Bike dithering again

To get the ZXR through an MOT and nothing more (so still with the
going to break at some point engine) will take about £600 (definitely
needs exhaust system, chain & sprockets, 2 new tyres, 2 new front
indicators, fork seals) to get me to the state it was for the last
elephant so it can be used for the upcoming elephant.

I'm just checking there's no SOB that's small enough for me and 400cc
(or more) that I could pick up with an MOT for that. Basically I'm
trying to talk myself out of what I really want to do which is get the
ZXR going. Saint Jude is having a field day.

 

Is it blowing?

Not MOTable

OK, I'll allow you this lot.

Ah, so you want it Elefant-able, not just MOTable

Seriously, tho - tyres and chain&sprox should be considered
consumables. Should be able to get both for 250 quid. Fork seals are
cheap, but just need to be fitted, and so are pattern indicators.
Then all you need is a man with a welder to fix whatever the problem
is with exhaust.

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/zxr-400-micron-stainless-steel-exhaust-system-zxr400_W0QQitemZ220279932550QQ


--
Steve Parry
BMW R80RS, BMW R45, 01 Kawasaki ZX12-R, 07 K1200GT SE
95 BMW F650, 87 Yamaha FS1, Sukida SK90PY, 91 Kawasaki AR50,
07 VW Passat SE Estate for comfort
www.gwynfryn.co.uk

 

Yes it is. I've got far worse through an MOT for less.

Not just blowing, the collector box has pretty much fucked off.

Yes they are, The MOT tester's manual says:

"When rejecting transmision and associated components for wear,
defects, security or adjustment, the severity of the defect should be
where early failure is likely"

LN's C+S were dead at the last MOT, I'm surprised they lasted this long.

 

The MOT man went right round my chain checking for tight spots (there
weren't any) so not sure this is the case.

My other 'lenient' MOT station doesn't bother.

P.

 

No, I meant that it was impossible for any bike to need 600 quid
spending on it *just* to fix the MOTable issues.

I stand corrected.

 

The exhaust needs replacing from front to back - 350 quid minimum for a
new stainless one that will last. Might find a used one cheaper on ebay.

Fork seals and oil - 20 quid

Chain and Sprockets - 100 quid

Tyres - 150 quid

That's just the MOTable issues without labour charges.

 

What size tyres does it take?

--
Krusty
www.MuddyStuff.co.uk
Off-Road Classifieds

'02 MV Senna '03 Tiger 955i '96 Tiger '79 Fantic Hiro 250

 

Sounds like the exhaust is the main issue. Everything else can really
be considered as consumables.

This says you can get a new stainless micron system for under 200 :
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220279932550

 

Hmmm, how didn't that come up when I was searching earlier?

I found
http://motorcycleproducts.co.uk/catalogue/exhaust-pipes-kawasaki-zxr400-p-62761.html
but you still need the rest. I've got an end can but I think it is a
tad fruity to get through the MOT.

 

The last time you saw the ZXR was when you fucked the chain yes?

It's far, far worse than then.

Not so much blowing as not really there in places.

Tyres and chain are consumables but still needed now.

Yes. Particular attention being paid to the tightness of brake levers.
Though if it hadn't fallen off M wouldn't have needed to stay behind
to translate, we wouldn't have had the day together, he wouldn't have
gone ice skating on tha Pan and so on and so on.

We agree.

2 indicators are about 30 quid. It's the exhaust that's the main
expense.

I seriously doubt it can be done but if anyone wants to take a look at
the pile of rust...

 

I'd rather buy the complete ZXR400H2 he's also listing instead of an
exhaust system.

 

120/60 17 I was pricing them up earlier. They'll be squared off on a
long thrash on wet then icy roads so sports rubber isn't an issue

I don't even know why I'm dithering, I love the old knackered thing,
in a way that is never going to happen with the Honda, I've got the
money, it's some old puritanical hangover of 'being sensible' that I
still can't quite shake. It's 4 months of no fags - there, justified
it, I can go to bed and sleep easy.

 

Stick a dB Killer in it.

 

Oooh, look: a trick question. Do you really want an answer to that?

The preferred solution to the problem of a fruity exhaust is to have an
"arrangement", but this is not always possible; sometimes it's easier
just to suck it up.

Besides, a dB Killer takes seconds to fit, and comes in handy on track
days. As used by royalty. Breaks the ice at parties.

 

If you love it that much, put up with the Honda for a while and get
someone (Lozzo, perhaps) to tear it down and do a bit of a restoration
job on it. Once that's done, ride it how you want, but take better
general care of it.

This is, of course, if you *really* love it as much as you think. If
not, get rid and save pennies for another bike that suits you.

 

What, /both/ of them?

See, that's partly what I was thinking. New sticky tyres will be pretty
fucked by the time you get back, so as there's no rush, why not try to
track down some partly worns for peanuts?


--
Krusty
www.MuddyStuff.co.uk
Off-Road Classifieds

'02 MV Senna '03 Tiger 955i '96 Tiger '79 Fantic Hiro 250

 

It was late, I'd been to the pub, and thought you were trying to be
clever, because: there isn't a dB limit. It's down to the discretion of
the tester:

"2. A silencer which is in such a condition or is of such a type that
the noise emitted is clearly in excess of that which would be produced
by a similar machine fitted with a standard silencer in average condition."
http://www.motuk.co.uk/mcmanual_710.htm

Yeah, I think most non-road-legal pipes come with something similar
these days. Have the "NOT FOR ROAD USE" markings been polished out?
That's a fail too.

 

Because there isn't a db limit for MOTs

hth

 

For some reason, I first read that as it would fail if the NFRU was
polished out. More coffee, I think...

If it has got it, a few minutes with a dremel will polish it off.

Actually, is it true that if you just covered it with a piece of gaffa
tape, then they couldn't fail it as they're not allowed to peel the
tape off to have a look?