canning (04/15/83)
This article submitted by a non net user.
So you love your new GpZ do you? I'd never have known it from the way you
describe your little speed runs. Can you say "break-in time"? Any sap who would
routinely rev a week old motor 1000 rpm past redline deserves what he's likely
to get! Even in a motor as "bulletproof" as a big "Z" parts still require time
to wear in properly.Rings can stick,cylinder bores polish,and bearings can gall
-well I'm sure you get the idea.Aside from the fact that your engine may live
6 months if you are lucky (and never wear in right during the whole time ) do
you have ANY idead what a high speed (say 130 mph ) engine seizure is like?
Relevant referances include: clang-bam,screee...,emergency ward,dealer and
Expensive.Please note that (in my experiance at least ) Kawi parts are
neither extra cheap or particularly easy to come by.Also,your dealer will
most likely chortle softly as he tells you that your warranty is void when
you bring him a basket full of mangled top end parts to fix.If this little
"lecture" makes me sound like a wimp or moped rider (mopedarist?)-FORGET
IT! I love to haul ass (current bike: a much-tweaked KZ550 ) but I also love
good machinery and I hate to see it abused.Of course babying a new motor is
every bit as hard on it as your banzai runs but it is usually a little bit
easier to avoid !The key expression during break-in is COMMON SENSE (yeah,
I know it's misnamed ),and a little restraint of the right wrist during
your new bike's first few hundred miles will let you enjoy GpZ-love for
a lot longer!
Brian Murray
MPR Burnaby
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