bought a project KR-1....and would like some advice

Fawbish · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Karma :

G'day folks

Ah the fun of a fairly speedy, live in the moment purchase eh? Wink

At staffordshire classic bike show yesterday, and we (me, me brother and me ol' man) were looking around for a cheap bike to turn into a track bike for me brother (he's 15, and would love to get into racing - but our funds are so crap, that hes more likely to end up having to fund it himself when he's older...but between me, me dad, and my (reluctant) mum ( Smile

) we wanted to try and give him at least a small chance at him getting somewhere, he's got a lot of raw talent has the lad.

He already has a pitbike, and does small "trackdays" on it, but has reached its limit pretty much, and its not worth trying to get more out of the little 4-stroke. His is a replica Thump, and he can keep up, and often beat the lads and men with the friggin real deal thumpstars and all the tricks etc

So after looking around yesterday (with either a 400 4-stroke in mind, or a cb500) and a budget of 400 quid, we began the hunt.

The odd bike popped up that looked promising, but we ended up sailing on past, after noticing the price tag, most times, or there was something just wrong.

But anyways, a stroke(r) of luck popped up.

To be honest, flush of the moment, hearing it run sweetly from (very) cold, and a small test to see if it engaged etc

...bought an unfaired, no v5, track ready(ish) unable to be used on the road (de-registered with the dvla, so would need a new frame for road use) KR-1!

It looks sort of clean, but to be fair, for £400, we werent expecting anything great, but it runs, thats the main thing. the odd bodge here and there (ie, unoriginal shitty petrol cap) but the main stuff, ie Forks, frame, engine, radiator, wheels, bearings, were all in top nick, just a bit weathered. hell, even the chain looked fairly new, albeit not lubed up well) and the sprockets arent too bad.

Now Im not looking for anyone to be telling me "You shouldnt have bought it not knowing hardly anything about it" because....it was just so damn irresistable!

If anyone could help, Id be looking to find out (if it can even be done Embarassed

) what model it is? Is there anything particularly distinctive about each model type that ISNT on the fairing?

Also, what can people tell me about these bikes? I know a bit about em, but wanted to some first hand reviews Smile

are there any major faults I should be looking out for? And anything that was renowned for shitness on them or anything?

Fookin hell Ive waffled. I do apologise. I hope to do a project thread on this bad boy. Hopefully that wont turn into a "It blew up/I sold it on" thread Razz

I'll follow with some pics soon, any help would be appreciated Very Happy

Cheers

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"Oh....it looks like Average Joe's is forfeiting the match!" - "Yeah, its a risky strategy but lets see if it pays off for 'em Cotton."

Blau Zedong · Banned Joined: 26 Jun 2006 Karma :

Piston ring pegs and alternators are of christmas cracker quality. But they are simple things to work on.
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18:54:48 Rob Fzs: jews don't give away stuff for free

18:54:59 Rob Fzs: unless its their clothes/ hair/ golden teeth

Fawbish · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Karma :

Cheers mate, much appreciated. Im actually sat here noting stuff down in my little notepad lol

Getting ready to go out into the garage (just heard my brother start it up) to see what can be cleaned up
____________________
"Oh....it looks like Average Joe's is forfeiting the match!" - "Yeah, its a risky strategy but lets see if it pays off for 'em Cotton."

Blau Zedong · Banned Joined: 26 Jun 2006 Karma :

Oh - unless it's a bitsa you can tell the KR1 from the S by the wheels. Kr1 - 3 spoke, S five spoke.

Kawasaki redesigned the pistons about 5 times to cure the ring peg problem, so if you do rebuild the motor make sure you get the latest piston revision.

Also the powervalve mech looks like something off an RC car Sick

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18:54:48 Rob Fzs: jews don't give away stuff for free

18:54:59 Rob Fzs: unless its their clothes/ hair/ golden teeth

Fawbish · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Karma :

Blau Zedong · Banned Joined: 26 Jun 2006 Karma :

That's the boys - look like RC servo horns and bits of threaded rod. Work OK but if they get worn just buy some new ones - too fragile to effectivly repair. As per - keep em' clean and lubed, at least if anything breaks it'll just run like a sack of shite, unlike an RGV where the powervalve blades fall into the piston.
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18:54:48 Rob Fzs: jews don't give away stuff for free

18:54:59 Rob Fzs: unless its their clothes/ hair/ golden teeth

Fawbish · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Karma :

Good to know that Thumbs Up

if anything happened majorly to the internals, we'd be buggered for a while, as I said, funds are tight lol

Do you happen to know how the engine gets its two stroke oil? Is there a pump? I dont imagine it to be premixed fuel? lol Tis the first proper stroker we've had tbh mate.

I read somewhere before about something on these being gravity fed? Or is that something else?
____________________
"Oh....it looks like Average Joe's is forfeiting the match!" - "Yeah, its a risky strategy but lets see if it pays off for 'em Cotton."

Blau Zedong · Banned Joined: 26 Jun 2006 Karma :

It has a pump and tank, but might of been converted to premix if it's done much track work. You'll have to have a look and see how it's set up, i.e. if the pumps still there and hooked up.
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18:54:48 Rob Fzs: jews don't give away stuff for free

18:54:59 Rob Fzs: unless its their clothes/ hair/ golden teeth

Fawbish · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Karma :

It looks like trackworks definitely been done. Its only got a rev counter, and thats been mounted centrally.

Ah, I take it its better to have premixed fuel for racing then relying on a pump then? Learn something new everyday Thumbs Up

Cheers for the advice mate

EDIT: If anyone knows how to sort out an electronic analog rev counter, please post lol

It reads way too high, as if the full rev counter is only reading for about 6000 revs (or thats what my guess is anyways)
____________________
"Oh....it looks like Average Joe's is forfeiting the match!" - "Yeah, its a risky strategy but lets see if it pays off for 'em Cotton."

djfr1 · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 17 Feb 2007 Karma :

A few other differences if its of any help, KR1-S has smooth frame spars while the KR1's are ribbed, Exhausts were a lot different too, the KR's were all in one jobbies and the S had the smart racy types with little end cans. As far as the engine, and i could be wrong here, the KR had an extra transfer port in the cylinder head which they removed on the S, everything else is the same and totally interchangeable, which is great because the do have rings of cheese as already stated.
Great little bike though.
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TS50ER + big bore kit n pipe, TZR125 with pv kit, TSX125, KR1S, ZX7R, R1...

Fawbish · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Karma :

Ace advice, cheers. Me and my brother were looking over it today, and its not in bad nick. Its got new (ish) braided hoses, brand new spark plugs, the front brakes look like absolute hell, but a quick strip and clean theyll be sorted.

It had hardly any fuel when we bought it, and we're still unsure whether it uses premixed or the tank still works. We put some castrol in the 2t plassy tank, put about a litre of fuel in, and tried starting her up (all connections were fine) and she started and spluttered for a bit, and there wasnt much smoke, and she started pissing petrol out of the left carb overflow pipe. So we reckon theres a carb float issue there. Also starting to think probably uses premixed stuff.

Ah well, its looking good anyways. Everything on it works almost satisfactorily, not bad for £400 Very Happy

____________________
"Oh....it looks like Average Joe's is forfeiting the match!" - "Yeah, its a risky strategy but lets see if it pays off for 'em Cotton."

thefallenange... · Crazy Courier Joined: 01 Jul 2006 Karma :

get a spare Rec + Coil and keep an eye on the rec. I'm breaking my KR1 so any bits you want just say.
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Past - CG125 ,KR1S, SV650s, Street Triple R - Current - Duke 390

r.bridge1988@gmail.com

Fawbish · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Karma :

Ah cool cheers. Will do mate. I take it yours has seized or something? Or are ya breaking it for money?

How did it take to the 33bhp restriction mate? Id assume not v well?
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"Oh....it looks like Average Joe's is forfeiting the match!" - "Yeah, its a risky strategy but lets see if it pays off for 'em Cotton."

thefallenange... · Crazy Courier Joined: 01 Jul 2006 Karma :

i just had problem after problem and the MOT ran out when a piston decided to take out a barrel. In the end i gave in to the 0% SV offer and am breaking now.

And for 33bhp lets just say it had trouble at 85mph. Whipped them out and lets just say under a ton felt boring.
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Past - CG125 ,KR1S, SV650s, Street Triple R - Current - Duke 390

r.bridge1988@gmail.com

Fawbish · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Karma :

haha ace. I cant wait to have a go on the lil bugger, I used to have an nsr125, but that got stolen...after 3 weeks. But that was fun enough. Cant imagine 50 odd brake in that lil frame! hehe

Might not be as fun as my zx6 though, we'll have to see.

Have got some pics now, will post em up soonish
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"Oh....it looks like Average Joe's is forfeiting the match!" - "Yeah, its a risky strategy but lets see if it pays off for 'em Cotton."