Greetings! I've recently acquired a ZL400, replacing an old Beemer, and I have a few questions 
1. One of the most noticeable differences is the tank, 13 litres vs. 24. And the fuel consumption. I expected a lot better that 15 km/l from a 400! My 30-year-old 1000cc Beemer got 20km/l at legal highway speeds. 150km to reserve (if I'm lucky) and under 200km range is pathetic, not what I'm used to and a bloody nuisance here, there are not a lot of servos on the back roads I prefer and I'm having to stop for fuel every hour or so, to make sure I can get to the next. Strangely, the consumption doesn't vary much from 15km/l no matter if I'm creeping around town on the daily commute, keeping it under 4000rpm, or fanging it on the back roads, going as fast as the roads and the suspension will allow.
2. The front end is pretty light, easily upset by ridges and bumps and a bit floaty in the dirt, needs a very smooth road to go over 130 without twitching and trembling. Big bumps upset it a lot. Might be something to do with the rear weight bias. I'm thinking of trying a different rear tyre next change, it currently has a Dunlop 150/80-15 (front is also a Dunlop, a soft K81 GP designed for classic racing). Definitely doesn't need such a fat tyre on the rear! Which just contributes to drag. Maybe a 130/90-15 (if there's any such thing).
3. I'm not impressed with the handlebar, it makes me look like an, err, BMW rider (with broomstick). I'm tall with long arms, and I find the original bar swept back too far, too high, and (like almost every Jap bike I've ridden) way wider than necessary (see above). I'm thinking about replacing them with what used to be called 'Euro' bars, narrow, low, and almost straight. Looks like it will be no problem, as long as I can find a pair of compatible third-party clamps. That should put more of my weight over the front, too.
4. The air cleaner is turning into a bit of a problem. This model was never sold officially here, mine is a grey import (from Japan). The local dealer doesn't have a listing for this bike (or the 600 on which it is based), the Kawasaki country office is no help either. It's done nearly 20,000km and is probably still on the original cleaner (may account for the fuel consumption). I don't mind importing a replacement, but that would be once, not every year or so. I'll have to look into some third party cleaners, K&N pods or a Unifilter.
5. When I close the throttle, the clutch cable goes slack! I've adjusted it several times, and it's better, but still rather peculiar. Not used to wet multi-plate clutches, what's the go there?
6. The mufflers are partly bodgied, the end caps are missing altogether. I've never had a bike before where the exhaust is more noisy than the wind! The little four-pot screamer must make a serious howl when it tears past at 120 (only 8000rpm, redlines at 12500). Help, help, save me from going deaf! That might be a factor in the fuel consumption too (it does seem a bit rich, the outlets are pretty sooty). Local dealers can't help me with third-party replacements. The Kawasaki dealer said the originals are $550 (each!), yeah, sure.
All comments & suggestions welcome!
Gary
1. One of the most noticeable differences is the tank, 13 litres vs. 24. And the fuel consumption. I expected a lot better that 15 km/l from a 400! My 30-year-old 1000cc Beemer got 20km/l at legal highway speeds. 150km to reserve (if I'm lucky) and under 200km range is pathetic, not what I'm used to and a bloody nuisance here, there are not a lot of servos on the back roads I prefer and I'm having to stop for fuel every hour or so, to make sure I can get to the next. Strangely, the consumption doesn't vary much from 15km/l no matter if I'm creeping around town on the daily commute, keeping it under 4000rpm, or fanging it on the back roads, going as fast as the roads and the suspension will allow.
2. The front end is pretty light, easily upset by ridges and bumps and a bit floaty in the dirt, needs a very smooth road to go over 130 without twitching and trembling. Big bumps upset it a lot. Might be something to do with the rear weight bias. I'm thinking of trying a different rear tyre next change, it currently has a Dunlop 150/80-15 (front is also a Dunlop, a soft K81 GP designed for classic racing). Definitely doesn't need such a fat tyre on the rear! Which just contributes to drag. Maybe a 130/90-15 (if there's any such thing).
3. I'm not impressed with the handlebar, it makes me look like an, err, BMW rider (with broomstick). I'm tall with long arms, and I find the original bar swept back too far, too high, and (like almost every Jap bike I've ridden) way wider than necessary (see above). I'm thinking about replacing them with what used to be called 'Euro' bars, narrow, low, and almost straight. Looks like it will be no problem, as long as I can find a pair of compatible third-party clamps. That should put more of my weight over the front, too.
4. The air cleaner is turning into a bit of a problem. This model was never sold officially here, mine is a grey import (from Japan). The local dealer doesn't have a listing for this bike (or the 600 on which it is based), the Kawasaki country office is no help either. It's done nearly 20,000km and is probably still on the original cleaner (may account for the fuel consumption). I don't mind importing a replacement, but that would be once, not every year or so. I'll have to look into some third party cleaners, K&N pods or a Unifilter.
5. When I close the throttle, the clutch cable goes slack! I've adjusted it several times, and it's better, but still rather peculiar. Not used to wet multi-plate clutches, what's the go there?
6. The mufflers are partly bodgied, the end caps are missing altogether. I've never had a bike before where the exhaust is more noisy than the wind! The little four-pot screamer must make a serious howl when it tears past at 120 (only 8000rpm, redlines at 12500). Help, help, save me from going deaf! That might be a factor in the fuel consumption too (it does seem a bit rich, the outlets are pretty sooty). Local dealers can't help me with third-party replacements. The Kawasaki dealer said the originals are $550 (each!), yeah, sure.
All comments & suggestions welcome!
Gary
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