Anyone ever owned a zephyr 750/550? edit: Bought it!

[BravoCharlie]

Good evening!

Hope we are all well.

As the title asks, has anyone ever owned one of the above? I went to view an L reg 750 Zephyr tonight and have pretty much decided to buy it. It was in a good, clean condition, 10months MOT (needs tax), and has 30k on the clock. It fired up first time and sounded lovely! As I say, I'm pretty much sold on it, but just wondered if anyone knew what to look out for?

Thanks,

Barry
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Current: Kawasaki ZL600 Eliminator
Past: Suzuki GZ125, Kawasaki GT550, Kawasaki GPX600R, Honda vrx400,Kawasaki Zephyr 750, Suzuki SV650 K5
Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.

[jjdugen]

Rusty petrol tank seams, rusty, corroded... er, everything. Nice smooth engine with very little in the way of guts or excitement. Looks quite nice in a solid kind of way.
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[BravoCharlie]

Cheers for the heads up, i checked the seals on the tank as my GPX had an issue with them, all seemed good. Slight surface rust near the rear shock but nothing to be concerned about, forks were in good nick. The tank had some scratches but that's nothing to me, it'll be used for a 40mile e/w commute to uni and back mainly.

I've heard the engines were pretty good on them but can get rattling from them from time to time, i had that with the GT550 too though.

Cheers again
____________________
Current: Kawasaki ZL600 Eliminator
Past: Suzuki GZ125, Kawasaki GT550, Kawasaki GPX600R, Honda vrx400,Kawasaki Zephyr 750, Suzuki SV650 K5
Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.

[Islander]

[P.addy]

Whats happening with the VRX?

[BravoCharlie]

Not too pricey at all islander, thanks!


Paddy, I love the bike and dont really want to sell, but i'm gonna be doing a lot of mileage on the bike when i start Uni in september. Its a bit windy on the vrx and uncomfortable over 80mph! I cant afford a second bike, So i put the bike up and never got a cash offer. I'm going to be swapping the bike for the zephyr (plus i gotta pay tax). The zephyr has a screen fitted to it and seemed alright with the wind.as i say, i don't wanna sell but not much i can do
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Current: Kawasaki ZL600 Eliminator
Past: Suzuki GZ125, Kawasaki GT550, Kawasaki GPX600R, Honda vrx400,Kawasaki Zephyr 750, Suzuki SV650 K5
Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.

[andyscooter]

PICand wwere is it mate had one same age but was a minter
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gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
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[BravoCharlie]

Never took many photos as i felt a bit rude... the bikes in lanark, he bought it from saltire motorcycles in edinburgh. The bike behind it is a canadian cb360 import, 40 years old with only 1000 miles on it!

https://i1263.photobucket.com/albums/ii639/bravocharlie1/Mobile%20Uploads/20140727_170554_zpskxr5kvnl.jpg

https://i1263.photobucket.com/albums/ii639/bravocharlie1/Mobile%20Uploads/20140727_170828_zpspg1w2wyq.jpg

https://i1263.photobucket.com/albums/ii639/bravocharlie1/Mobile%20Uploads/20140727_170529_zpsyrdqq5lr.jpg

https://i1263.photobucket.com/albums/ii639/bravocharlie1/Mobile%20Uploads/20140727_170541_zpskjil9aek.jpg
____________________
Current: Kawasaki ZL600 Eliminator
Past: Suzuki GZ125, Kawasaki GT550, Kawasaki GPX600R, Honda vrx400,Kawasaki Zephyr 750, Suzuki SV650 K5
Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.

[Shaft]

Looks very tidy, for 20 years old

I seem to remember contemporary reviewers thought that Kawasaki had done a good job of updating the UJM for a more modern era, so you get the looks of the late 70s/early 80s, but with better handling/brakes etc.

Basically bomb proof heritage engine, not wildly exciting, but good enough.
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[P.addy]

[BravoCharlie]

Thanks Shaft!

The front brakes are braided lines but the back ain't, i've never had a bike with braided hoses and have no idea what they do but I assume they make for better braking? Is it easy to convert the rear too?

The guy seems pretty genuine and looks after his bikes, this is just too heavy for him as he sadly had a car accident a while back, so my wee Honda would be good for him and his bike seems ideal for what i need it to do!

The general idea then is that, whilst not the most exciting bike, it has a reliable engine?
____________________
Current: Kawasaki ZL600 Eliminator
Past: Suzuki GZ125, Kawasaki GT550, Kawasaki GPX600R, Honda vrx400,Kawasaki Zephyr 750, Suzuki SV650 K5
Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.

[P.addy]

You'll enjoy it regardless

Braided line for the rear, unbolt rubber one, add new washers, bolt new braided line on, bleed brake.

That simple.

[BravoCharlie]

[Kickstart]

Hi

Years ago I landed up playing with a 750 one when I was on the FZ. Quite impressed with how quick it was at normal speeds.

[Clanger]

I've not owned one, but my bike mechanic mate did - and I had the opportunity to ride it. I really loved it, and wished he'd told me it was up for sale before him emigrated, as I'd have bought it. Liked everything about it except the clunky gearbox. But got told I'd have got used to that in time.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[BravoCharlie]

Thanks again guys!

Always good to hear what others have to say. I'm likely to be getting the bike on Thursday, rather excited!
____________________
Current: Kawasaki ZL600 Eliminator
Past: Suzuki GZ125, Kawasaki GT550, Kawasaki GPX600R, Honda vrx400,Kawasaki Zephyr 750, Suzuki SV650 K5
Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.

[BravoCharlie]

https://i1263.photobucket.com/albums/ii639/bravocharlie1/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140731_170605_zpsjf4weu73.jpg


Deal done! Got her home and had a mosey around. The idle screw was insanely low, and although its turned up full now, its sitting under 2k...anyone got any ideas? The switchgears move around freely, i assume theres a way to secure them but i'll look into it. It has that old kawasaki smell i remember from the GT...love it!

More importantly, she pulls so much better than any of my bikes! I want to get used to the bike in the dry but its pissing down today
____________________
Current: Kawasaki ZL600 Eliminator
Past: Suzuki GZ125, Kawasaki GT550, Kawasaki GPX600R, Honda vrx400,Kawasaki Zephyr 750, Suzuki SV650 K5
Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.

[Kickstart]

Hi

The switchgear normally has small plastic pins moulded into it to locate into holes in the bars. Possible those have snapped off. The bars on the bike look a bit to far forward to be standard ones in the standard position so maybe have been swapped and might not have the locating holes (hence someone cutting the pins away).

Looks clean. Except those indicators .

All the best

Keith
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[BravoCharlie]

Thanks keith,


Yes i may have snapped the indicator its now taped up for now! Hoped no one would have noticed!
____________________
Current: Kawasaki ZL600 Eliminator
Past: Suzuki GZ125, Kawasaki GT550, Kawasaki GPX600R, Honda vrx400,Kawasaki Zephyr 750, Suzuki SV650 K5
Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.

[_mjs_]

Never needed to do it myself but heard that heavy duty foil can be used to give slidy switchgears a bit more grip on the handlebars
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Previous Bikes: 2006 Honda XR125L > 2003 Yamaha DT125R > 1996 Honda CB500
Current bikes: 1997 Kawasaki ZZR 600 E5 > 2006 Honda Varadero XL125V

[BravoCharlie]

Noted! I'm going to take it past the mechanics this weekend for a check to make sure all is in order, everything seems well to be fair, think the fuel was maybe stale but I put new fuel in and it ran much better!
____________________
Current: Kawasaki ZL600 Eliminator
Past: Suzuki GZ125, Kawasaki GT550, Kawasaki GPX600R, Honda vrx400,Kawasaki Zephyr 750, Suzuki SV650 K5
Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.

[Islander]

A turn of self amalgamating tape under the switchgear will sort the rotation problem out.

[raak]

nice

https://i1263.photobucket.com/albums/ii639/bravocharlie1/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140731_170605_zpsjf4weu73.jpg

always thought them a good looking bike.
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Previous bikes: Suzuki GT250A / Yamaha DT125 / NTV Honda 650 // currently Suzuki RF900

[BravoCharlie]

I may have spoken too soon.

Finished work early and thought i'd take the bike a proper spin (only place i took it yesterday was the petrol station), as i had to go into town. I got 5 minutes down the road, it lost revs and died. I tried to start it and it was a struggle to get it going and ive managed to get it up the road. When stationary i had to have high revs, same with pulling away, and when i would be dropping gears it would die.

Tried to call him as i was assured the bike was ready to go minus the tax, and his wife tells me he wont be back until Sunday. Anyone got any opinions?
____________________
Current: Kawasaki ZL600 Eliminator
Past: Suzuki GZ125, Kawasaki GT550, Kawasaki GPX600R, Honda vrx400,Kawasaki Zephyr 750, Suzuki SV650 K5
Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.

[Marmaduke]

I got one sat in my garage. Tank full of rust. Check yours.

If it is then well... carb cleaning time!

Good luck finding a replacement tank :p Get it cleaned out if needed.
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Current: '03 Tuono RSV1000, '05 Van Van, '91 Zephyr 550
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