ZX9-R Paint options and recommendations

[brian_H]

Morning all

I have been offered a ZX9-R for very little money by a friend after it's owner sadly died last October.

The bike was running last summer but has not moved or been started for over 12 months. I have seen it once, it looked tidy enough apart from the paintwork which can only be described as vile. (it's purple and pink!)

I won't find out more until next weekend when my friend is back but what can I expect to have to do to get it running?

It has a new battery that has never been fitted.

I am presuming a carb strip down and clean, fuel tank drain and clear out, new plugs, oil and filters. Anything else I should be thinking off? I know it will need tyres but they can wait until I get it going first.

Once I can get it going I intend to strip, tidy, paint and rebuild over this winter ready for me to hit the road (not literally) sometime next spring.

Can anyone give me an idea of the costs involved in a complete respray of ALL plastics. It would be a non standard paint job but I am just talking colours etc not murals/custom style.

Ideally I don't want decals over the paint would rather they where under the clear coat if possible. I realise this will mean they are painted on rather than stuck on.

Also, can anyone recommend a painter. I am based in Cheshire but I could parcel up the plastics and send anywhere if required.

It has also just dawned on my I could get it wrapped. Anyone any experience of this?

I am looking for a professional job not a "that'll do" type. Seeing as the bike is cheap I don't mind spending a bit on paint so it looks spot on.

Thanks for any help/recommendations

Cheers

Brian

[-Cappo-]

A mate of mine is having an FZ750 painted by someone “up country” (we’re in Kent) and that’s costing him around £1500. Don’t know whether he’s having the decals applied or painted. Another mate, who is particular to the point of making aircraft maintenance and operation theatres look scruffy, had his RG500 painted by the same place, so I assume they’re good.

I can find out more if interested, I have a feeling it might be somewhere in Lincolnshire.

[brian_H]

Yes please. That is the kind of figure I had in my head.

Cheers

Brian

[-Cappo-]

Just checked, it's Mark Cordwell in Derby (not Lincs!). I do have a contact number but not sure whether that's in the public domain, so I won't post here but drop me a message if you can't find him.

The FZ is being done with vinyl and lacquer, I noted you wanted the decals painted, so you'd need to ask if he can do that.

[brian_H]

Thank you

I found a number for him, and lot's of posts confirming the quality of his work. If I get the bike I will give him a ring.

If I do get it I will start a post showing the re commissioning.

Cheers

Brian

[carinaman]

I really like the idea of owning a late F variant and really like mean green.

Looking forward to the updates.

[brian_H]

I don't even know what year it is yet, hoping it is as late as possible. Will find out on Friday afternoon when I get to crawl all over it.

I am just hoping it isn't too tired. If it needs new suspension, tyres, paint, carb work I will probably look else ware for something else. If however it doesn't need suspension and the bodywork is in good nick (apart from the vile colour scheme) I will snap it up. The colour scheme is weird and it did occur to me that maybe the last owner used it as a track bike....it could even be wrapped and green underneath!

Lots of questions for me to get answered on Friday.
I will be supergluing my hands behind my back and AWAY from my pockets until I have a proper look at it.

:-)

[flushedmonkey]

The red ones are the fastest, obvs...



While you have the carbs off, remove the cam cover and check the valve clearances and the chain tensioner.

Depending on the age, service history and model, you may need to refurbish the brakes. Even the 6 pots on my E1 weren't difficult to do. I needed new seals and pistons and I replaced the caliper bolts. I did the rears as well. Give the system a really good flush with new fluid and for what it costs I'd rebuild the master cylinder. These braking systems have a bit of a reputation for being hard work but with refurbished master and calipers, fresh fluid and new pads they work extremely well.







If your plan is to sell it then you'll struggle to cover the cost of the paint job even if the bike is cheap. I'm selling this one as I can't ride it any more due to arthritis and there's not much interest.

Edited by flushedmonkey on Monday 3rd August 14:06

[flushedmonkey]

I bet you'll need a battery too.

This is what I've done to mind after buying it 18 months from the first owner who hadn't used it that much recently...

Edited by flushedmonkey on Monday 3rd August 16:19

[twibs]

I paid 1500 to have my fairings repaired and painted in original nc30 colours.
Rob @ Rapier paint work in Hull did a fantastic job, I would suggest going back to standard rather than custom.
Along with getting them booked in early whilst you do the mechanicals.

[rodericb]

What year is it?

Get on ZX9R.net, it's a good forum with some very knowledgeable people.

As per one of the earlier replies, these aren't worth much even when they're immaculate, low mileage, so you've got to think about what money you're throwing into it and "originality" if you do want to sell it in the future. The fancy graphics on them are pretty much decals - you can't buy them OE but there are apparently very good reproductions from a couple of places in eastern Europe.

[srob]

twibs said:

I paid 1500 to have my fairings repaired and painted in original nc30 colours.
Rob @ Rapier paint work in Hull did a fantastic job, I would suggest going back to standard rather than custom.
Along with getting them booked in early whilst you do the mechanicals.

We had some bits painted by Clive who was at Rapier and he did a fantastic job, so I'd happily second a recommendation for them.

[flushedmonkey]

rodericb said:

What year is it?

Lol. These bikes are way more comfortable than more modern sports bikes, still very quick and handle well, don't cost £20k+ and won't fall into obsolescence when a TFT dash dies.

[Yetski]

srob said:

twibs said:

I paid 1500 to have my fairings repaired and painted in original nc30 colours.
Rob @ Rapier paint work in Hull did a fantastic job, I would suggest going back to standard rather than custom.
Along with getting them booked in early whilst you do the mechanicals.

We had some bits painted by Clive who was at Rapier and he did a fantastic job, so I'd happily second a recommendation for them.

Rapier are still on the go, unfortunately Clive passed some time ago, he did many of my bikes over the years, including my ZX9 E1, always a quality job, and from what I've seen online of Robs work he's carried on with Clive's high standards

[srob]

Yetski said:

srob said:

twibs said:

I paid 1500 to have my fairings repaired and painted in original nc30 colours.
Rob @ Rapier paint work in Hull did a fantastic job, I would suggest going back to standard rather than custom.
Along with getting them booked in early whilst you do the mechanicals.

We had some bits painted by Clive who was at Rapier and he did a fantastic job, so I'd happily second a recommendation for them.

Rapier are still on the go, unfortunately Clive passed some time ago, he did many of my bikes over the years, including my ZX9 E1, always a quality job, and from what I've seen online of Robs work he's carried on with Clive's high standards

Thanks, yes I did hear that Clive had passed away but I've also heard that Rapier's quality is still first-class, which I'm pleased to hear

[rodericb]

flushedmonkey said:

rodericb said:

What year is it?

Lol. These bikes are way more comfortable than more modern sports bikes, still very quick and handle well, don't cost £20k+ and won't fall into obsolescence when a TFT dash dies.

I'll have to ride some modern stuff to compare.

[flushedmonkey]

rodericb said:

flushedmonkey said:

rodericb said:

What year is it?

Lol. These bikes are way more comfortable than more modern sports bikes, still very quick and handle well, don't cost £20k+ and won't fall into obsolescence when a TFT dash dies.

I'll have to ride some modern stuff to compare.

Ah, I thought you were saying "dude, what year is it that we're discussing these"! My bad, I'm sorry for the misunderstanding

Nice bike.

[carinaman]

Ten year model history. Seems they evolved quite a bit from the B variants to the F variants.

[rodericb]

carinaman said:

Ten year model history. Seems they evolved quite a bit from the B variants to the F variants.

They did. Originally (the ZX9R B1 to B4) they were a bit more a cross between the ZXR750 and ZZR1100 of the day. For 1996 there was a new ZX6R (J1) and they revamped the 900cc to fit into that chassis, which became the ZX9R C1. I don't know if there's many interchangeable parts between the B's and C's as they were very different bikes . I remember the return of the right-way up forks on the C1 was a surprise given that the previous ZX9R has USD's but Kawasaki were trying to remove weight from the 900 and the RWU forks were lighter than the USD's. The B's were 216kg dry, the C was 183kg dry. Engine power was about the same.

Changes from C to E and to F were more evolutionary from a technical perspective but there was the very noticeable change to the headlights. There was also that anomoly with the C1 with it having pretty much no graphics, which were brought back with the C2 (which mine is).

Edited by rodericb on Wednesday 5th August 01:01

[brian_H]

Thanks for all the info everyone, very helpful.

I am going to see the bike this weekend and see what it is like.

It needs paint and that Black and red colour scheme is fab. Definitely food for thought.

Cheers

Brian