[Blitzkrieg]

Okay, today I went out to change the oil in the ZX12. I dutifully followed the instructions in the service manual.



1) Drain oil

2) Remove lower left fairing (to get at the filter)

3) Realize that you can easily get to the oil filter w/o removing the lower fairing.



The concave chin that is split in half (this is the piece which is directly behind the front tire on the left side of the bike) will come off all by its self.



I checked the Oil Change link on the homepage here, and sure enough, everyone is talking removing the entire lower left hand fairing.



Now surely I am not the first one to discover this, am I????



Anyone else notice this yet?

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[easyrider]

I found that the little tabs that hold that piece on to the fairing break off easily. The are very fragile. I have found it easier to just pull the whole side off and leave that little piece on. But maybe I am not doing it right with respect to the little tabs.



Easyrider

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[Sndnga]

so Easy are you saying that that when you remove the left fairing you leave the chin in tact? I thought that half the chin was was part of the left fairing? maybe I don't remember correctly or maybe the body on the 2001 is different than 2000



</p>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub56.ezboard.com/bkawasakizx12r.showLocalUserPublicProfile?login=sndnga>Sndnga</A> at: 9/22/01 4:52:23 pm

 

[Guest]

The big concern for me is not getting oil all over the frigin place when draining it..Like all over your fairing.



I take the left off.. it's gotten to be an easy task.

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[Guest]

I just pull out the middle piece too and wipe off any oil that spilled on the inside or just put a shitty rag down and let any extra oil spill on there

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[Blitzkrieg]

Doster12, I will agree with you on the mess thing, and I haven't actually tried to do it the way I am am asking about (today was my first oil change at home - next time I'd like to make it less of an event if possible) but personally I think that taking off the whole lower fairing _just_ to get at the oil filter sucks.



I've been real happy with the bike, but the fasteners that Mama KAW chose to use on the fairing suck big time. These little plastic "rivet" screws are a joke. They don't (half of the time) screw out unless you put back-pressure on them. Am I the only one pissed at these "fasteners"?





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[easyrider]

I use a thin knife blade to get behind the fasteners everytime now, I don't even try to unscrew them without it. They suck.



On the 2000 model 12's the split cowl behind the front wheel comes away from the lowers. If you ever replace your front turn signals you will have to separate this part from the lower fairing to get at the inside signal nut.



Easyrider

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[Guest]

BE GLAD YOU DO NOT HAVE TO REMOVE THE HEADER TO CHANGE THE FILTER. JUST TAKE A FEW EXTRA MINUTES AND TAKE OFF THE SIDES. YOU CAN REMOVE THE FRONT PIECE ALSO BUT YOU WILL HAVE SOME CLEAN-UP TO DO.

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[Elboman]

I think the 02 fairing is built a bit different up front. I remember someone talkin about it when I got my 02 back in February. I think it might have something to do with where the holes are on the sides where you can catch the oil without removing the fairing when changing the filter. I only remove the two screws at the fwd bottom, then pop the center piece out.

 

[VOZ]

i must try... i just remove the left side