Project bike. Not a Bandit....

[greatmoorred]

Ive got my B4, which i think is great. But ive had it nearly 2 years now and feel it may be time to move on.
A bike dealer/scrapper near me has got a 1992 Kawasaki ZR750 Zephyr in at the minute, it needs a starter motor and an end can.
It looks like a nice retro bike. I know its not a Bandit, but does anyone on here have any opinions/ experience of these bikes ?
I think for less than £800 it might be worth getting just to play with and get right for summer.

[Red01]

As a UJM goes, never heard anything bad about them... pretty much just a newer KZ750, engine being of the same line as the original KZ750/900/1000.  Might wanna check with the folks at Zephyr Zone for details.

[pmackie]

Like Red01, I believe these were decent UJM's. I can't speak for the value (depends on your local market) just remember, it's a 16 year old bike, with unknown past history. I'd be looking it over really carefully...concern/suspect parts:

wheel bearings, steering head bearings & swingarm bushings
chain, sprockets and tires
brake lines and control cables
forks seals and general condition
rear shock is likely done its time
depending on mileage and maintenance, the engine could still be fine (I believe these were pretty reliable engines) BUT things like cam chains, clutch plates and valve condition need to be checked. I would want a compression test AND leak down test.

Anyway, like many older bikes, it could be great, OR it could be junk. If you have to start changing many of the above parts, you can frequently spend more than buying a newer, better condition example.

Just some things to check out...

[Red01]

Good points from my Canadian brother, Paul. 

[aussiebandit]

The ZR750 (Zepher) didn't sell very well in Oz, but that's more to do with the market downunder than the bike.

In Oz the big sellers are either full on sports bikes - CBR1000, GXSR1000 etc or cruisers.  Generally speaking if a local bike mag calls a motorbike a "compentant all rounder" or "a good bike for Australian Roads" or something similar, you can almost guarantee that the bike will last no more than a year on the market before it disappears.

by all accounts the ZR750 was a good all round bike, capable of touring, commuting and even 'scratching' on the twisty bits, which of course ment that the Aussie public totally ignored it, which was a pity

[B6mick]

There's a few down here in Melb, they made a good courier bikes, at one stage I think there was about three of them floating around at the same time.
One of our bike hire joints has quite a few of them, eddie reckons they are great bullet proof bikes, he carnt find enough of them. One guess which bike makes onto his list.......?
B6s.

The sun must be coming out over there.........
Finally someone is posting over in the UK.
Hey Aussie maybe we should stop hanging shyte on our pommie brothers, they may just come back.

by all accounts the ZR750 was a good all round bike, capable of touring, commuting and even 'scratching' on the twisty bits, which of course ment that the Aussie public totally ignored it, which was a pity.

Yes to true, but most Aussies where and still to a degree, still rapped up in the Gardner Doohan, Stoner, Bayliss, Corser(and the list goes on and on) Race replica boy racer thing.
Just a pity more than half carnt ride the bloody things. I went for a ride with just such riders last weekend, There was, more than one nose put out of joint by a lowly B6.

[Bobbyg]

There's a few down here in Melb, they made a good courier bikes, at one stage I think there was about three of them floating around at the same time.
One of our bike hire joints has quite a few of them, eddie reckons they are great bullet proof bikes, he carnt find enough of them. One guess which bike makes onto his list.......?
B6s.

The sun must be coming out over there.........
Finally someone is posting over in the UK.Hey Aussie maybe we should stop hanging shyte on our pommie brothers, they may just come back.

by all accounts the ZR750 was a good all round bike, capable of touring, commuting and even 'scratching' on the twisty bits, which of course ment that the Aussie public totally ignored it, which was a pity.

Yes to true, but most Aussies where and still to a degree, still rapped up in the Gardner Doohan, Stoner, Bayliss, Corser(and the list goes on and on) Race replica boy racer thing.
Just a pity more than half carnt ride the bloody things. I went for a ride with just such riders last weekend, There was, more than one nose put out of joint by a lowly B6.

LOL................The sun aint shone since 1976 over here m8

A newbie to boot how you doin Aussie, how's it angin ?