Ninjaman12R
Needs a job
as a Deal's Gap tour guide.
Posts: 4767
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posted March 07, 2002 07:01 PM
HELP........Fork Seal Replacement!!!!!!!!
Have any of you guys replaced the fork seals on your 12???
I've got one that is going bad. I guess my fat ass, and the zillion wheelies have finally caught up with me. I looked at the service manual and there are a few specialty tools that are required, or are they???? I can get all my fork parts through Ron Ayers pretty cheap, but only found 2 of the specialty tools on their site. I found the piston rod puller, and the fork seal driver. The puller is cheap, but the seal driver is $69.75, I don't really know if it is necessary to have all these tools, and if it would be a smart to buy them with no more use than I'd get out of them. I am sure that they'd make the job easier, but it may run the expense up so high that I'd be better off sending my forks to racetech or some other place and have the forks upgraded with better components. I'm starting to lean in that direction considering I'm already gonna have to order the piece for my front stand to allow me to lift the bike with the steering stem.
What's my best route to take. I'm a big guy and I know I'm hard on my front suspension with all the wheelies and stuff. Should I go ahead and send them off to be upgraded with heavier springs and better valves, new seals etc. ?
What are some places that do these types of mods that I can trust to do a good job????? I want to do this before good riding weather sets in, which means I need to get to it asap. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!
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What we're dealin' with here is a complete lack of respect for the law.
Sheriff Buford T. Justice of TEXAS
  
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Ninjaman12R
Needs a job
as a Deal's Gap tour guide.
Posts: 4767
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posted March 08, 2002 04:07 AM
Anyone.............
Anybody????? Help a brother out. 
____________
What we're dealin' with here is a complete lack of respect for the law.
Sheriff Buford T. Justice of TEXAS
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harryzx-12
Needs a job
Posts: 3643
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posted March 08, 2002 04:13 AM
Say it ain't so
Damn, I know you haven't slammed the front end down any harder than I have doing 3rd gear wheelie rev limiter checking.I have a tool for installing fork seal on my XL-250 that I could modify. I think you had the best idea in sending them off to get them revalved,heavier fork springs and let them replace the seals why they're at it. GMD computrack did mine. Lubricity sent his rear shock to Racetech.Boy are they ever a fucked up lying bunch of assholes. I used the GMD in Atlanta and they are very professional and proficient.I'm in N. Carolina so call me if you want to.
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"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways- Body thoroughly used up, totally worn out...Screaming "WOO HOO, What a Ride !!!"
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Ninjaman12R
Needs a job
as a Deal's Gap tour guide.
Posts: 4767
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posted March 08, 2002 04:43 AM
Harry........
It's sad but true. The seal on the the right fork is going bad. I know the wheelies didn't help, and may not be the cause, but I DO ride a bunch of 'em. They all don't go picture perfect either, like when you're in the top of second gear and that gust of wind catches your ass and you don't set it down, you slam it down at a lean.
Someone over at labusas told me redelk recently did his fork seals and posted a lot of info over here when he did it. I don't recall seeing it????? But I know redelk, and if he posted about it there will be good detailed information in his post. I'm gonna e-mail him later.
I'll call you today. Shortly if you're through eatin' your captain crunch.
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What we're dealin' with here is a complete lack of respect for the law.
Sheriff Buford T. Justice of TEXAS
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sfoda
Parking Attendant
Posts: 23
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posted March 08, 2002 05:03 AM
I too had to replace my right fork seal. I also think it was from hard landings learning to wheelie the 12. I took the forks off my bike and dropped them off at the Kaw dealer. He knew the deal, but replaced the seals (in both forks) under warranty.
I felt even if I bought the tools, how many time have I done it and how many time will I use the tools again? I'm one for doing all my own work, but that is one thing thats just easier for me to farm out. Remember, they didn't get my bike, I dropped the forks off.
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Ninjaman12R
Needs a job
as a Deal's Gap tour guide.
Posts: 4767
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posted March 08, 2002 05:24 AM
sfoda
If I thought I had a "snowballs chance in hell" of getting my dealer to do this under warranty I would. A guy I know with a 750 Vulcan couldn't get one replaced in his bike that was less than than a year old under warranty at the dealership where I got my 12. I've got a person on the inside there, but he and the shop guys are shall we say, at odds with each other. I just figured I'd avoid the dealer, but might be able to get my hands on the tools for a weekend.
I really don't know, I'd like to upgrade in a lot of ways. But then again I'm really tired of shelling out $$$$$ on the bike right now. It's not the bikes fault, It didn't actually need all the stuff I put on it this winter. But it sure does run, and look MUCH better. I may try and send them off to the guys that did Harry's forks. I'm definitely gonna call them and get a price. I'll look at all options before I make a move. I'd kinda like to even do the upgrade myself and get more familiar with the front suspension, but the tool issue comes up again. I know that it'll all work out one way or another. I appreciate all your suggestions.
____________
What we're dealin' with here is a complete lack of respect for the law.
Sheriff Buford T. Justice of TEXAS
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EastBayDave
Needs a job
Posts: 2245
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posted March 08, 2002 06:47 AM
http://www.le-suspension.com/
Check out this site...
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Enjoy the ride!
02' ZRX1200
00' ZX12R sold
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Ninjaman12R
Needs a job
as a Deal's Gap tour guide.
Posts: 4767
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posted March 08, 2002 09:02 AM
Thanks Dave....
I checked out their site. They have an impressive track record. I've already talked to the guys at GMD Computrack, but I'm gonna call the guys at Lindemann as well.
____________
What we're dealin' with here is a complete lack of respect for the law.
Sheriff Buford T. Justice of TEXAS
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EastBayDave
Needs a job
Posts: 2245
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posted March 08, 2002 11:34 AM
Lindermann is well known around these parts (Bay Area), but they are NOT the only game in town (JE does have a reputation for being the best -as well as the most expensive.) The thing I like about him is he did great work for me when he worked at Fox 20 years ago, & helped to design the first "twin-clicker" shock f/Fox for the GPz series KAW's (previously seen on dirtbikes.)
That prototype shock ended up on my racebike- (along w/partial sponsorship) on a 83' GPz1100 (I still wonder where that bike/steel-bodied shock ended up...people tell me that custom painted bike is seen ocasionally? I still miss that 1170cc beastie racebike/streetbike. One fast SOB, sold it in 1992') 
I'd also like to do the gold nitride coating treatment (they also offer black & purple colors), but the $350 extra is a bit much for this poorboy.
Just about any GOOD sportbike/moto-x shop should be able to rebuild shocks/forks on most bikes. Find the local shop for you & save shipping costs; BUT check on the reputation first. If it's good & they warranty their work, why not give them a try?
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Enjoy the ride!
02' ZRX1200
00' ZX12R sold
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Ninjaman12R
Needs a job
as a Deal's Gap tour guide.
Posts: 4767
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posted March 08, 2002 11:43 AM
Circuit One.....
Called a place in Oregon called Circuit one, and the guy there called the 12 a "Bubba Gump Bike". I said Bubba Gump bike??? He was like,...yeah you ever looked at that thing from the front. Duh....., I've never ever looked at the front of my own bike. What an ass, didn't have much positive to say about Kaws in general. But I see and hear that a lot.
He did tell me something I found interesting. Said that the 12 didn't have a spring preload adjustment on the forks. He said it was a ride height adjustment???? What's up with that????
____________
What we're dealin' with here is a complete lack of respect for the law.
Sheriff Buford T. Justice of TEXAS
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EastBayDave
Needs a job
Posts: 2245
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posted March 08, 2002 12:04 PM
 Edited By: EastBayDave on 8 Mar 2002 12:05
Not surprised. I called them in 99' on my ZRX11, & was told "that's not a sport bike!" (http://www.circuit1.com/) What is a ZRX1100? Ah...ignorance is bliss?
These guys are a die-hard sportbike place, specializing on the popular current racebikes: R1, GSXR, CBR9xx.
There are many of these places around. If your not a racer or don't own one of these bikes, they don't want to hear from you. Kawasaki? What's that? They stick to the popular racebikes that win (stock production roadracing classes, or the squid streetbike crowd), & ignore the rest of the "no profit availability" bikes out there. Can't say I blame them really.
I've gotten the same attitude from numerous performance specialty shops: Yoyodyne, Graves, etc. Least there are a few QUALITY shops out there that know what word of mouth can do.
Best stick to the shops that have the reputation of working on our specific bikes, or will work on ANYTHING, as that's where the knowledgable employee's will be. Not these other boneheads...
____________
Enjoy the ride!
02' ZRX1200
00' ZX12R sold
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Ninjaman12R
Needs a job
as a Deal's Gap tour guide.
Posts: 4767
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posted March 08, 2002 12:58 PM
So Far.....
So far the guys at GMD Computrack seem by far the best choice for me if I ever decide 100% on what I'm gonna do. I'm still 50/50 on the deal.
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What we're dealin' with here is a complete lack of respect for the law.
Sheriff Buford T. Justice of TEXAS
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Ninjaman12R
Needs a job
as a Deal's Gap tour guide.
Posts: 4767
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posted March 09, 2002 05:23 AM
Oh yeah......
Harry had his forks reworked at GMD Computrack and he loves them. I know he is an ignorant wheelie riding big MF like me. So that's one more reason they'll probably get my business. They have a shop in Atlanta, but they are all gone to Daytona this week. That's who I'll more than likely get to do it if I "Farm" the job out. Redelk sent me a bunch of pictures yesterday from when he changed his fork oil which gave me a better idea on some of the teardown, assembly process. I'm pretty sure now that I can make all the tools I'd need. I'd just have to have a fork tore down to get measurements and stuff.
I can't do anything until my converter for my pit bull front stand gets here. Unless I get creative with my cherry picker and some straps.
____________
What we're dealin' with here is a complete lack of respect for the law.
Sheriff Buford T. Justice of TEXAS
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