[Snowwolfe]

Will any 10mm mirror extension fit the Z400?

 

[JimShortz]

My latest mod, and one that my Z really needed - fitting a clutch arm spring to stop the clutch slip when riding in flat out race mode... (most of the time, lol - I love the high revving gear changes, and the Z loves 'em too).
Being cheap I just bought a compression spring from eBay for $5. I bought a stainless spring with 1.6mm diameter wire and 16mm outer diameter. God knows why I bought quite so wide a spring since I have had to add a stainless sleeve (from some tube I keep in, in various sizes, for just such jobs) at each end to hold it in place properly! Anyway, an advantage is that I can still keep the rubber boot in place - all good in the end, and the wire diameter/spring strength seems ideal. To avoid sleeving, a 13mm spring with a similar wire diameter would be desirable. I bought a spring 150mm long with the intention to cut down, which I did, to about 60mm or so. You could buy a 60 or 70mm long spring and avoid the cutting, but I liked the idea of having a spare for if I got the tension wrong (I didn't!).
All fitted and working now and the clutch lever is a little stiffer (fine by me) and returns quickly, with no slip at all - whatever I do... VERY PLEASED.

 

[Kiwi Rider]

My latest mod, and one that my Z really needed - fitting a clutch arm spring to stop the clutch slip when riding in flat out race mode... (most of the time, lol - I love the high revving gear changes, and the Z loves 'em too).
Being cheap I just bought a compression spring from eBay for $5. I bought a stainless spring with 1.6mm diameter wire and 16mm outer diameter. God knows why I bought quite so wide a spring since I have had to add a stainless sleeve (from some tube I keep in, in various sizes, for just such jobs) at each end to hope it in place properly! Anyway, an advantage is that I can still keep the rubber boot in place - all good in the end, and the wire diameter/spring strength seems ideal. To avoid sleeving, a 13mm spring with a similar wire diameter would be desirable. I bought a spring 150mm long with the intention to cut down, which I did, to about 60mm or so. You could buy a 60 or 70mm long spring and avoid the cutting, but I liked the idea of having a spare for if I got the tension wrong (I didn't!).
All fitted and working now and the clutch lever is a little stiffer (fine by me) and returns quickly, with no slip at all - whatever I do... VERY PLEASED.

View attachment 12818

View attachment 12819

Did you adjust your clutch cable free play at the same time Jim? Just asking because if you had clutch slip going on then it seems unlikely that a spring to aid the return of the clutch arm would be the cure all. It's more likely the clutch slip was from not having enough free play at the lever, or your friction plates are worn. This bike is new is it not?

 

[JimShortz]

Hi Kiwi. My clutch was adjusted fine (and I had tried different points for comparison, with no improvement). It just wasn't springing back fast enough for high rev/speed changes, somehow. With this spring added I get zero slip - and I have been thoroughly testing it before posting this up; just to be sure. The bike has just shy of 10,000km on the clock, but had always had some slip if high enough rev gear change... (race mode!)

 

[Kiwi Rider]

Interesting... Well, good thing I've got a spring fitted too then! Approaching 15K with no issues touch wood. 🤞

 

[SDZ400]

I'm loving my new little Z400. I had a Z300 a year ago, replaced it with a Versys 650 that turned out to be too big and heavy for me (loved the power though!), now onto the 400 - just about the perfect power/weight/size balance for me.

I've had the Z for a month, and so far have added:

• a Leo Vince slip on (sounds gorgeous when revving high, but a quiet burble at tickover)
• front and rear spools
• radiator guard
• aluminium engine casing protectors
• tank pad and knee grips (mounted low for my 29" mini legs...)
• green wheel rim tape
• replaced the ugly white plastic rear brake reservoir with an aftermarket "smoked" version
• scooped some foam from the rear half of the seat to make it more level and stop it pushing my balls into the tank! Such a stupid default shape; I believe it is exactly the same as the Ninja, where it makes much more sense.
• removed the pointless underseat tray and used the Dremel to remove a couple of the plastic "fins" to make a useable underseat storage space
• added 1" risers to improve the ergonomics and get the weight off my wrists more easily

I also have plans to very soon:

• add sliders (on order now)
• electrical: install a phone mount, USB charger, auxiliary front lights, and a louder horn (all in-hand and will be done very soon)
• add a fender extender at the front to keep my feet dry and the bike cleaner (in-hand)

I have also removed every manufacturer safety sticker from the bike (such ugly things), and have removed the "400" stickers from the rear cowls - I hate numbers on any bike; they will be replaced with "Z" stickers from Kawasaki (I just ordered a pair of the green "Z"s, as on the top of the tank). I think that will look great.

I'm also torn about adding a tail-tidy (I have the one off the Z300 and could easily modify to fit). The problem is that I actually quite like the look of the tail end as it is, AND, I am coming into the rainy season here in Thailand so would need to add a hugger too, and they just aren't that sexy imho...

What have you been doing to yours? What do you think about my mods? :surprise:

Nice! What tank pads and knee grips did you go with?

 

[JimShortz]

I think a lower belly pan (chin fairing) would look great on that bike. Not sure if they even make one, but if not someone needs to...

A very delayed reply - but then I only recently bought the lower cowling from Kawasaki... Yup, I like it!

 

[cejas1719]

I'm loving my new little Z400. I had a Z300 a year ago, replaced it with a Versys 650 that turned out to be too big and heavy for me (loved the power though!), now onto the 400 - just about the perfect power/weight/size balance for me.

I've had the Z for a month, and so far have added:

• a Leo Vince slip on (sounds gorgeous when revving high, but a quiet burble at tickover)
• front and rear spools
• radiator guard
• aluminium engine casing protectors
• tank pad and knee grips (mounted low for my 29" mini legs...)
• green wheel rim tape
• replaced the ugly white plastic rear brake reservoir with an aftermarket "smoked" version
• scooped some foam from the rear half of the seat to make it more level and stop it pushing my balls into the tank! Such a stupid default shape; I believe it is exactly the same as the Ninja, where it makes much more sense.
• removed the pointless underseat tray and used the Dremel to remove a couple of the plastic "fins" to make a useable underseat storage space
• added 1" risers to improve the ergonomics and get the weight off my wrists more easily

I also have plans to very soon:

• add sliders (on order now)
• electrical: install a phone mount, USB charger, auxiliary front lights, and a louder horn (all in-hand and will be done very soon)
• add a fender extender at the front to keep my feet dry and the bike cleaner (in-hand)

I have also removed every manufacturer safety sticker from the bike (such ugly things), and have removed the "400" stickers from the rear cowls - I hate numbers on any bike; they will be replaced with "Z" stickers from Kawasaki (I just ordered a pair of the green "Z"s, as on the top of the tank). I think that will look great.

I'm also torn about adding a tail-tidy (I have the one off the Z300 and could easily modify to fit). The problem is that I actually quite like the look of the tail end as it is, AND, I am coming into the rainy season here in Thailand so would need to add a hugger too, and they just aren't that sexy imho...

What have you been doing to yours? What do you think about my mods? :surprise:

Hi Jim, How are you?
I just realized that you made a modification to the pilot seat, to "stop pushing balls into the tank"...
Can you explain me how did you do that?
And share some pics of how the seat looks like?

Thanks and warm regards!

 

[JimShortz]

I just realized that you made a modification to the pilot seat, to "stop pushing balls into the tank"...
Can you explain me how did you do that?
And share some pics of how the seat looks like?

Hi Cejas, the photo above is with the foam removed. All I did was unstaple the cover and carve away foam from the rear and centre of the seat to lower it slightly relative to the front. I did this with the tried and tested tool - the breadknife (some work great, and some are terrible - be warned). I then just stapled the same cover back on.
This is pretty good, but I have plans to fit a gel pad and build up the foam in the front and centre areas around this to make what will be a flat and horizontal(ish) seat. I have the gel pad, but I think this is beyond my skill level and it will need a new cover, so it's going to a proper "seat guy". That sort of work is pretty cheap here in Thailand, so let the professionals do it. I will share pics when I eventually get it done!

 

[JimShortz]

I think a lower belly pan (chin fairing) would look great on that bike. Not sure if they even make one, but if not someone needs to...

lol - you did see the picture three posts up, with the Kawasaki cowling fairing in place? Or do you mean something different?

It is hard to see how a belly pan would fit (certainly not made of plastic) given the exhaust placement... Anyway, here's a closer view of the lower fairing, and a comparable shot without it fitted.

 

[JimShortz]

My latest mod is probably one of the best changes that I have made to the bike, imho - a 15T front sprocket. I found the ratios very close with the 14T so would fly through them one after the other very quickly. I was also frequently wishing I had a 7th gear for a litle more relaxed highway cruising.

She still has plenty of guts and acceleration for me with the 15T (and I like to ride fairly quickly), but it all feels a little more grown up with the slightly longer time moving up through the gears and slightly more chilled high speed cruising. I guess I may change it back one day for a little more craziness, or go to a 13T for full on hooligan mode, but this is suiting me very nicely right now and there is still a good bit of hooligan available when you want it!

I also bridged the clutch switch to avoid the CEL coming on and the gear indicator playing up - as explained in detail in the gearing thread. I did mine with an inch length of twisted copper from some flex and I can still fit the connector neatly back together with the bridging wire going between both female sockets.

This is the sprocket I used ($12 in Thailand from Lazada), the Jomthai JTF1539-15

 

[Lucasthomas981]

Yes they do make one and it’s on my list too.

 

[Lucasthomas981]

Yes they do make one and it’s on my list too.

Beauty!

I think a lower belly pan (chin fairing) would look great on that bike. Not sure if they even make one, but if not someone needs to...

 

[ChazakAmatz]

Gold chain and sprocket next

 

[JimShortz]

My latest mod is more of a delete... I finally removed the "transformer" graphics. Personally, I never really liked them, but couldn't bring myself to take them off a new bike.
It's 2 years old now, so bye bye stickers. I much prefer it without, and my own combination of the genuine Kawasaki "Z" and "400" stickers on the rear.
Not everyone's taste, I know, but I like it. 😁

 

[jrosen007]

My latest mod is probably one of the best changes that I have made to the bike, imho - a 15T front sprocket. I found the ratios very close with the 14T so would fly through them one after the other very quickly. I was also frequently wishing I had a 7th gear for a litle more relaxed highway cruising.

She still has plenty of guts and acceleration for me with the 15T (and I like to ride fairly quickly), but it all feels a little more grown up with the slightly longer time moving up through the gears and slightly more chilled high speed cruising. I guess I may change it back one day for a little more craziness, or go to a 13T for full on hooligan mode, but this is suiting me very nicely right now and there is still a good bit of hooligan available when you want it!

I also bridged the clutch switch to avoid the CEL coming on and the gear indicator playing up - as explained in detail in the gearing thread. I did mine with an inch length of twisted copper from some flex and I can still fit the connector neatly back together with the bridging wire going between both female sockets.

This is the sprocket I used ($12 in Thailand from Lazada), the Jomthai JTF1539-15

View attachment 15298

Hey! I just bought a new (to me) 2019 Z400 and love it! So much more fun, light, bible, rev happy than my Honda CB500X (and better in the wind). Funny to hear you guys complaining about it, as even with various settings, adjusters for height and angle, and a new screen there was still lots of wind turbulence and NOISE. The Z is definitely quieter.

As for the sprocket I went +1 on the CB500X and it made a huge difference. After further thought and with this bike replacing my CBX, I will probably go -2 on the rear instead. Here's why.... It's a more moderate change, going from a 41 to a 39 makes it a 4.88% reduction in RPM. If you go from 14 in the front to 15, the change is a 6.67% reduction in RPM. Second, by reducing rotating mass the bike should feel slightly more lively having less mass to rotate. Also, JP sprockets only makes a rubber 14 tooth front sprocket (reduces vibration). A great gearing resource is Gearing Commander - Motorcycle Speed and Drive Train Calculator v7

I'm looking forward to many enjoyable miles with my Z400!!!

 

[JimShortz]

As for the sprocket I went +1 on the CB500X and it made a huge difference. After further thought and with this bike replacing my CBX, I will probably go -2 on the rear instead. Here's why.... It's a more moderate change, going from a 41 to a 39 makes it a 4.88% reduction in RPM. If you go from 14 in the front to 15, the change is a 6.67% reduction in RPM. Second, by reducing rotating mass the bike should feel slightly more lively having less mass to rotate. Also, JP sprockets only makes a rubber 14 tooth front sprocket (reduces vibration). A great gearing resource is Gearing Commander - Motorcycle Speed and Drive Train Calculator v7

I must confess that after a while I missed the shorter gearing and greater acceleration of the 14T front and moved back to standard sprocket settings. It's been like that for a few months now and I don't see me changing for longer gearing. The only thing that would have me going back to longer gearing would be if I was doing fast highway commuting - and I am not!

 

[Tufftgr]

I'm loving my new little Z400. I had a Z300 a year ago, replaced it with a Versys 650 that turned out to be too big and heavy for me (loved the power though!), now onto the 400 - just about the perfect power/weight/size balance for me.

I've had the Z for a month, and so far have added:

• a Leo Vince slip on (sounds gorgeous when revving high, but a quiet burble at tickover)
• front and rear spools
• radiator guard
• aluminium engine casing protectors
• tank pad and knee grips (mounted low for my 29" mini legs...)
• green wheel rim tape
• replaced the ugly white plastic rear brake reservoir with an aftermarket "smoked" version
• scooped some foam from the rear half of the seat to make it more level and stop it pushing my balls into the tank! Such a stupid default shape; I believe it is exactly the same as the Ninja, where it makes much more sense.
• removed the pointless underseat tray and used the Dremel to remove a couple of the plastic "fins" to make a useable underseat storage space
• added 1" risers to improve the ergonomics and get the weight off my wrists more easily

I also have plans to very soon:

• add sliders (on order now)
• electrical: install a phone mount, USB charger, auxiliary front lights, and a louder horn (all in-hand and will be done very soon)
• add a fender extender at the front to keep my feet dry and the bike cleaner (in-hand)

I have also removed every manufacturer safety sticker from the bike (such ugly things), and have removed the "400" stickers from the rear cowls - I hate numbers on any bike; they will be replaced with "Z" stickers from Kawasaki (I just ordered a pair of the green "Z"s, as on the top of the tank). I think that will look great.

I'm also torn about adding a tail-tidy (I have the one off the Z300 and could easily modify to fit). The problem is that I actually quite like the look of the tail end as it is, AND, I am coming into the rainy season here in Thailand so would need to add a hugger too, and they just aren't that sexy imho...

What have you been doing to yours? What do you think about my mods? :surprise:

• replaced the ugly white plastic rear brake reservoir with an aftermarket "smoked" version
• What did you get and where?