French ZXR400H2

[groniko]

Hello every body

First, sorry for my language, but I am french guy.
Second, thank you for this great web site, I have learn many things on my bike with it.

I am 35 years old, and it my 8th bike, the 3rd kawasaki (1000RX 1988, ZX6R 2000 and this one).
I live in savoy, close to Chambery, in the heart of Alps.
My bike is a H2 from 1990, I had sale it in year 2003.

The picture shows it this winter



When I sale it, it was not in very good statement, tires where tired, fork has O ring problem, carburation was not OK, many craks in the fairing and a hideous blue screen, but the engine was running.
Year after year, I improve it.
I have rebuilt myself breakes (pad + liquid), O ring of the forks (thank you for explanations of the site)+ oil (grade 10W), and put a 16 teeth sprocket.
And I have make doing by a proffesionnal the setting of carburators.

ZXR 400 is a great bike for me, because it is not efficient (!), it is very tiring to drive it fast.
It is a really joy machine, a wonderfull toy.
1 hour of ZXR clean out my head better than all medicaments.
Clearelly hillness insurance must pay it back ...
I hope I can continue to run it many years.

My goal with this bike is to conserve it in genuine aspect at the top of the performance.
So, I am looking for some informations and maybe some genuine parts.

Informations :
I am looking for upgrading the suspensions. What kind of brend new shock and springs for my fork can I found, because mines are a bit tired. Can I use a L1991 model rear shock (because swing arm is the same I have understand) ? Is really the fork of my bike the same of the L1991 model ?

Parts :
I am looking for a top front genuine fairing, rear chain gard, complete rear plastic support.

[RedexRobB]

Hello groniko, welcome to the site! Sounds like you are keeping your ZXR well looked after!

As for the suspension, check out our parts and tuning directory, there are a few companis that thay might be able to supply you with some upgrade. You can use the rear shock from an L1 model on the H model. The only difference is there is no remote reservoir.

The front forks i am not 100% sure about, i think the H model forks are slightly shorter or longer (i cant remember which).

For the other parts you need i would reccomend ebay or a kawasaki dealer if you have the money to buy brand new

[groniko]

Thank you for your quick response.

I can unfortunatelly not buy all brend new .

But every year, I make something on my bike, step by step.
My biggest problem is the fork, too soft (smooth) for me (1,8 m tal, 85 kg). I have screwing the preload at the maximum, but it is not enough.
So I am firstelly looking for springs for the fork, because it is easy (but more expensive : öhlins 780€ !!) to have a rear shock for a L1.
If I can upgrade the fork, maybe I will buy a rear shok after, but if I can not upgrade the fork, there is no interest for changing the rear shock.
Do you someone who have change these front fork spring on a H2 ? where can I found such springs ?

[zimm]

hi ! and welcome to the site !

i know Chambery and that area a bit, lived just outside bourg st maurice for a few years . beautiful area, just stunning, and fantastic roads too !

H forks are longer than L's by a few cm, so swapping over is a no no.. L forks arent really better anyway. As Rob says L shocks fit (just fitted a 1991 L shock to my H1)

for a cheap fix on the forks try some spacers under the fork tops to increase preload further and some thicker oil.

[masterofinsanity]

Hi and welcome to zxrworld, i hope you will be becoming a regular visitor, there's plenty to learn on here.Have you thought of upgrading the forks to zx6r?

[groniko]

What do you mean : change the fork with a ZX6R model ?
Why not, but I don't whant to change all the front of my bike ! I whant to conserve the maximum of genuine parts (wheel, brakes ...). And I suppose it will be expensiver than just change springs.

I have already think to put spacers in my fork, maybe the first thing to try. I know someone who can machining such spacer for me. Someone has an idea of the spacers length ?
I will do machining 10, 15, 20 and 25 mm and begin with the smaller.

I promise to write something on this experience on the forum .

[zimm]

if the spacer idea doesnt work out, try these guys .. it'll cost a bit more for sure, but they should be able to sort you out with something close to perfect, sorry, i dont know of any french companies that provide the same service, but im sure there are some out there .. think there's somewhere in Annecy, but not 100% on that.

http://www.k-tech.uk.com/roadrace.php

http://www.maxton.netspinners.co.uk/

[masterofinsanity]

What do you mean : change the fork with a ZX6R model ?

seems to be a popular mod, read this...http://zxrworld.co.uk/zxr400oc/viewtopi ... 588#p43588