ZG1200 Experience 99

[Nails]

My clutch had progressively been feeling crappy and I'm surprised it even worked at all,....

All the replies to "Noob here, just bought an XII" start with "change all the fluids". Over the first few months, I did. Every single one was way over-due.
Stand-outs: I needed three radiator flushes with the real flush stuff to get a clean return. That pus-like gelatinous goo in my shocks ... I'll just say it was hard to clean out. After SeaFoam in the crankcase, my 2-week old motor oil was seriously skanky -- and still was for the next two 2-week oil changes (this after pulling and cleaning the pan).
But my clutch oil was just the garden-variety black water substance.
Change ALL the fluids.

[SgtSlag]

You can add some SeaFoam to the open forks, when you go to change the fluid, then manually compress them, up/down, 4-5 times, to flush the crud out -- it only takes a few strokes to dissolve any varnish/crud which might be present. Then drain, of course, and refill.

You can also run on Dexron III-VI ATF in your forks (version VI is fully synthetic, should last twice as long): it is highly detergent, so it will scrub the guts of your forks out, as you ride; it is a solid 8 Weight oil, never varying in viscosity, just like regular fork oil, and the 8 Weight is not bad to ride with. Cheers!

[cbrfxr67]

sgtslag! That's what I used,..atf. Been ok so far! Haven't done much but fixed horn and riding it to work here and there. My bud that I fixed it for has kind of gone quiet as far as wanting to get it over to his place. I dunno what's up with that but gives me more time to enjoy it

[cbrfxr67]

Nothing really new to report on. Been taking it out here and there. My buddy says that he doesn't have room for it so old girl is hanging out with me. I dunno if my speedo is right,.........maybe someone can advise. I was kind of hammering on it Saturday and on a back road throttled it up and it doesn't feel like I'm going 65-70 in second gear. Is that right? Sure it was a blast and at 90 it feels more like 45. Floating along like nothing! Anyways, I haven't done anything else to it but cruise around enjoying it.

[Nails]

Good to hear from you. You did a lot of work on what some of us thought was junk.
The stock speedos read a few % high, but the odometer generally is right. There's an alternate part to put the speedo right and the odometer short (search here). I like that mod, but others like stock better.
I've barely gotten my bike out the driveway, and I don't have much experience with rapping it out in low gears. But I'm sure I can merge onto the freeway in second.

[tnpete]

sgtslag! That's what I used,..atf. Been ok so far! Haven't done much but fixed horn and riding it to work here and there. My bud that I fixed it for has kind of gone quiet as far as wanting to get it over to his place. I dunno what's up with that but gives me more time to enjoy it

Care to share what you did to the horn? Mine's not working also. But have not dug into it yet.

[cbrfxr67]

Wow haven't been on in awhile! I still have the old girl as my buddy is fiddling around saying he doesn't have space etc etc. I told him I should just sell it so someone could be enjoying it but he adamantly said that he still wanted it. Took it out this weekend and cruised around. It's such a great bike. Thinking to start riding it regularly as my own!



Sorry I missed your horn question tnpete! I'm trying to even remember what I did. Hopefully you got yours working!

Thanks Nails! I really like this bike! Hope you've gotten yours out n about more often than not lately!

[cbrfxr67]

Well, except for random parts, my journey has come to an end with my back from the dead Voyager. Voya Con Dios to a great bike! My bronlaw down in Matamoros asked me to find him a bike so they came and picked it up last night.

I should find another one. For as cheap as it was, it really delivered with power and was a blast to ride! I'd love to do a naked voyager with bags,... hmmmmm

[Nails]

Hope you've gotten yours out n about more often than not lately!

Not too much -- I injured my left wrist. But yesterday was able to pull the clutch three times in a row! I might ride it to town this evening, electric gear and all.

I'd love to do a naked voyager

There's a special name for that: Bandit.