Crash Bars or Bungs ?

[ARCHIVE_gosupes]

go figure

So I go into the local bike dealer, which just happens to be a Kawasaki dealer, to get a tire mounted and balanced. He is filling out the work order with my name and phone number. He asks for the year and model - I just brought the rim down, not the whole bike. I tell him it's for a 1985 ZL900. He looks at me and said "Who makes that?" I guess I should have expected that, he wasn't much older than the bike.

 

[ARCHIVE_kawasaki-krazy]

 

[ARCHIVE_Rocket]

Mine's been missing the side cover badges since I painted it (they were just temp fitted for the pics). I've had close to fifty people ask me what is it? I say "ZL1000" and they usually say "Z1000?" or "ZR1000?”. Now where does ZR1000 come from? People are typically thinking of another model before listening for an answer to their own question. I gotta say it's as frustrating as someone asking how to spell Smith or Brown.

I've had two people say "I used to have one of those, sorry I sold it" (both of them were sorry). Another came across at a servo in the middle of NSW and asked "what is it?" and in the same breath he said "because I had a ZL1000 and this one looks similar but it's not the same." I then confirmed it IS a ZL1000 and he says "are you sure?" (Does a bear **** in the woods? I'm thinking).

One guy saw me giving her a drink (again) and stopped his XJ900S to find out what it is and how to get hold of one. Specifically he was after a shaft drive four with a low seat height and said that in all of his 40years of riding, mine was the first he has seen that fits all of his criteria.

I'm currently waitng for the badges to be gold plated. Yes, I know they weren't originally gold, but Gold is cheaper (AUD30.00ea) than anodizing and hey, they'll look the part none the less. Perhaps I should leave them off to keep the strangers guessing on the model

Just a couple of tales...

 

[ARCHIVE_Rossco1]

Hiya guys/Rocket ... yep I know exactly what ya mean .. given there's so few of the ZL1000's over here in Oz .. it doesn't matter where I go .. I get asked about mine. Am slowly converting the local Z900/Z1000 Owners club too .. hehe .. I rocked up on mine and they allowed me to join their club. Since joining .. one of the other "Z" club members has bought a ZL1000, (Doode), ... just after he got it his brother had a ride on it and is now looking for one too. Another guy in the club had been to look at mine before I bought it off EBay so he missed out on that one but is still looking for one. I know of two other guys in the club who are looking for ZL1000's too!!!

There's not too many people over here in Oz who know anything about them .. let alone have seen one. Those who do know about 'em want one!

The "Eliminator" legend lives on!!!!!!!!!

 

[ARCHIVE_gosupes]

Just curious, what years and sizes of the ZL's were sold in Oz?

 

[ARCHIVE_ICEMAN]

"I gotta say it's as frustrating as someone asking how to spell Smith or Brown"

I get that all the time with my name; "Flake"
It's a shame there's people just that stupid in this world...

 

[ARCHIVE_Rocket]

... yes and unfortunately, in this country, it's compulsory for them to vote

 

[ARCHIVE_joealso]

Get this -- my wife and i were out in the country on a nice ride this past sunday when we pulled into an old country gas station/grocery store/local hangout. As we're gassing up, an old Black man, probably in his 60's, greying hair, worn plaid shirt and well worn/worked in jeans comes out and starts talking about his gold wing at home. Nice guy.

He looks at mine and says, "Yeah, i used to have a kawasaki, years ago. Man, that bike was quick. Real quick."

I say, "What size was it?"

" 1000. Man, that was a quick bike!"

So i point at mine, "Yeah, that's a 900. It's an '85. You probably had a '86 1000."

"Yeah" he says, "86. Or maybe 87."

He looks at mine and doesn't even seem to register the similarities. All he keeps saying is, "Man, that bike was quick"

 

[ARCHIVE_Rocket]

Now it's this type of feedback we need to get to KHI for their next round of ZL1200 model releases. I suspect they produce/focus on sports bikes because that's what they sell and subsequently hear from their owners. There are very few (comparatively speaking) Eliminator owners and therefore nothing in the way of feedback to the KHI marketing department. I believe if they heard the passion expressed by Eliminator owner/riders they would surely change their tune.

What ever happened when bike manufacturers went out on a limb and produced something truly unique like an in-line four shaft drive cruiser/drag bike instead of the garden variety V twin cruiser (as nice as they are)? The development cost could be insignificant; I believe they could use the original design (giving us interchangeability) with only a few exceptions:

ZRX1200 motor,
Upgraded electrics/switch blocks,
Modern instruments but in the ZL1000 style,
Mean Streak front end,
Mean Streak wheels,
Larger tank (but remaining interchangeable with the ’87, with the later KHI improved mounts), and
Inclusion of a centre stand.

In my view, they MUST keep the original exhaust because there nothing else on the market that could go anywhere near the aesthetics of ours; they need only upgrade the internals (for performance) and modify the collector box to accommodate a centre stand and mounts.

Has anyone got any ideas on how to convey these sediments to KHI in the most favourable manner?

 

[vinny]

I hope not to need either, but what is the considered opinion ?
Are crash bars better than bungs ?
I like the retro style look of bars myself, but know that they are hard to obtain for or beloved eliminator.
So, what about bungs ?
I have found some on the ZRX-OC site that seem to be highly thought of, and we share a very similar engine.
http://www.rg-racing.com//showprodu...rash_Protectors/ZRX1100_Crash_Protectors.aspx
So what do you reckon ?

 

[zlMark]

I have yet to see a zl with those installed. Go for it

 

[MachIV]

There`s a guy on the ZRXOA site selling em for $67 delivered.
May cost you a little extra being in the UK.

 

[Stormy]

...in that low position, they'd also double as substitute highway pegs too.

 

[87ZLSgtUSMC86]

what is a bung? I went to the ZRX Site and couldn't find em, curious what they would look like, especially if they could double as highway bars....Thanks

 

[Wstar425]

I also could not link to the site. Never heard of bungs, are they the same thing as "sliders" ? Crash bar looks like it should do the trick on the ZL, though I hope we never find out for sure.........

 

[vinny]

The first link I posted is not working now, but went over to ZRXOA site and found these sliders (bungs) for sale. Pictures included in thread. Have a look and see what you think.

http://zrxoa.org/forums/showthread.php?t=24520

Or go to the website of the guy who makes them and also spools for the swingarm.

http://www.champindustries.net/zrx.html

 

[Wstar425]

I did get into the ZRX site and saw the pics. I don't know much about those, they seem to be sort of "crotch rocket" based although the ZRX is not one. I remember reading something about the attachment point needing to be on the frame and not the engine. Otherwise, when it goes over, it can damage some cases I suppose. He mentions this on his web site link in the first post.

I think anything firmly attached down there would help in case of an accident as long as it was attached correctly. I would think the crash bar would be better protection, but if you were looking for something less obtrusive, that should help. Or, you couldn't get the crash bar/caseguard.

I'd say email him and ask about them for the ZL, maybe he will make some specific for this model.

 

[87kawzl]

I'm putting sliders on after my 1000 after my first big stoppie!
"case saver" is much better than anything listed as "crash bars"
a "bung" is what tightens up when you start thinking "case saver"!

 

[jmac]

I would think they should work fine.Might not have as much protection,but should give a cleaner look.

 

[SnakeDoctor]

Can the bungs be fitted on a ZL900 without mods?