I wanna ZRX now...

[hoax]

Jeez, can you say storage space?

/forums/images/threads/000/007/983/100438-zrx.jpg

 

[Port4mance]

I could fit the pbizzy in that thing

 

[Igor]

That is pretty nice

 

[andrew]

holy shit!
you can fit a gallon of h20 in there! whoa. what bike is this agian?

 

[hoax]

Kawasaki ZRX1200, basically an 80's retro muscle bike using a bored out ZX-11 motor.

/forums/images/threads/000/007/983/100558-zrx2.jpg

 

[Strokin' It]

I was riding my buddie's ZRX around for a while... It handles really well and has an ass-load of torque. It's also pretty comfy for longer trips.

 

[EastBayDave]

I love mine! Arguably one of the best streetbikes you can buy...

Brand new ~$7K, good used ones w/goodies $3.7-5K.

/forums/images/threads/000/007/983/101740-zrx11701.jpg

 

[hoax]

Wow, I'm not the only one with Ham plates on my bike. I'm KF6HOX.

 

[kblade]

go buy one!


hey EBdave whats with the cool polished brace?? never seen that before? buy the way kool scoot, brings back alot of memories everytime I see one.

 

[EastBayDave]

Wow, I'm not the only one with Ham plates on my bike. I'm KF6HOX.

Hi Richard,

Hey another Ham on BARF! Who would have thought? I haven't run into too many riders that are also radio operators; shoot man we gotta ride sometime w/2-meters. Probably work better than that thing that hangs off helmets...

Give me a holler sometime on 145.13- PL100.0 (K6EAG Hayward Radio Club.)

73 de Dave

 

[EastBayDave]

go buy one!
hey EBdave whats with the cool polished brace?? never seen that before? buy the way kool scoot, brings back alot of memories everytime I see one.

That's a Tsukigi (http://www.tsukigi.com/) frame brace. It really helps quite a bit holding down the frame flex on the old tube style retro chassis. If you look closely, the pipe is Tsukigi, so is the fork brace, & the upper billet triple clamp. The pipe is hand made, & about the best construction (welds, etc.) I've ever seen, anywhere.

This bike was the prototype USA "test mule" for "street" testing Tsukigi products on US spec- bikes back in 99'. I got these parts given to me for "testing" & "evaluation" as I'm well known within the KAW racing community from my racing efforts back in the 70's/early 80's. Nice way to get cool parts eh’? Check out their website; they have lots of cool stuff. The distributor is in So. CA…

If anyone is thinking of getting a ZRX, if your planning on any trackdays- get the 01' or newer ZRX1200. They made numerous chassis changes to get rid of flex, including more gusseting, stronger swingarm, stronger steering head, as well as geometry changes to get rid of wiggles/wobbles.

On the street, a 99'/00' is just fine cuz your not going fast enough to notice such things. On the track, if you ride fast, you can find the chassis limits. I did this last Wed.... Even so, I love the bike. Looks, utility, comfort, acceptable handling (hey, it's a retro bike), & all around manners are very nice. Plus they are damn economical to own. Cheap to insure too...

 

[hoax]

I doubt if I could hit Hayward. I don't have a radio setup on the bike, nor will I. I use the garc repeater but I haven't been active much lately.


The GARC group maintains a repeater in the Bay Area (Los Gatos, CA)
This is an OPEN repeater system and is available for use to all licensed amateur radio operators.

Repeater Details:


Output: 145.310
Input: 144.710
PL: 127.3Hz (receive) 151.4Hz (transmit)
Output Power: 50 watts
Height above sealevel:

The repeater is temporarily located in Los Gatos. There was an issue with the repeater site as well as some hardware changes. It will be returning to a high level site over San Jose shortly.

The autopatch and backup power are currently offline.

 

[EastBayDave]

I doubt if I could hit Hayward. I don't have a radio setup on the bike, nor will I. I use the garc repeater but I haven't been active much lately. The GARC group maintains a repeater in the Bay Area (Los Gatos, CA) This is an OPEN repeater system and is available for use to all licensed amateur radio operators.

Repeater Details:
Output: 145.310
Input: 144.710
PL: 127.3Hz (receive) 151.4Hz (transmit)
Output Power: 50 watts
Height above sealevel:

The repeater is temporarily located in Los Gatos. There was an issue with the repeater site as well as some hardware changes. It will be returning to a high level site over San Jose shortly.
The autopatch and backup power are currently offline.

You know what, 2 meters actually worked pretty good on the bike. I attached a (car) mobile ant. to the grabrail on the ZRX1100, ran the coax under the seat to a tankbag, where I put my 5 watt handheld Icom IC-2SAT. I then ran a power lead to the battery so I could get the full 5 watts output.

We then set-up a PTT switch on the left handlebar, & a mic/earpiece combo wired into the helmet w/quik disconnects. It actually worked pretty good, & we could work each other in the canyons of Mines Road for up to a couple miles; further in open areas.

Sadly that guy bought a gold wing & is into long distance touring now instead of backroads (he had a pretty serious bail a few years ago), & doesn't push corners anymore. So I don't have a ham riding partner anymo.

FYI, the Hayward club repeater ant. is setup to get to IBM in San Jose so it works good downtown SJ. Not too good south of there. I'll call ya on the GARC repeater sometime; thanks for the info & 73 !

dave K6JOX

 

[Shotline]

Hey you techno geeks

What is this talk about not being able to get from Hayward to San Jose

I thought those HAM radios could send and receive around the world....

(that about covers my knowledge of HAM radio).

 

[JoeBar]

Yeah, what he said... You guys sound more CB than HAM

 

[EastBayDave]

Hey you techno geeks

What is this talk about not being able to get from Hayward to San Jose I thought those HAM radios could send and receive around the world.... (that about covers my knowledge of HAM radio).

We're talking VHF (very high frequency 50-150Mhz), not HF (high frequency 0-50Mhz). (your FM Stereo/cop/fireman radio vs. CB type radio & lower frequencies.) The higher the frequency, the shorter the range & vice versa.

Where do you think that cell phone you carry came from? Started life as a ham radio (walkie-talkie) ~65+ years ago just prior to WWII. Most of my ham radio is worldwide communications for fun. I have talked to 299 (of ~331) countries in the world, & have cards from 278 of them (our way of verification.)

It's a blast! Sadly taking a back seat these days to the internet; but it's still alive. Ever see the movie "Independence Day?" Morse Code is no longer a requirement, but is a lot of fun as it travels farther than voice. I've even done "Moonbounce" radio (bouncing signals off the moon); there's more different faucets to this hobby than you can possibly imagine.

Not as much fun as a trackday/hard twisty riding, but also a blast none the less. I rest my case... If your curious, & want to know more, just click here --> http://www.arrl.org/hamradio.html

 

[yoda]

This bike was the prototype USA "test mule" for "street" testing Tsukigi products on US spec- bikes back in 99'. I got these parts given to me for "testing" & "evaluation" as I'm well known within the KAW racing community from my racing efforts back in the 70's/early 80's. Nice way to get cool parts eh’? Check out their website; they have lots of cool stuff. The distributor is in So. CA…

Hey EBD...were you the one that tested the Muzzy damper prototype(bolt on) as well? If so, can you give me your input. I love my '02 ZRX. The only problem I have with the bike is the weight...550 lbs! Having a hard time transitioning through the essess. Any tips(riding technique and/or hardware upgrades) will be greatly appreciated.

BTW, those Ohlins looks soooo sweet. I'm also saving my pennies for my suspension and wheels upgrades.

 

[EastBayDave]

Hey EBD...were you the one that tested the Muzzy damper prototype(bolt on) as well? If so, can you give me your input.

Yep, I was the tester of the first prototype production Muzzys unit (I ocasionally help Muzzys/& others too.) It was designed locally by Gary Jaehne, & adopted by Muzzys about early 00'.) It's still on the bike, & is working really well (ran it @ Thunderhill last Wed.!) Here's a pic below: This pic is of the Muzzys prototype, & is the same as mine excepting the bracket on mine is bigger/painted black/& larger, stronger billet.

I love my '02 ZRX. The only problem I have with the bike is the weight...550 lbs! Having a hard time transitioning through the essess. Any tips(riding technique and/or hardware upgrades) will be greatly appreciated.

"Esses?" You mean Sears Point? Curious... As for technique, it's just a heavy bike, you gotta muscle it. You can reduce weight greatly by going to a pipe, & pods. Thereby losing about 15lbs., & going to the pods also reduces weight, & relocation of the storage box & toolkit lower in the chassis (believe it or not a feelable difference putting the toolkit forward/& lower.)

BTW, those Ohlins looks soooo sweet. I'm also saving my pennies for my suspension and wheels upgrades.

There are some handling things you can do to improve the bike; too much to list here. We need to talk dude; or go on a ride or something. Try rotating the eccentric adjuster 180', it's one of the first things I did. A dampener is a must if your gonna ride this guy fast...

You can see my mods list on www.zrxoa.org (The ZRX Owners Assn., one of the best websites around.) Racetech'ed the front end, & the Ohlins out back really help. I even had my stock shocks rebuilt & that was cheap ($60) & effective much better than the stockers.

DAve