Author Topic: 2001 ZRX1200R is my baby CB550FB is my daydream (Read 10798 times)

FrankenFrankenstuff · « **on:** July 13, 2011, 07:31:40 PM »

OK sukkas. I love my ZRX. I am the original owner, sat on it on the showroom floor and bought it. I am a member over on the ZRX forums....but they are a different breed. The only modifications so far have been simple plastic add ons like the hugger and the seat cover. No need to mess with it.
Anyone else on here with a ZRX?

Here is a link to my nutty CB550FB
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=70436.msg782070#msg782070

Stev-o · « **Reply #1 on:** July 13, 2011, 08:43:41 PM »

Very nice! What year is it Frankie?

And please explain what type of breed they are.

FrankenFrankenstuff · « **Reply #2 on:** July 13, 2011, 08:50:28 PM »

Steve O, it is a 2001. They are the breed that takes a bike which is about 140hp and then try to make it go faster and harder than they will ever take it. The Breed that will replace all stock hoses with overpriced stainless braided European.. I might just be jelous. Just feel more comfortable here.

zoo mob · « **Reply #3 on:** July 14, 2011, 09:46:48 PM »

I don't own one, but want one pretty bad. I'm guessing going from my CB750K0 to a ZRX will be a bit of a change. I've been looking pretty obsessively and will probably pounce as soon as I see one at the right price. Anything I should know or look for?

RRRToolSolutions · « **Reply #4 on:** July 15, 2011, 05:04:28 AM »

I bought mine brand new too in 2001. Mine was a 2000 ZRX1100 in Black/Gray seen below. Wonderful engine, fantastic brakes, but absolutely miserable when trying to ride any real distance. 200 miles and I wanted off that thing. I bought a new, 2009 ST1300 and sold my ZRX with 6,200 miles to a guy in Chicago and don't regret it.

One thing I did not like is the way it fell-in on the corners. I never had confidence in deep cornering - it gave the sensation of loosing the front-end in a low side. Dunlop 220's helped that, but not entirely. The factory Bridgestone BT57's were horrible. After 1,000 miles or so, they were pointed because their soft, dual compound sides would wear off and the hard, high-mileage designed center tread was still in place - leaving a tire that was more like a triangle than round. Talk about falling into a corner - it was the worst I've ever ridden with the Bridgestones. I still have some pics of those tires....the round one is the Dunlop. Notice the top of the Bridgestone - it's triangulated after 1,000 miles - those sides just go away then you have almost no rubber on which to make a partial lean - it's all or none - scary.

Gordon

FrankenFrankenstuff · « **Reply #5 on:** July 15, 2011, 07:11:08 AM »

You have an old S90 as well!? Too funny. About Cornering. I had some soft Metzlers that lasted about 5K so I went back to the stock Dunlops....10K. My bike now has 25K on it and is still teaching me new tricks.

Here is the thread for my S90.
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=80632.0

RRRToolSolutions · « **Reply #6 on:** July 15, 2011, 04:38:49 PM »

You could say I just love old bikes. Yes, the S90 was the first real motorcycle I ever owned at age 11. We lived on a farm and I had to work a lot of extra projects in my free time to pay my dad back the $100 it cost him for a used 1966 in 1969. This is it's replacement, one of the first bikes I went looking for when I started this hobby 12 years ago. Now the hobby has spread to bikes I had, friends had, and bikes I always wanted but couldn't afford. Gordon

crackerbat · « **Reply #7 on:** July 15, 2011, 07:53:18 PM »

Quote from: Frankenstuff on July 13, 2011, 08:50:28 PM

Steve O, it is a 2001. They are the breed that takes a bike which is about 140hp and then try to make it go faster and harder than they will ever take it. The Breed that will replace all stock hoses with overpriced stainless braided European.. I might just be jelous. Just feel more comfortable here.

Yep lol. Got us pegged. I'm actually more comfortable here as well.
There are some major respect guys there. Like, an old guy who used to race against Eddie Lawson back in the day.

Theres a guy that turns out titanium for about everything you could make titanium for on a zrx.

I've been to the drag strip with some of those guys, and seen the turbo's in action.

That said, they are a real shirt off their back crowd. When i was a fresh newb years ago over there, a guy took the time to run me a plug boot over on his break at work.

Just.. what ever you do, if you value your sanity, do NOT go to the Politics & Religion area...

love the hump seat mod

and you got one in the proper color

FrankenFrankenstuff · « **Reply #8 on:** July 15, 2011, 08:35:01 PM »

I had the bike absolutely stock until last year. Did the round headlight, hugger..ug. Just got an undertail to eliminate the stock. I have made my own muffler bracket and some stock peg repositioners but not mounted yet.

HawaiiMike · « **Reply #9 on:** August 13, 2011, 08:22:59 AM »

I think Gordon's Y2K black paint job is one of the best for the ZRX. I had two ZRX's over the years. They're very fast and heavy. I switched to a Speed Triple and liked it's lighter weight better.

If Kawasaki offered the same lime green color as the ELR I would probably keep one.

Now I have a KZ1000 and a KZ900. Not near as fast as a ZRX, that's okay I won't end up in jail for speeding. The KZ's feel lighter than a ZRX. Maybe not - the seat heights are lower too, that might be why I perceive them as being lighter.

FrankenFrankenstuff · « **Reply #10 on:** August 31, 2011, 08:10:06 PM »

This was a month after I got out of the hospital for a slipped disc.

wannabridin · « **Reply #11 on:** September 01, 2011, 03:24:19 PM »

Quote from: HawaiiMike on August 13, 2011, 08:22:59 AM

I switched to a Speed Triple

that's one of my all time dream bikes... i WILL have one soon. the only reason i havent bought one yet is because i know i wouldn't get off the damn thing once i had it!! i was the official tester of speed triples when i used to work on triumph's and bimmers in Denver. they ALWAYS let me break em in or diagnose them when they came in! i was quite lucky that year!!

FrankenFrankenstuff · « **Reply #12 on:** October 12, 2011, 08:01:40 PM »

Here is a light pipe idea that I am messing with. This is rev 3 and not final. I am also switching the headlight, blinkers and doing a fender eliminator. I am saving all original parts to switch back. Its just that I have had the bike bone stock for 10 years and DANG I need to mess with it.

srbakker · « **Reply #13 on:** October 12, 2011, 09:08:51 PM »

Always loved those, but I too went the way of the Speed Triple. It's a howl. I also have a Tiger, which my distance rig.

Danno · « **Reply #14 on:** October 12, 2011, 09:53:24 PM »

Dude try D404 Dunlops If you want to corner out of your mind they are very sticky and will give you track like performance

FrankenFrankenstuff · « **Reply #15 on:** November 17, 2011, 07:27:18 PM »

I have done a little work to my bike. New headlight and blinkers.

srbakker · « **Reply #16 on:** November 18, 2011, 01:19:17 PM »

Nice looking headlight! Is that rear seat cowl carbon fiber? Your bike is looking sharp - kind of evil and street fighterish. Time to break out the matte black spray bomb!

andy750 · « **Reply #17 on:** November 18, 2011, 02:03:26 PM »

This is one I rode in Japan - 2up. Not so comfortable on the back after a couple of hours:

So i got my own bike:

but the ZRX handles well 2-up:

http://youtu.be/MZ1zOK_tnEU

cheers
Andy

FrankenFrankenstuff · « **Reply #18 on:** November 18, 2011, 02:15:29 PM »

The seat cowl is just a vacuum formed Powerbronz item. It was cheap and easy. I was just sick of that big ol seat look and not willing to cut, or buy a Corbin. I try to keep my baby stock. The headlight has been an evolving project. I kept the bike bone stock and polished until last year, then went to a round headlight. Slowly changing things but nothing too nutty.
Andy man you get around!! WTF! what do you do for work? Are you hiring?

andy750 · « **Reply #19 on:** November 18, 2011, 03:40:59 PM »

I got lucky and had to go to Japan for work on/off for 5 years. On my first visit there I met Yuri - a veteran biker who rode a VMax...she tried out the ZRX for a few years then went back to the Vmax. She rides into Tokyo everyday to work and has been riding for the last 20 yrs. Since I met her she has taken me all round Japan by bike. Very lucky.

Here she is watching sunset over the Sea of Japan on Sado-go-shima.

cheers
Andy

FrankenFrankenstuff · « **Reply #20 on:** October 08, 2012, 03:46:26 PM »

Switched from stock bars, to clip ons to a low rise superbike bar. Dialed in and perfect.

Leino · « **Reply #21 on:** October 13, 2012, 10:11:26 AM »

I was working on a ZRX 1200 based cafe racer this past week, nice engine.

FrankenFrankenstuff · « **Reply #22 on:** October 13, 2012, 02:03:43 PM »

I absolutely love this bike. Daily rider it is great, then go out on the weekend and act like a warrior. Check out www.ExpensiveLightweightStuff.com for aftermarket stuff. ZRXOA forum is another spot for info on these bikes.

Godffery · « **Reply #23 on:** April 11, 2017, 10:08:19 AM »

Hey Man,
I recently became a ZRX owner and ran across this thread.
So I'm wondering how you like the fitment of that seat Cowl?

Mine...

sinister902 · « **Reply #24 on:** April 11, 2017, 11:24:09 AM »

dammit I've been keeping an eye out for a zrx1200 in that gorgeous plasma blue.....it's a def on my "bikes to own" list.

awesome bike godffrey

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Author Topic: 2001 ZRX1200R is my *baby* CB550FB is my *daydream* (Read 10798 times)

Author Topic: 2001 ZRX1200R is my baby CB550FB is my daydream (Read 10798 times)