ZRX race bike build

**Racer Gil** · 10-08-2011 08:59 AM

I like what I'm seeing so far!

**Ben Zeppa** · 10-08-2011 09:52 AM

I think that you will really like the Marvics, they made a big difference on my ZRX. I bought mine used but I have not had any problems with them. I tested my set real good when I centerpunched a truck tire on the freeway. I got some air and almost launched myself over the handlebars. Lucky for me I have a dirt bike background and I was standing on the pegs when it happened.

**firefish** · 10-08-2011 11:50 AM

Your bike looks so nice

**KWICK** · 10-08-2011 12:20 PM

You might remind Marvic of your magazine connection

**firefish** · 10-08-2011 12:35 PM

As a last resort I may well do that but they're only a month late and that's like a heartbeat in Italy.

**skandix** · 10-08-2011 10:08 PM

What else are you doing to lighten the bike? Love the Carbon fiber pieces, is there any Kevlar in it?

**firefish** · 10-09-2011 03:23 AM

Thanks!

I don't know if there is anything but carbon in them. I would assume that there is something else, like fiber glass, to reduce the risk of shattering when downing the bike but that's only a guess. Parts are still with Mori in Japan but they're about to ship.

Weight reduction.
It's not a goal to get the bike as light as possible, it's more of a positive side effect of fitting what I want and removing what I don't want. Exhaust and wheels are going to be the main contributors together with the light battery. Carbon body kit will count for something, especially in the tail section since there are going be a lot of little things I wont be needing anymore. Cluster will knock of a couple of pounds and quite possibly calipers and masters too. Lights are being removed so that'll save me a little. I will however keep the electrical system intact - one never knows - and I still have the plate for it. Going pods is another couple of pounds and so is cutting of all the brackets I don't need anymore (at least ONE lbs). Engine's getting a Zephyr hub but other than that it's pretty much stock weight wise.

But I'm also adding a couple of pounds. The swing arm is reinforced and I suspect that my trees will add a little too. The Öhlins fork might be a little heavier but I'll have to get back to you on that.

The main issues with the ZRX weight are the frame and engine and both of these are hard to do much about. The frame alone is twice as heavy as a modern perimeter frame and the engine layout requires a lot of metal.

I'm looking forward to putting it on the scale when I'm done. Who here holds the record for low weight?

**KWICK** · 10-09-2011 12:35 PM

The stock ZRX frame only weighs 37 pounds. It is very light. If you reconstructed it out of chrome moly, you'd be hard pressed to drop ten pounds.

**Ben Zeppa** · 10-09-2011 12:48 PM

The Ohlin's front forks are actually lighter than the stock forks. KWICK and I weighted the two when we put the Ohlin's on my ZRX. I am trying to remember but I think that the difference was somewhere around two pounds. The Ohlin's forks are also a little shorter and will quicken up the front ends steering a little.

**firefish** · 10-09-2011 04:25 PM

Maybe it's light for a steel cradle frame but compared to an aluminum perimeter frame? No. IIRC the S1000RR frame is well below 30 lbs and it's plenty stiff.

Do you mean conventional Öhlins or USD? Normally a conventinal fork is a little bit lighter than a corresponding USD. The fork I'm getting is 765 mm long, 5 mm shorter than the conventional unit they offer for the ZRX.

**Ben Zeppa** · 10-09-2011 04:49 PM

Originally Posted by firefish

Do you mean conventional Öhlins or USD?

Conventional.

**Ben Zeppa** · 10-09-2011 04:51 PM

These:

**KWICK** · 10-09-2011 05:15 PM

Originally Posted by firefish

Maybe it's light for a steel cradle frame but compared to an aluminum perimeter frame? No. IIRC the S1000RR frame is well below 30 lbs and it's plenty stiff.
.

Under 30 with the seat attaching subframe and other attachments?

37 is pretty light. There are plenty of places to remove a lot of weight on the ZRX. Mines down to 430 pounds wet with no gas....with passenger pegs and grab handles and a stock frame.

**firefish** · 10-10-2011 01:18 PM

Oh that fork is soooo nice

Kwick, please enlighten me on where to shave pounds. Other than the gas tank and the engine I don't really see where I can lose more than what I'm already lined up for.

**KWICK** · 10-10-2011 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by firefish

Oh that fork is soooo nice

Kwick, please enlighten me on where to shave pounds. Other than the gas tank and the engine I don't really see where I can lose more than what I'm already lined up for.

Here ya go:
http://www.hyper-formance.com/calista.htm

Little things I have come up with over the years, most is pretty much free, just time.

Don't forget the KWICK Stand, Petcock...especially if you are going to tow it alot, KWICK Kool, Titanium caseguard...

**paulzrx** · 10-10-2011 03:22 PM

Titanium key too.....

**firefish** · 10-18-2011 01:17 PM

Got the dash today. Looks and feels very nice. A very high quality it seems.

**firefish** · 10-27-2011 04:13 AM

My wheels are here at last and I put new Racetecs on them yesterday. Now I'm off to Öhlins to collect my fork

and on Monday it's time to deliver the bike to ISR for brake and trees - yes!

**MPFab** · 10-27-2011 06:10 AM

Oooooh, dats teh secks.... Very nice build you've got going!!

**firefish** · 10-27-2011 09:10 AM

And my oh-so-sweet fork. It's so beautiful I almost wanna get illegal with it...

**Perko** · 10-27-2011 09:26 AM

Originally Posted by KWICK

The stock ZRX frame only weighs 37 pounds.

How does it get lighter everytime you weight it?

Everytime I've weighed one I come up with 44 lbs. The kickstand and head bearing races don't weigh 8 lbs do they?

SS

**Mojo Risin'** · 10-27-2011 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by Perko

How does it get lighter everytime you weight it?

Everytime I've weighed one I come up with 44 lbs. The kickstand and head bearing races don't weigh 8 lbs do they?

SS

He cleans his bike

**TEXREX02** · 10-27-2011 10:08 AM

This thread is sexy like a strip show, only in reverse.

**Ben Zeppa** · 10-27-2011 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by firefish

And my oh-so-sweet fork. It's so beautiful I almost wanna get illegal with it...

I can't wait to see those forks installed. They look really, really, good. I am wondering if there will be any fitment issues? Since it will be a track bike there are issues that you will not have to worry about I guess.

**KWICK** · 10-27-2011 12:05 PM

Originally Posted by Perko

How does it get lighter everytime you weight it?

Everytime I've weighed one I come up with 44 lbs. The kickstand and head bearing races don't weigh 8 lbs do they?

SS

The kickstand weighs about three, and the removable member prolly 4 or so.

**Perko** · 10-27-2011 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by KWICK

The kickstand weighs about three, and the removable member prolly 4 or so.

If that almeeeeenum member weighs 4 lbs (clean) mine weighs 10 lbs.

BTW, this is a cool thread now.

SS

**MPFab** · 10-27-2011 01:29 PM

I've got the same forks on mine. They are incredibly sexy on the bike let me tell you. Haven't ridden the bike yet so no report there, but they crush anything else in regards to looks

**firefish** · 10-27-2011 03:42 PM

Originally Posted by Ben Zeppa

I can't wait to see those forks installed. They look really, really, good. I am wondering if there will be any fitment issues? Since it will be a track bike there are issues that you will not have to worry about I guess.

I don't think there will be any issues. This fork is 765 mm long and the non-USD fork that Öhlins has is 770 and I think those five mm will make no difference. And I will run an extra five mm of offest in the trees giving me extra clearance. I will know more in the end of next week. I can hardly wait...

**firefish** · 10-27-2011 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by MPFab

I've got the same forks on mine. They are incredibly sexy on the bike let me tell you. Haven't ridden the bike yet so no report there, but they crush anything else in regards to looks

Öhlins is the shit. Form, function and looks are unmatched by anything I've seen so far.

**firefish** · 10-27-2011 03:47 PM

Originally Posted by TEXREX02

This thread is sexy like a strip show, only in reverse.

Enjoy it my friend and thanks everyone for the positive feedback.

Thread: ZRX race bike build

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