I really want to like my zxr400 but it let me down again

[justdan]

To be honest, I would love to learn how to fix bike, so I can look after it better and save money but I am the guy who learn better if I can do it while someone teaching me but it is very unlikely someone will come and fix things with me or teach me.

I guess I ask questions to see what it might have gone wrong so when I told it to the garage I can tell them what might be the problem. Also, if it is a very easy fix I might try to do it myself and it seems all my problem need experience, skill and knowledge to fix.

I just want everything worksso I can enjoy riding this beautiful bike. I dreamed a dream!

[justdan]

For those who interested in my long running problem and here is the update.

The AA man arrived and checked my battery and it was about 11V then he connected the booster and start the bike and the voltage still around 11V so it seems that I was right it could be the alternator, rectifier or both.

Unfortunately the AA man came with a small van so I am waiting for someone else to take the bike to a garage.

Joy oh joy

[KwakKwak]

To be honest, I would love to learn how to fix bike, so I can look after it better and save money but I am the guy who learn better if I can do it while someone teaching me but it is very unlikely someone will come and fix things with me or teach me

Chances are there is a nice person on here who would be willing to do just this, I would bloody hate having to take mine to a mechanic all the time, too costly, working on the bike is actually part of the fun, can be quite relaxing too, start with something easy and build the old confidance.

I dreamed a dream!

Was there dramatic music playing in the background as you typed this??

I love the ZXR, it's a cheeky little sh1t, all attitude and always willing to make you look like a total twat.

[justdan]

Just got the bike back and it was the rectifier, get it changed and now when the bike is running the voltage about 14 some volt. Changing the bike at home at the moment and hopefully this is it, didn't change the battery because it seems working fine and I can start enjoying it.

[ross46]

Where abouts are you located?

[justdan]

Islington, North London

[KwakKwak]

Islington, North London

That's me out, I may be fookin' good on a bike, but riding on water is defo beyond me, although if it's electrical that's a Brucey bonus for you, over to you Ross, prove us wrong, especially that nasty Cargo

[ross46]

your about an hour away from me, so if you need a hand then give me a call, i know this is a sore subject for cargo but i went to see banner when i first got my bike, he helped me do the valve clearances. i could have done it myself but wanted to meet some of the members and its alot easier, the cdi ive got is one i sold to banner for his race bike, so i asked if i could borrow it, he sent it to me, ive managed to get him a race seat unit and front fairing i bought. it just makes it easier, the forum is great, but sometimes a phone call, talki9ng to an actual person can be good. i find the forum sometimes to be like a call to a bank "if you need help, please visit our website and go to the FAQ section" if you need to borrow a regulator to check that is the problem, drop me a message and i'll pop mine in the post so you can test it. Ross going to sleep now, little painkiller rant for you! and kwakkwak, dont worry i cant ride the bike atm because its in bits!

[kawazonkey]

You are not far from me either, I'm in Staines, my tools and bike are in Shepperton. I'm new to ZXR's but have had bikes all my life and can twirl a spanner or two. Let me know if you need some help matey.

[ross46]

There we go! You'll save money by paying for someones petrol to get to you rather than a garage. Would be about £20 for me to get to you and back

[justdan]

Thanks guys. Good to know some of you are will to help and teach. At the moment the bike is working great and when it does, it ride like a dream.

Oh, the weather really getting cold now and I read that silkolene really help for cold start and clear the fuel pipes and carb etc, so I am planning to get one but I checked out the bottle and it says 100:1 and 50:1, so anyone used? What I'd the correct ratio? And does it mean for example 100 liter of petrol I use 1 liter of silkolene?

Cheers

[ross46]

Yes its a ratio, so whatever volume you use of the silkolene (guessing your looking at octane booster etc) then you put in 50-100 the volume of petrol

[justdan]

in order to look after the bike in the winter, apart from the silkolene, I was told using the more expensive petrol will help too. I am willing to spend the extra if it really have a effect on a old bike like this. I know it has higher RON and burn hotter but the bike is so old and it wasn't make for those V-power etc, so should I use this posh petrol at all. I am sure a new bike in the market can benefit from it but how about our old zxr?

[kawazonkey]

That's a new one to me. Just run it on plain unleaded, should make no difference.

[banner001]

i do 10k on my zxr, snow/rain/ice/sun...i give it good old cheap morrisons fuel and it loves it...ive seen no difference in performance or mpg with different fuel blends.

the RON needed for the zxr is 92+...give it anything less and you get detonations, anything more and it wont do a thing, no power increase, no mpg increase...nowt.

give the carbs a good clean, do the valve clearances, check all your maintenance items and your bike will run fine.