Not often a will a dealer restore an older sportbike to mint condition, rarer still if the bike is not a bargain purchase but someone’s polished showbike. But the Kawasaki ZX-7R K-model can have that effect on people, and the low-mile machine was a good place to start a great restoration.
1992 Kawasaki ZX7-R K2 for sale on eBay
Built as an homologation special in very low numbers, the K variant has a few key upgrades from the standard. Flat-slide carburettors which are just a millimeter larger, and after un-doing the factory restriction on the J-model result in 121 hp – a 20% improvement. A close ratio transmission and slipper clutch are more track-oriented. Front and rear suspensions are fully adjustable, overcoming the reported poor ride of the base version monoshock. The exhaust hanger is done differently and of course there’s the solo seat fairing. Superb standard aluminum frame and floating disc brakes complete the package.
Evidently the previous owner’s baby, the aluminum perimeter frame and swingarm had been mirror-polished . Part of the restoration was disassembly and painting most of the polished parts the factory gray, however some of the polished bits still show here and there. The rest of the bike looks cherry, stress cracks in the seat fairing repaired and painted. Though it only has 8,000-ish miles, the ZX-7R has also been treated to a comprehensive mechanical service, as the eBay auction states:
Our Service Dept has gone completely through this bike from top to bottom. Did a full service on the engine including valve adjustment, valve cover gasket and all fluids and filters are OEM new. The chain and sprockets were replaced with new OEM parts from Kawasaki. Brand new Bridgestone Battlax BT106R tires were installed front and rear. New OEM brake pads and brake fluid were replaced front and rear.
While it’s easy to find a ZX7-R, the K and accompanying enhancements make it a very special machine, must’ve been neat as a bike show winner. A very well designed and high performing special edition, the fact that it has been returned to factory original make it part of a longer story. The results appear to have been worth the hours poured into this rare bike…
-donn
This auction is tied to the same seller as the ZX7RR that was recently presented.
Just wonder why they changed chain and sprocket when bike has just 9k miles and why the tail, frame, swingarm needed to be painted. If I see correctly from pictures, also front brake discs seem to be painted. Also the muffler is missing muffler cover. I would appreciate more original unrestored nice condition.
Also chain adjuster is at its end after chain change???
I don’t recall this bike having a slipper clutch, but could certainly be wrong. I know that they had a very tall first gear which made them totally not fun to ride on the street.
Always one of my faves, hoover ducts and all.
The listing notes that the frame, swingarm, etc. was mirror polished. Though a popular modification in it’s day, it’s impossible to restore to original. Painting over is probably the only thing you could do to rectify.
dc
The kwaks had been using a ‘slipper clutch’ from is 750R Ninja predecessor. But in kwak terminology, it was called a back toque limiter
When they restore, I always like before pics so you can see if it was a hot mess to start. Low miles doesnt mean much honestly.
I would assume this is about the $$ versus love of the bike, seeing that if you strike now you can get some premo dollars. I agree the restore was more for the 50 feet away wow than to be original.
If there were going to bother to pain the frame (hopefully not to hide anything) why not paint it as it was originally? The original painted frames are matte finish, not cleared gloss. That seems a pretty major oversight when going to that trouble.
This is the same seller who was allegedly bidding up the 7rr last week that failed to meet reserve at over 17k bucks….lol
I was wondering why the frame looks so shiny in the pics. good catch. I agree, an oem matte finish would’ve been more appropriate.
14.5K is little hard to believe….still, something about that chain setup….where is there room to grow? It does look in good shape (fairings) but as said before that frame finish should not be gloss. Dealer restore?….its like something’s hiding under that nice bodywork
There something fishy with this bike. Why all the work for only 8000 miles. Stored inside yet the forks needed to be repainted? States only the frame & swingarm were polished so what happened to the forks? Also needed a head gasket at 8000 miles? Has had a lot of work done to it for a low mileage “Completely stock OEM quality” bike.
Owner stated in a comment that the valve cover gasket had been changed, not the cylinder head gasket, expected after a valve adjustment…
About frame. Original was not so glossy, but also it was not mat. I have never seen ZX7 paited fame like original one. This is the most difficult colour to reproduce. In this case, the original frame is just only once and only.
As 916 said, it’s extremely hard to duplicate the original paint on the frame and swing arm.
That being said, it’s not surprising the frame/swing arm required repaint. So many were painted black or polished.
It is odd to repaint the fork bottoms.
This example appears to be missing the fuel enrichment solenoid, and therefore probably missing the throttle switch. Also, missing front reflectors, rear reflectors plus bracket, drain on left side, a few stickers, and who knows what else is missing behind the bodywork. There is an extra headlight fuse in a clear pouch which should be attached on the wiring harness by the headlight fuse. Very few still have this attached.
Also, what do the headers look like? Very seldom do I come across one which doesn’t have cracks or welds to fix cracks where the 4 pipes connect.
Most have altered the original FCR carbs with different jets etc. Some of these are difficult to replace.
Rear seat black sticker should be less matte and slightly shiny. Perhaps it’s just the photography. Who knows?
Only 500 produced and 172ish came to N.A. (many of these to race teams).
Still a nice example. Very hard to find an example which hasn’t been repainted and repaired somewhere and has ALL the original little bits.
Maybe 3 examples a year in this condition come up for sale a year in N.A. Two recently posted (ZXR750) were listed on ebay.uk within the last 4 months. Both brought or wanted more money than this one.
Cheers.
All the ZX7’s had slipper clutches. Adjustable by changing out a plate in the clutch.
The high gloss of this frame looks as bad as a polished frame. It does not represent an original bike. They blew it!
eBay shows this as sold for $14,500!
dc