2004 ZX10r on the road, it's forking good!! Riding the project bike and starting the improvements

It's time to road test the zx10r. Is it still the animal the world thought it was all those years ago? Only one way to find out.
Then it's into the workshop to start the improvements, kicking off with a set of Bitubo piston kits and springs for the forks.
Join Dave as he takes the bike apart and shows you what's inside.
If you'd like to discuss buying any of the parts shown in this video please email Dave at [e-mail]

[@chrisbrook6656]

Just picked up an 04. This channel has been super helpful. Cheers bro.

[@obsession_engineering]

Glad you're onboard. Great bike you've got there

[@jamest5149]

I used to work at a Kawasaki dealer and bought one of the first black ones, loved it. Had the wheel gold painted with polished rims. Just purchased a all black 2019 RSV4 1100 factory as it reminded me of this beauty 👍

[@stephenmcqueen4029]

Great to see the details Dave. Thanks

[@theonlyredspecial]

Been binging this series. Love watching a good mechanic work ! Very relaxing. Unlike if I was to try all this myself 😀

[@obsession_engineering]

Thanks for joining the fun

[@SystemAdministrator1]

Spot on description of the riding experience 👌🏽 Stock can is fugly You're an awesome mechanic Great video

[@obsession_engineering]

Thanks for the positive response, much appreciated

[@Morris12211]

Top job Dave , great video again , very educational.

[@mattc8797]

She looks amazing Dave. Can't wait for the upgrades/dave-isums. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas too. 👍🏽

[@nickegan3988]

Love your content Dave. Merry Christmas!

[@JayandSarah]

Great detail Dave thanks for that. Love your video's. Glad my dodgy bowels have settled... but I do feel a rumble coming in time for the "next" video. Cheers!

[@cecilwilson5442]

Good to see this series is great viewing,, not all of us have the money to buy a £14000 pound motorcycle so good older 1000 is the way to go,,, from Northern Ireland ☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️Good mods if is ones desire,, happy people,,, 😊😊😊😊

[@motorcyclegarage2307]

Yes,to apple crumble and custerd .

[@troywee4774]

apple crumble ...... mmmmm. oh the bikes looking good also mate. thanks.

[@JenesisDesignsandModelcraft]

I've owned a C2H from new and love it to bits, but agree that brakes are quite poor. Over the years, I've replaced every part of the front brake system, and they still aren't great.... I have an Ohlins kit in my forks, and shock on the rear, which improved it dramatically, but I'm really pleased to see you went softer on the fork springs as this is something I've been thinking about doing to improve road manners. Thought I'd get laughed out of a suspension shop if I suggested it.....

[@obsession_engineering]

I think they went unnecessarily hard on the springs to make them feel more racey. It's a kawasaki thing!

[@belazlive2318]

Мужик,ты кручи гор и яиц😊💪👈🤝🤘

[@pabsocs]

Can honestly say that’s the first vice - sink mounted combo I’ve ever seen! Is this the new tv in the bath phenom? ❤

[@missydee6085]

"Forking good" and "shocking things". I see what you've done there.

[@sethmiller6787]

Great video! Love the detailed breakdown and description of the functionality of the components. Would really like to know what specialized tools you used to do this job (besides the Kawi tools that are listed in the service manual).

[@obsession_engineering]

Well I don't have many kawasaki tools. A spring compressor, cartridge holder, impact gun, oil level setting tool and cartridge / rod holders are about it. The rest is normal hand tools. It's when you get into rear shocks and more specialised aftermarket suspension that the tooling costs really go up

[@TrooperTed]

*Dave explaining compression, rebound & dampening* "Simple really!" Me, "My cats breath smells like cat food."

[@obsession_engineering]

🤣

[@dustantraver6829]

I wish you could do this to my 05, there's nobody within 5 hours of where I live in the US, by this I mean everything on the project lol

[@obsession_engineering]

Still a great bike, even before the mods!

[@dustantraver6829]

@Obsession Engineering I went from a 2000 r1 new in 2001, to being gifted an 05 zx10r in mint condition in 2021 from my brother, he wrecked my R1 while I was deployed to Iraq...... WHOLE different bike

[@dustantraver6829]

@Obsession Engineering comparatively going from a honda civic to a corvette different. It has a k&n filter and yoshi triangular slip on with no power commander or anything 19k miles

[@stevesanelli90]

Ahh, the apple crumble! Excellent explanations Dave! Again, you have expert knowledge of suspension & handling among other mechanical know how! I think Ohlins are overrated & for show. They always leak & are nothing compared to Bitubo! Can’t wait for your rear end😉😎

[@flamintasty]

LOL Ohlins don’t always leak!!

[@jessefpv9217]

Hey dave I'd like to ask you you a few setup questions about this bike.. I own a 05 zx10r. I'd like to get the suspension setup for me I weigh 140. But this bike blows the rear tire off and any speed. I would just like some base settings for the suspension. Also. Im curious of fork height. I see a lot of people drop there forks a couple mil . I've put everything back to factory the best I could. Somebody had the bike lowered 2inches in the rear. But they never lowered the forks any? Anyways. Some good base settings would be great. Coukd I follow the 04 setup? Or is the 05s diffrent?

[@fqcraigus]

And I thought it was just my gsxr that had this daft fork design. I made my own tool and use ratchet strat with it to compress

[@ianhoyle8459]

Hi Dave, I’ve had my ZX10 since 2004 from new the brakes were awesome so I don’t know why the brakes go off or the callipers you have should be better? I never installed a damper as I thought the handling was good in comparison to what I was used to. The best mod I did was to fit Michelin tyres. I’m looking forward to more videos thanks 😊

[@obsession_engineering]

The stock calipers were good when new, or very regularly serviced, but tend to fade quickly on track as they don't cope with the temperature well and begin to flex slightly, the later calipers were stiffer. When I raced my 04 stocker, we had to run stock calipers and Master cylinder and had to run expensive pads and fluid to keep them working and even then the fluid would get changed almost every day

[@fzr1000981]

Supposedly stock calipers had aluminum pistons. I upgraded to '09 zx6r nissins and new master with braided lines. Night and day, tons of power now

[@Andrew-ud3xl]

Is there a massive differance between these and a full cartridge kit? I installed a Andreani piston kit but havent had much chance to ride it yet.

[@obsession_engineering]

It very much depends on the cartridge kit. The Andreani kits are 20mm open cartridges, so very similar in basic design to the stock stuff and not necessarily any better! The Bitubo cartridges are all sealed, pressurised units, which are better than stock, but more money, and I wanted to keep the stock look too

[@nitramh24]

Do you know if the inner tube from a left side fork can be used on my right side fork, which has a bent inner tube. So I’d like to swap them over. Cheers

[@obsession_engineering]

As far as I know it's only the knuckle at the bottom that's different

[@nitramh24]

@@obsession_engineering Thanks👍

[@Bow-to-the-absurd]

My 636 has the same poor calipers and master cylinder.

[@obsession_engineering]

My b1h zx6 has too. They're OK if well maintained but go off easily

[@MrGeorgeisonit]

What about cream?

[@obsession_engineering]

We're not posh in Lincolnshire, our cream is only ever iced :)

[@aldo5658]

Sorry but vro i have no idea what i just watched 😢 i loved the thorough explanations though but i think this was too advanced for me

[@oonaread1619]

You put oil down the sink,😐😐😐😐

[@obsession_engineering]

yes... but connected to a oil tank

[@MJT-DA]

I was about to say the same lol