Seeker
20-09-21, 11:14 AM
Tomorrow I'm heading to Chris Walker Kawasaki to test ride a newer Z900RS to see if the gearbox clunks, they'll also ride mine to see if I have a problem.
Deja vu - I let another dealer ride mine one year ago and they observed what I was talking about but between the dealer and Kawasaki UK they didn't think it a problem. I do.
The problem concerns 6th gear, it is harder to get into 6th without minor noises and impossible to get out and back into 5th without a "clunk". All other gears work fine although nowhere close to the SV gearbox's operation.
In the last year I've approached about 20 Z900RS owners and questioned them about their gearboxes - none of them claim to have the issue but all are aware of it. Either I'm over sensitive and picky (possible, oh alright ... likely) or they're numb and insensitive. I've had bikes with notchy (but consistent) gearboxes, I've never had one that couldn't be made to change without a noise, until now.
If the demo bike doesn't clunk, I'd like to trade it for mine. Judging by the Z900RS forum a non-clunking bike is likely but it's a gamble - there are a few observing the same issue and I'd hate to get another brand new bike with the same problem.
If the demo bike does clunk then I'll throw in the towel and look for a different bike although, honestly, there aren't many bikes that I covet currently. I do like the Triumph T100 but it's heavier than the Zed (how is that possible?)
My Kawasaki dealer was 2 miles away but Kawasaki UK wanted more floor space and stock so Robspeed (the dealer) dropped the franchise and now I'm riding 65 miles to the next one (although the Hull dealer is closer). It's a toss up which is worse, navigating Hull or trying to get around Lincoln with its one-and-a-half bypasses (the eastern bypass doesn't connect with the A46 like the western bypass).
Deja vu - I let another dealer ride mine one year ago and they observed what I was talking about but between the dealer and Kawasaki UK they didn't think it a problem. I do.
The problem concerns 6th gear, it is harder to get into 6th without minor noises and impossible to get out and back into 5th without a "clunk". All other gears work fine although nowhere close to the SV gearbox's operation.
In the last year I've approached about 20 Z900RS owners and questioned them about their gearboxes - none of them claim to have the issue but all are aware of it. Either I'm over sensitive and picky (possible, oh alright ... likely) or they're numb and insensitive. I've had bikes with notchy (but consistent) gearboxes, I've never had one that couldn't be made to change without a noise, until now.
If the demo bike doesn't clunk, I'd like to trade it for mine. Judging by the Z900RS forum a non-clunking bike is likely but it's a gamble - there are a few observing the same issue and I'd hate to get another brand new bike with the same problem.
If the demo bike does clunk then I'll throw in the towel and look for a different bike although, honestly, there aren't many bikes that I covet currently. I do like the Triumph T100 but it's heavier than the Zed (how is that possible?)
My Kawasaki dealer was 2 miles away but Kawasaki UK wanted more floor space and stock so Robspeed (the dealer) dropped the franchise and now I'm riding 65 miles to the next one (although the Hull dealer is closer). It's a toss up which is worse, navigating Hull or trying to get around Lincoln with its one-and-a-half bypasses (the eastern bypass doesn't connect with the A46 like the western bypass).