Back into biking with a ZRX1100 - What to look for?

moppy · World Chat Champion Joined: 26 Apr 2011 Karma :

Considering getting back into biking after a couple of years out and have been making the rounds looking for the next bike.

I've found a 98 ZRX1100 within budget, but it lacks any service history (owned by a mechanic Rolling Eyes

) for most of it's life.

The bike looks tidy, but the forks make a strange "woosh" or sighing sound when they're rebounding up, as if there is some air escaping. Any idea what this could be?

Any idea what would be a good price for a stock 98 ZRX1100 in good condition with ~30k miles on it?

Casper · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 Jul 2010 Karma :

PM ZRX61. He has had his for years and from new as far as i know. Cracking bikes and if no rattle or smoke i would be paying about £1500-2000 for a 98. If the standard gold rear shocks give a close inspection after a test ride. If leaking when i had mine you could not get them rebuilt. Thanks may have changed now but expensive to replace and never buy Hagon budget ones to put on. They turn a great bike into a heap of jelly shite. Dont ask how i know. Front end could be old fork oil or it just wants a good clean out with the dampers out and washed properly.

moppy · World Chat Champion Joined: 26 Apr 2011 Karma :

Casper · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 Jul 2010 Karma :

Never ridden a bike with a bent fork mate but i would say you would feel it. It would tuck in to whatever side is bent when braking or it would want to turn. Also i would imagine the chrome would be cracking. The damper inside is a tube full of holes if its only had oil changes over the years then these may be part blocked with old shitty thick out as water does get in when fork seals start to go. As long as it rides in a straight line and you can coast with the hands of the bars straight then dont worry about it as it will be a simple strip and clean with fresh oil and seals.

ZRX61 · Victor Meldrew Joined: 05 Nov 2003 Karma :

Mine doesn't do that, but I've had them apart for new seals at least 4 times (116,000miles).

Finally figured out what was causing the seal issue. There's an over pass on a local freeway that I am prone to using as a take off ramp. To clear the entire over pass you have to hit it doing at least 125 mph or so. Fun if you time it so you are level with a car in the next lane when you achieve orbit. Friend was riding his ZRX two lanes over when I did it one time & it scared the piss out of him. Didn't have his GoPro turned on & now he has Harley he would be too far back to film it..

Mine tracks dead straight at 120mph with my hands off the bars. Only shimmies a bit when the front tire is close to replacement.

My advice is to take it out for a thrash & determine if all is well. They run forever. Haven't even had the clutch cover off mine yet. Currently parked with a leaking radiator (3rd time) Easy fix with Oxy/Acet. They crack in the same place. Cure is to remove the bolts from the upper mounts to allow it to move about a bit (which I keep forgetting to do...).
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