Fork bushing change on 86-93 models

[AZBiker]

I searched the forums and didn't see any threads about the older models, just the newer ones, so I'll add this.

On my '93 I had a popping sound coming from my front end when I slowed down, followed by both fork seals letting go.  Not a big wheelie rider or ditch jumper so I wondered why.

Upon inspection, my bushings measured 0.033" thick.  Stockers are .040."

Unfortunately, mother Kaw threw us owners of the older ZGs under the bus along with 1300cc Voyager owners--they obsoleted the outer bushing.

Lucky for us, Racetech still makes bushings for our bikes!  The part number for the obsoleted outer bushing is FMBO 41122 P.  It costs double the price from Kawasaki but at least it's available.

Here's the Racetech page: http://racetech.com/ProductSearch/2/Kawasaki/ZG1000%20Concours/1986-93

After the bushings were installed, the problem cleared up for the most part--still pops sometimes though.   I'm betting that the sliders are worn out.

So, when I lose another .1mm on my discs (they're at 4.6mm right now) a front end swap is going to make a lot more sense if I still have the bike.

[George R. Young]

It looks like they just changed the number, per Ron Ayers

Mfg. Part Number: 44065-1064
This item has been superceded to: 44065-1085

[AZBiker]

It looks like they just changed the number, per Ron Ayers

Mfg. Part Number: 44065-1064
This item has been superceded to: 44065-1085

Every other site I go to (can't load Ron Ayers even with my 50Mbit connection), shows 1085 as fitting the 94 and up models.

When I was doing this research as a matter of fact I called Ron Ayers (this was in 2009) and the parts person there referred me to Kaw corporate, who said that there weren't any 1064s left in the warehouse and they wouldn't be getting them anymore.  No info about a new part or anything.  The Ron Ayers part was initially listed as on backorder and they emailed me to let me know it was obsoleted.
If they had told me, believe me I would have saved money and bought the OEM part.  One of the few times that an OEM Kaw part wasn't wildly overpriced.

There was a thread about this on the old forum before it went kablooey.

At least now the part lists have been updated so nobody else runs into this problem.

[George R. Young]

You can see the same info on the Kawasaki site:

When you click on 44065-1064 you get a little window that says canceled, but if you click on the little red S (for supersession) it shows the same 44065-1085.

It's nice when they're consistent.