Hiya,

Got a grey import Kawasaki ZX4 recently. Seems mostly OK, but got a few issues, as you'd expect. It's supposed to be a 1988, but I have a suspicion its 1987, just first reg 88.

Frustrating problem is that the header pipes are shagged, lucky I live near a harley showroom so no-one round here thinks my bike is actually noisy. Can't find anyone anywhere who has ZX4 pipes, so I'm either on the route of bespoke pipes, or pushing a different set of pipes onto the bike.

Anyhoo. Someone told me ZXR400 pipes would fit, I've now been told that's not true.

Another more reliable source tells me I can use R6 header pipes and XZ gaskets, though I might have a little fun with fairings and/or radiator.

Anyone got any thoughts or experience that would help?

I've been led to believe that a ZXR exhaust will fit a ZX-4 (with a little modification) but not the other way around.

Yep, according to this thread on the old forum the ZXR system will fit just fine:-

http://retro.400greybike.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=51305

Ah good find, amazing my googling hasn't got me here before. I should do that then, I've found places selling stainless zxr400 headers, just need to dream up an end can to buy ....

Put a wanted post in the classified section, you might be able to pick up a secondhand system for cheap. Either that or have a look on http://www.zxrworld.co.uk

Ah, well it turns out these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/38039-Kawasak ... 460c4b2525 are a stone's throw from my front door so I could just go and get them.

It's a choice between that or forking out more like £180 for a nice bling-bling stainless steel set. Either way, I guess I better order some copper gaskets. I suppose for now I can just bolt my existing end can back on.

Thanks!

If they are Delkevic, walk away. For some reason Delkevic cannot produce headers without causing massive restrictions in gas flow. I guess they prefer not to invest in proper gas porting equipment

The supposedly bling ones are delkevic yes, thanks for the tip.

The cheapo ones down the road just look like someone welded a few exhausts together, but fairly wide bore. I'm not sure how much it will affect me as I'm hardly a performance rider, but I think I'd be a bit annoyed at paying £180 for rubbish.

I'm pretty sure the zx4 engine is the same as the early zxr so the headers should fit it's just a matter of getting the rear mountings right.

I had one once, seemed quick and very comfortable.

dobbslc wrote:I'm pretty sure the zx4 engine is the same as the early zxr so the headers should fit it's just a matter of getting the rear mountings right.

I had one once, seemed quick and very comfortable.

Yes, I picked up a frankenstein exhaust that had come from a broken zxr. It looks very close, certainly the headers are right. My only concern is the actual engine angle, but we will see.

Unfortunately I've got a snapped stud so the bike is up at a local shop to try and get that out, or redrill it. arse, feck.

Seems a quite quick and buzzy bike, I've not found the opportunity yet to snap through the gears at top revs, but it's been as quick as I've needed. I think someone has gone for odd cogs on it ... bogs a little in first, and seems low on revs in sixth, I can't see the front sprocket but I wouldn't be surprised if it has an extra tooth.

I'm really very pleasantly surprised by what a very old quirky 400 can do though.

Comfortable, can't agree with that! taken me about 6 weeks to get the flexibility in my knees so I can change to 2nd gear without standing up on the right peg! OK, so I'm old and fat ... bleurgh.