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Discussion Is my ZXR250C 45hp or the restricted version?

Discussion in 'Kawasaki 250cc In-line 4's' started by Seapop, Jul 16, 2017.

  1. Seapop

    Seapop Well-Known Member Premium Member Contributing Member

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    Gday team,

    Been a while since I got back on 2 wheels. Sorted out a fairly tidy ZXR250C 1993 model which I overpaid for however new forks, rear tyre, air filter, oil, spark plugs and brand new fairings made it seem worthwhile. Almost everything running smoothly, apart from being a bit hard to get into neutral when at a standstill with the engine running. Might need to adjust the clutch cable (newbie here had a ZR250 Balius previously with plenty of problems) so any advice on that would be great.

    As other threads have mentioned these machines were restricted in HP in the early 90s. Can anyone confirm if the 1993 "C" model that I have would be restricted or is it the 1994 - onwards models that were restricted?
    zxr.jpg

    Cheers
     
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    Seapop, Jul 16, 2017
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  2. Linkin

    Linkin The Mechanic Premium Member Contributing Member Dirty Wheel Club

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    Plastic air pipes for the reg/rec so you have a C model (40HP) at a glance. Your neutral issue could be the position of the lever and condition of the external linkages. They are the easiest to check first. After that, an oil & filter change with some good quality oil... Have used Caltex Delo 400 in the past, its fine for wet clutches and is a great oil. Any motorcycle specific oil should be OK. Penrite make good oils. I personally stay away from Motul as I don't like it, it made the gearbox feel like crap on all bikes I've had it in.

    As for the power of the bike, the bore & stroke on the C models are different to the A model. As a result the engines are internally different. However both the A and C models, along with all japanese domestic market bikes of the time have a restrictor circuit in the speedo, limiting you to 180km/h no matter your horsepower, even the 400's and bigger bikes of the time had this. Bikes destined to be sold outside Japan had no such restrictions. You can tell because the speedo will end at 180 on a Jap domestic bike (ie all of our grey import 250cc bikes)

    As per Japanese law at the time, somewhere around 1992-1993 the maximum power allowed for 250cc bikes was reduced to 40HP from 45HP and manufacturers followed suit, releasing models with 40HP. However horsepower isn't everything... for example the 40HP FZR250R's only redline at 16,500RPM (down from 18,500RPM on the earlier ones) but the engine produces more torque at lower RPM. Having ridden several FZR250R's the difference is minimal and you will run into the speed limiter at 180km/h on both. After that, wind resistance will likelystop you from redlining in top gear anyway.

    Some later C model bikes were made in Malayasia and have a silver/black/orange colour scheme, and speedo that ends at 240km/h. These bikes have no restrictor inside the speedo housing. Personally I had mine up to 200km/h indicated along the straight at eastern creek and still had more to go... but this was the 'parade' lap for spectators and not an actual race.

    TL;DR don't worry about the horsepower being lower, just ride it and enjoy it. Fiddle with the speed limiter if you want. I have seen youtube vids were they fit a speedo from another model bike onto the ZXR, which is a smart way to remove the 180km/h limiter.
     
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    Linkin, Jul 16, 2017
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  3. GreyImport

    GreyImport Administrator Staff Member The Chief Contributing Member

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    The FZR was hard to get neutral (if at all) if the selector wasnt on the spline in the position shown by the blue arrow

    FZR gear lever 2.jpg
     
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    GreyImport, Jul 16, 2017
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  4. Seapop

    Seapop Well-Known Member Premium Member Contributing Member

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    Cheers guys!
    Will take it apart when I get a chance next to have a look at maintenance basics, I mean it runs ok but always like to have a good look around and "fiddle" and maybe find an excuse to treat her to something new.
    Yep a few mods and tricks to trick the speedo but don't see myself needing that yet.
    Im sure I will be back asking all sorts on this forum when I get stuck fiddling around with this machine.

    As well as being problematic getting into neutral at a standstill with the engine running, its quite hard to kick it up into second and third at times whilst riding. Have to really give it some umph. Oil and filter are new, about 300-400km on them . Will have to check out the external linkages then and try play with the cable adjustment maybe.
     
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    Seapop, Jul 16, 2017
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