jd724

There are a couple times I deserved to be flipped off. I had only been riding a few months. For whatever reason I just didn't see a red light and slammed on my brakes last minute. In the process of crapping my pants and coming to a complete stop I accidentally hit my horn and freaked out an old lady in the lane beside me. She flipped me off right to my faceshield. The next time an old lady flipped me off I was being an ass and totally deserved it.

Can't sleep so I figured I'd get on here and whine a lil bit. So, I'm coming up on a car in the left lane today. Car is going the speed limit. I'm doing just fast enough to pass. Truck in the center lane is at least 5 car lengths ahead. I go to pass the car maintaining my speed. The car speeds up and cuts off my pass. It was a slow pass. I didn't think he would speed up. So, ok no problem. He's moving now so I get back behind him to pass the truck. The ahole slows down and matches the speed of the truck. So now I'm a lil irritated and just want to catch site of the person I'm riding with. The right is clear so I pass them both in the right lane. (yeah I know, I don't normally pass on the right if I can help it). Mind you I'm just cruising, nothing crazy. I get around the truck and see that car speeding up in the left now cutting in front of the truck and cutting of my lane change again and he's fiddling with what looked like a dash cam. WTF did he think he was gonna see me do? Also today but closer to home. Same scenario. Go to pass at a non-crazy speed and the guy deliberately cuts me off. Nowhere to go so I drop back behind him and he's flipping me off in his mirror. Anyone that has ridden with me knows I don't ride obnoxious. Earier this year, I'm on 224 east down here in akron headin out towards rte 44. 3 cruisers in front of me doing the speed limit. Ok, no problem to each his own. It's a public hwy right? But, now cars are starting to back up behind us and right on my a$$. I pass the cruisers when I had room. I gave them plenty of room and I had plenty of time. As I'm getting back in my lane, I see the girl passenger on the lead bike flipping me off. Again WTF? Anyway, I know I know, such is life and I'm over it Like I said mainly just bored and wanna hear if anyone else has any stories like this. I'm sure we all have many.

Put me down as a maybe. Slow group

I feel bad for you guys! We love our bikes! I hope you guys can get back on the road soon. But like every else said at least there weren't any serious injuries. Glad you're both OK.!

Welcome!

My service manual says to situate the bike vertical after warming up the engine to drain the oil. Same position to check. Manual calls for 4.1 liters with filter change. 3.7 liters without filter change. When would you not change the filter with an oil change? So far 4.1 liters has been right on the money for me. I sit on the bike and use a telescoping mirror to check the level. It takes me at least 3 or 4 tries at checking the level to make sure I'm not leaning the bike. Not sure what the reading would be if it were on the rear stand. The service manual also says to have a Kawasaki technician perform the oil change.

I was thinking the tailpipe expander too.

I agree. I don't think I would patch that one. I patched one myself and it held but it was always on my mind when I rode. I have read about people having plugs pull out on them. If it were located in a tread maybe I would consider patching. On a flat spot, I would replace it. And it looks like you would possibly have two holes to plug.

I've had good experiences with Roush. They seem to have a wider selection of parts and every so often you can even find a deal on gear if you look for the sale items.

Thanks guys!

Thanks guys. I'll try the wheel bearings first. I do believe my steering has loosened up some but it looks like it might be a bit out of my league but we'll see. Thanks again guys!

Thanks guys! Dustin, you're talking about the steering head nut right? Thanks Isaac's Papa! I may take you up on that. I start a week of working nights this Friday. I may stop by your shop during the day if that's ok. Ordering parts today. I'm gonna try the allballs. I've read nothing but good about them and at half the price of OEM I'll try them first. Just have to make sure they come with seals and everything I'm gonna need. I'll probably be replacing them with ceramics within the next year anyway. I'll check their kit again and make sure they come with everything I need. Ordering a new front stand as well. I eventually wanna try the Ohio Mile. Probably won't happen this year. Bike probably won't be ready and I need a suit.

Anyway, OEM bearings or aftermarket?

On that note, I tried to pack a puck under the toolkit in case I had to park in gravel or grass sometime and I could barely get the seat back on.

From what I can tell..... Z's are packed tighter than a...(use your imagination) Even the battery is packed up under the front half of the bike. Tank has to come off for pretty much everything. I'm gonna take one thing at a time. Goin over everything in the wheel/brakes first. Then steering head. Hopefully it will be resolved by then.

No I've never used a power washer on it. I avoid putting the hose to it if I can. When I do I use the hose its the lighter shower settings.

I thought about steering head bearings but at only 8k? I'm thinking about getting the TB's sync and engine balancers checked sometime as well. If either is off it will cause a vibe but that's out of my league.

Much improved already! I'm partial to black bikes

OK here goes. Ill try and keep it as short as I can. I've had this vibe problem all season so far. I don't think it started last season but I can't remember. I had a new cheap tire put on the front. First thing I did was replace the tires with a new set of q3's. Vibe improved very very slightly maybe. It goes from low to high frequency the faster I go. Rode the bike at higher rpm's in lower gears and the vibe didn't seem to increase at higher rpms. So I'm thinking it's speed related. It all seems to be in the wheel and the bars. Also felt a weird vibe every so often when I weave the bike back and forth in the lane. I was around 70mph. No clcking or noise. Just the vibe. I bounced it off Isaac'sPoppa and he mentioned wheel bearings right away. That's what I was starting to think but I wanted the opinion of a pro. The bike only has 8k on it. I did find some posts on other forums about front wheel bearings on Z's going bad around 8k.Just a few but the 8k is what got me. Various reasons. One was a seal went bad and moisture got in. Another one was faulty installation so they said. But regardless the vibes they had were resolved when the bearings were replaced. So I'm gonna give it a shot myself. I'm hoping I see a mess in there when I get the hub open. Doesn't look too tough. Gotta be sure I put good grease where it needs to be, get my torque to specs, don't beat anything up getting the old ones out and the new ones in and get everything back on exactly as it came off. I will probably take my rotors off as a safeguard. Question: OEM bearings are around $60. Allballs kit is $20. Why? I've read that Allballs are better than any oem. Yeah I know ceramics would be the best but I can't afford em right now. Also I'm not sure if that's the problem. If I have a hub or axle problem, I don't want to put $300 bearings in there. Watcha think?

I guess I won't know til I try them but it probably won't be til my next set of tires. There are good arguments here for and against using them. It does seem that they work but the question is do they work better than weights? Who knows for sure. It's like the old argument of what the best oil is. It will probably be just a matter of personal preference and experience with them over time. My thing is that I'm not as skilled as a lot of you at wrenching on my bike... yet. But it's time I start learning. I will probably try a set of tires with beads then I might try my hand at balancing and see which works better for me. The goal is to be as self reliant as I can when it comes to keeping my bike on the road and running the way it should be. As always, I appreciate all the feedback!!

No Magley I didn't take it that you were trying to talk me out of it. They way you do your tires sounds like a good option for me if I don't like the beads. As always, I appreciate all the feedback!

Welcome! GSXr's are great bikes! I love seeing old well maintained/restored bikes on the road. I've gone a million mph down 77. Just not in traffic and not in city limits. I don't weave traffic and don't really care about stunts. I can corner decent but still have a strip of tire that I need to aquire the guts and skill to get down to. I always wear my gear. Even if I'm just riding down the street to the GetGo. This a great bunch here! They have a lot of knowledge and the few I have met so far can really ride! Don't be afraid to ask questions! You will always get a legit question answered here. They might give you some crap and take some shots but it's all in good fun. Know your limits! Take your time and learn at your own pace! Listen to people here and learn from their mistakes and experience.

Good points magely! I'm still gonna try the beads. If I don't like em, i'll take a drive down to harbor freight

Sorry guys! When I said 330racing, I meant the member here that goes by 330racing. He's a damn good rider. Much faster than me. He keeps me on my toes and then some. A good guy and great fun to ride with. I haven't had this bike on a track yet. I'm running q3's currently. Not sure how soft they would be on a hot day at the track if I do decide to go. I will definitely think about it and do some more research.

And btw, If I'm being stupid about something please tell me. I would rather be called out on being dumb and learning something from it than messing up my bike.