Category: Motorcycling

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1998 ZX11D For Sale Ready to Ride, Sort of…

Well tit was sold, then I rode it to make sure it was all ready to go..  It wasn’t right.  I eliminated a ton of vacuum issues tonight but it still has one small issue.

It *may* stall after getting off the throttle after being under load…  Grr…

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I put Zed my 1998 ZX11D up for sale in June. Other than advertise it on a few motorcycle forums I haven’t been very proactive about selling it.

In fact when I put it up for sale then, it wasn’t ready to ride. It was still in about 900 pieces in my barn.

Until today. The carb issues have been solved, and it’s runs better than it did for the last 10,000 miles that I rode it.

It’s put back together, and I took off that stupid looking (but effective) Givi windscreen. It now looks like you’d expect a ZX-11 to look:

IMG 0100

IMG 0102

The Givi Wingrack is still installed and I have e41 bags that can go with Zed for the right price. The Wingrack is removable, and that’s all that needs to happen to have a ‘stock’ ZX11D. That, and put on the crappy stock back seat on it.

The facts:

– 1998 ZX-11 D model, with approx 25,000 miles.
– near new Michelin Pilot Roads front and rear.
– Bike has two powerlet power adapters installed, one in the dash one on the left side.

What’s wrong with it?
Mechanically? absolutely nothing. It’s ready to ride.

Esthetically?
This bike was droped on the left side by the prior (first) owner. He replaced the plastic, but the left can was still all little rashed. I never replaced it because it didn’t bother me. Both could stand to be polished.

I tipped it over on the right side, breaking the single screw tab that holds the right turn signal on. I attempted to epoxy that and it lasted about 2,000 miles. The right turn signal is current held in with hi-tech- black duct-tape. The right fix is beyond my ability to save this panel, but you can get a new upper for around $120 on ebay from time to time.

Other than that, it’s nearly a 10 year old bike that has been ridden. It’s not a garage or park and polish bike. It was ridden, alot, when it was my primary bike. It has dings and scratches that you’d expect on a 10 year old bike.

Price: $3000 Firm, we can negotiate on some of the extras; Givi screen, seat, bags, etc. Looking at ebay that seems fair to a little low for a 98. It will go on eBay soon.

To see what this bike looks like in touring trim, see the prior post.

Please contact: matt(at)dishers.com

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Vintage Motorcycle Days 2007

This year was quite different compared to last year Linky

This year neither Gar nor Cooter were racing, so it was time to just kick back and enjoy. Dad went up on Friday but I chickened out. The weather didn’t look good and I had a few things to do around the house anyway.

I just couldn’t get excited about potentially riding 150+ miles to Lexington, OH in the rain, then spending a day at a race track watching them dry the track with jet dryers, the potentially ride home another 150 miles in the rain.

Nope, wasn’t for me, so I bailed on Friday, and based upon the torrential down pours we experienced at home I was glad. Dad however had a great time, he didn’t get rained on until he was riding home.

Fast forward to Saturday…

I met up with Dad, Kyle, and Kyle Sr. at Washington Court House at 8am. If you wondered where the worlds slowest McDonalds is, it’s there in Washington Court House, it has overtaken the McDonalds near Trenton Ohio. Holy smokes their services was absolutely ridiculous.

After what seemed like an eternity, I got my breakfast, we ate and headed to Lexington, OH to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

The road in was crazy, bumper to bumper, stop and go traffic. A lot of air cooled bikes weren’t real happy to be putt-putting along to get in. It was much better last year. Once inside we parked it over by the Esses and watched some good racing.

We took a break from the races in the middle of the day to watch a ‘Trials’ exhibition. That was the only place I busted out the camera this year.

While it wasn’t as exciting as I had hoped it was still pretty impressive. If money were no object, I’d have one of these bikes.

More photos here: Click

We left just before 5pm and exiting the track was uneventful. We took the long and lazy way home down US Route 42. It was a good weekend.

Next year I plan to go Friday and Saturday and camp at the track. Hopefully partake in some demo rides and do a little bit more than watch the races. Maybe Gar or Cooter will be racing? Who knows.

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A Day at Kil-Kare

A buddy of mine that I’ve known for 30+ years is a die hard motorcycle drag racer. A privateer on a budget, runs what he’s got and gets the job done.

I hadn’t seen him race but one time before and something broke or it rained, I can’t remember but I didn’t get to see him make more than one pass. I talked to him earlier in the week and found out that he no longer races at Edgewater. In fact very few bikes do anymore because the owner is an asshat and doesn’t much care for his customers so they’ve moved to Kil-Kare in Xenia Ohio.

I rode up, on the FJR and planned to take some pics. I got there in time for his second practice run, around 2pm. I was able to snap pics of that run, and his dial-in run before the camera battery died. It would have lasted all day had I charged it the night before but I wasn’t sure I was going to go.

In any event, it was a long, blistering hot day and stupid me wore jeans so I was mostly uncomfortable all day. (I wouldn’t ride in shorts but was too dumb to wear shorts and toss some riding pants on over them just to get there. Man I wasn’t thinking straight today.)

If you haven’t been to Kil-Kare, it’s a good time. There is absolutely no way to get out of the sun though unless you bring an awning or something. Did I mention it was hot?

After his second test run he had to replace his clutch. 2 of the plates shattered into about 2 dozen pieces each. That took about 40 minutes.

Butch was on today, hitting his dial in numbers, making good lights and slaying folks left and right.

He took down quite a few high dollar bikes and made the finals before his clutch came apart again in the final run of the day.

He was hitting 9.69, 9.68, 967 all day long like clockwork. His luck or rather his clutch didn’t hold together in the final run, or I think he would have taken that too. He was spot-on all night.

Photos in the Gallery here.

 

From Kil-Kare_070707

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1998 ZX11D for Sale

OK, here’s the dealio…

Zed, is a Black 1998 ZX11

It’s most recent configuration looked like:

(Full Size Photo here: Clicky) More Photos of this bike here: Click

It’s a 98 with approx 25k miles.

Valves were adusted at 20k and were all in spec. I’ve always used synthec oil and good gas.

What’s wrong with it now?

Zed was parked when I got the FJR last year. It had carb issues. I’d had them rebuilt but something still wasn’t right. I purchased a new set on ebay and they are mostly installed. She runs great, but… (it’s leaking gas between two of the carbs). If your mechanically minded, this is a $.50 cent 0-ring that needs to be replaced.

Zed is currently sporting Micky Pilot roads that have about 3/4 of their life left in them.

The bike has been down on the left side (former owner) who replaced all the plastic, but the left can is a little rashed, not enough though for me to have replaced it.

I dropped it in the driveway on the other side, the right side turn signal mounting tab is gone. That light is currently held in with a piece of black duct-tape.

It runs, and runs good.

Differences from this pic include:

It’s a little dirtier 🙂
I’m keeping the top box, but will leave the Givi Wing Rack (or remove it if you wish).
I can negotiate on the e421’s, these bags rock and at some point I’ll put them on the Feejer for their superior storage ability and eas of access to said stuff in them.

Goodies that go with it:

Corbin Seat.
Stock screen, black-smoke speed screen (flip) and the Givi screen pictured.
There are a couple of powerlet power outlets that are installed as well, one in the dash, one behind the riders left leg.
Kawi Service manual.

I bought Zed with 2400 miles, and put a happy 22k on it. Side graded to the FJR becuase Zed is not comfortable at all for my wife.

It would make someone on a budget a very fine ride. I’ve done a couple of saddle sore rides with it. One bone stock and it’s actually pretty comfy, the other in touring trim, which affects its handling a bit when totally loaded down.

$3000 firm, as is.

It’s currently Not ready for the road, it’s top half is apart and mostly re-assembled from the carb issues. I can (and will) put it back together if that’s what someone wants, or give you the parts and show you where everything goes.

I’d probably do better parting it out but I don’t have time.

I can also deliver within 200 miles of Cincy Ohio, give or take.

email: matt (at) dishers.com if you have any questions.

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Grip Puppies, mmmm delicious…

Well, 12000 miles later I decided I wanted a little less vibration in my throttle hand and mostly in my thumb.

I keep the Throttle Bodies pretty well synced to keep the vibes as low as I can get them. (A PC-III might further reduce it). All and all it’s not that bad, but after my 1300 mile day my thumb vibrated for a while.

Grip Puppies are a spongy over-grip that gives you about a 1/4 inch of cushion on your grips. They are cheap too, from California Sport Touring Click.

Installation is pretty simple, provided you use a couple tips/tricks. Especially compressed air.

Before:

IMG 0135

After:

IMG 0137

Use a little lubricant on the inside of the grips (Windex works great). That and a little compressed air and the slide right on.

IMG 0138

On the throttle side I had to cut about a 1/4 inch off. Full length pushed the rubber grip into the controls on the left and made the throttle bind a bit. If I pulled it off the controls it bound on the throttlemeister.

So…

IMG 0142

I just trimmed it a bit. The cut off part is on the throttlemeister to show how much I removed. This worked out well.