of road bike shocks they made were for a ZRX. So they know a lot about them. They supply the shocks with an adjustable eye made for the ZRX, so after the racing season is over I think I'll shout my ZRX a pair of Gasi's...

Did you notice the ZRX on their stand with the Gazi's on Aparently there were a few offers made on it None accepted

So I went and got a few quotes here and there...........

Local suspension guru says he'll do the seals, oil change and upgraded springs for around $450. But hen I might need new valving, etc, possibly another $450.

Local Kawasaki want $1000 to supply and install seals, oil and upgraded springs. What!? they said there was so much work involved, setting it up for my weight etc.

Anyway, I bought a pair of seals, some oil and ordered some racetch springs out of Brisbane ($170 a pair) - will be here quicker that US ones. I will do the changeout myself.

However, the racetech guy in Brissie said not to bother with Gazi shocks, they'll be similar to the OEM ones. He says better off with Ohlins, or he can make a set for only $1500.

Something to do for the week ahead.

Bill.

If you are going to do it yourself you can get gold valves for the forks from Quick on ZRXOA.

billwest wrote:However, the racetech guy in Brissie said not to bother with Gazi shocks, they'll be similar to the OEM ones. He says better off with Ohlins, or he can make a set for only $1500.

$1500, you could get Ohlins for that.

I dont agree with what he said about the Gazi's, everybody I have spoken to says they are pretty good and when that is people like the man behind T-Rex, Rex Wolfenden and Marty here I'll believe them

Yep, the Gazis look quite attractive (well, in a masculine sort of way...............)

billwest wrote:Yep, the Gazis look quite attractive (well, in a masculine sort of way...............)

Mate, if like me, dollars are limited, then buy the Gazi's. I am 44, but while not fast anymore, can still cut a 62 (current SS lap record there is somewhere around a 58 on a modern SS bike for reference) around Broadford on a 1995 ZX6R. So while no longer at "A" grader speed I still have somewhat of an idea and can promise you they work brilliantly and have huge adjusting range. I run a full Hepco & Becker panniers & top box set up on mine. When loaded it only uses 1/3 of available preload & a couple extra clicks of damping at both ends.

The action is well controlled, firm but compliant and does not fade as they get hot. The only thing I can't yet comment on is longevity. The delivery is fast, two days for me, they come with everything you need to install them & self installation took me 20 minutes including sag set up.

I will definitely go the Gazis.

I've just drained one of the forks - the oil stinks - never been changed (106,000km).
Any particular brand of fork oil better than another (no, not an oil thread)?

BTW, I'm only 57, I don't race, but like a quick twisty road (not that there's too many in WA). Now and then the bike makes it East for the MotoGP, and the riding in Victoria.

billwest wrote:I will definitely go the Gazis.

I've just drained one of the forks - the oil stinks - never been changed (106,000km).
Any particular brand of fork oil better than another (no, not an oil thread)?

BTW, I'm only 57, I don't race, but like a quick twisty road (not that there's too many in WA). Now and then the bike makes it East for the MotoGP, and the riding in Victoria.

Without revalving just use the std weight oil and of a quality brand. The rate it is changed would have more impact than the particular brand of quality oil you use.

As an example my std forks were re valved and ran 2.5-5wt oil, when it was incorrectly changed (seals etc getting done) and std 10wt was put in it wobbled at hig speed ($1.80+) with new 2.5-5 it was ok again. So, moral here is unless revalved use what the manual says, the new oil should be changed every 2 years, which reminds me, it's about time to get mine done

Thanks, all good info here.