AW: Turning 100

[art johnson]

Yo Bill, yer black Gpz looks great.
Your saddlebags look same as mine. What does trunk mount look like?
Tim Z sent pics of his, just wonder if there are other options?

Sent from my iPad

> On Oct 7, 2017, at 12:22 PM, Alex Finger <af at genevainformation.ch> wrote:
> 
> We turned 100 (km, though) 2y ago, I think. I have to order a new battery (battery #3) as I probably killed #2 by overcharging, but the geeper ran like a charm when I had her running this summer. The guys at Kawasaki always are stunned when I pull up with it 😉 (is she *still* running??).
> Kudos to Ped for the long trip, I must say I’m very happy with the seating and the heated grips on the Africa Twin..
> 
> Alex
> 
> 
> 
> Von: William P. Zeller
> Gesendet: Samstag, 7. Oktober 2017 16:07
> An: Alexander Finger
> Betreff: Turning 100
> 
> A week or so ago, my ZX 
> <https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=912181732177275&set=a.181762335219222.46473.100001563719117&type=3>clock 
> <https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1540136146048494&set=a.181762335219222.46473.100001563719117&type=3>turned 
> past 100K miles (160K km). (photo 
> <https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=912181732177275&set=a.181762335219222.46473.100001563719117&type=3> 
> from '15)
> 
> One of the disappointing things (!) is that Kawasaki neglected to 
> include the sixth digit so now my bike appears to be nearly new, with 
> only 430 miles (692km) on it.  I suppose at some point I'll be compelled 
> to open up the speedo case and paint a numeral "1" on the face.
> 
> It so happened I was able to visit MCC Motorcycle Center in Villa Park, 
> IL yesterday on my errands.  It's a very large Ducati-Triumph dealership 
> that's been around forever but just built up this new location.  There 
> were so many Bonnevilles on the floor I could hardly count them all, and 
> the rows of Ducatis were downright intimidating.
> 
> In conversation with the salesman, I had the opportunity to recall my  
> ZX's service history over the sixteen years I've owned it.  (For 
> reference, it was a "crate bike" sold new in March, 2000 to a guy in 
> Downers Grove, IL, from whom I bought it in August, 2001 with 2230 miles 
> (3600km) on it- he couldn't stand the ergonomics, specifically the 
> ridiculous handlebars.  The price was $4400).
> 
> Basically, I've changed the battery twice, the OEM having gone some nine 
> years at least, and the chain once, at 48,000 miles (77,250km).  It's 
> still, heaven help me, on the second chain.
> 
> I replaced the okay-condition rear shock with one off a crash bike 
> obtained from a lister here in order to get a shock with 20,000 fewer 
> miles.  I am on the third headlight bulb and replaced on taillight bulb, 
> although all have been since replaced with LED types.
> 
> The steering head bearings have been replaced twice, most recently about 
> two years ago when the bike was rescued from a post-divorce storage 
> situation that was none too favorable.
> 
> That's it for service.  I know I've never owned another bike so reliable 
> and trouble-free.  Even my GL1800, which has a few more thousand miles 
> on the clock owing to its considerable service in two-up travels, has 
> been a little more demanding.
> 
> Back in August '00, I was thinking the ZX was a holding bike til I got 
> replacement for my traded-off Concours, but such turned out not to be 
> the case.
> 
> Nowadays I have to confess to thinking about getting another bike for 
> the ZX's uses, because, after all, it can't last forever, and besides, 
> there have been one or two technological advances in the last 21 years 
> (modern suspension, anyone?) and I have to confess to giving thought to 
> the Honda DCT automatic transmission as the arthritis of my many years 
> of being a carpenter makes clutching sometimes unpleasant.
> 
> But still... nothing seems as comfortable or as suited to as many 
> purposes as this thing and it still goes along pretty well.  Given the 
> mods making it more to my liking, full Givis, Heli handlebars, and 
> dozens of little touches, how could a new bike really replace it?
> 
> And, cost so little over time?
> 
> What a bike.
> 
> Bill Zeller
> Lemont, IL
> 
> P.S.- I still have the valve shim kit here, although Art Johnson 
> requested a half-dozen.  The kit is low on 2.30 and 2.40 but otherwise 
> intact.
> 
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