Front Forks, Which one ?

BlackZ1R wrote: First thing to better handling on the Z is to replace the balls with tapered bearings. I have two '78s here that handle really well and brake way better than necessary, all with careful mods to stock components.
Don't buy in to needing to upgrade or replace parts just to be following a trend. My '78 KZ and Z1-R handle and brake well enough to keep you safely in the game in any situation this side of just plain jackassery :blink: on the riders part.

With the correct fork springs, damper rod mods, oil weight or even Race Tech emulators installed, your stock forks will do anything you want to do while riding to Starbucks :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: . I don't do Starbucks :whistle: :evil: .

A good TeleFix fork brace and a properly mounted steering damper really settles these bikes down in the curves.
I prefer single discs up front on my KZ. Brakes well enough and looks so much cleaner than duals. Both Z1-Rs have dual discs, they are stronger brakes, but are heavier bikes coming into the game. I've never gotten into a situation that the 130/80-18 rear was a hindrance either. Just never knew why a Z would need a 180/55 rear tire unless you're on the drag strip every weekend.

So there you have it. Unless you're hitting the track with your bike, maximize the stock components and enjoy the bike.

Thank you ,thank you ,thank you!

blackz1r has a few zrx's and one that is really nasty. :evil:

so don't think he hasn't ever rode anything else to compare to.
he has flogged some modern bikes and if he says he can get adequate handling and braking out of one of these old beast with some tweaks,he means it.

leon

Just do whatever floats your boat, because no matter what you do someone is always going to say you're wrong.

Kawasaki used tapered bearings on the ZX11, but went back to ball bearings for the ZX12 and ZX14, even the ZX10R uses ball bearings in the steering head.
Kind of makes you wonder, don't it.

Switching from ball bearings to tapered roller bearings is so easy even I could (and did) do it and it is IMHO well worth doing. Get an All-Balls kit from Z1E. Properly tuned stock forks work well enough on the street unless you plan to do funny things. The stock rear shocks were never good, but there are plenty of aftermarket options that will improve your bike's handling. I like my Hagons. Are you experiencing a handling issue that you are trying to correct or just trying to make the bike look different? In addition to replacing steering stem bearings a great many handling issues can be solved by changing fork oil and putting in the correct amount of the correct weight/type fork oil, installing quality shocks, installing quality tires, and ensuring the swingarm bushings are not worn and if so replacing them. Ed