Well, I finally got my hands on a 1998 Ninja ZX9R. I have always loved these bikes, and I was so excited to start working on it. This particular one needed some love, but I was up for the challenge.
First things first, I gave the bike a good once-over. It was clear that the paint on the wheels was pretty thin. I mean, I could see how even using a lock regularly would just rub it right off. There were definitely some signs of wear and tear, with corrosion and stone chips pretty much everywhere. It is an old bike, after all. That just kinda add to its charm, I suppose.
- Inspecting the bike: I started by giving it a thorough visual inspection. Checked the frame, the swingarm, and all the major components for any serious damage.
- Engine check: Next, I took a peek at the engine. It seemed like it was in decent shape for its age, but I knew I’d be doing a more detailed look later.
- Suspension: The suspension felt okay, but I made a note to look into the rear suspension squat rate later, as I read a few forum that it might be a problem.
Then came the fun part – I started stripping it down. I pulled off the fairings, the tank, the seat, everything. It was like unwrapping a present, except the present was covered in years of grime. I was careful to label all the parts and keep them organized, though. I didn’t want to lose anything.
I dug into the engine next. I replaced some of the internals that were worn out, cleaned the carburetors. It was a bit of a pain, not gonna lie, but I got it done. I even managed to give it a bit of a tune-up while I was at it.
The 1998 model had a major overhaul, especially for the frame, swingarm, and suspension. I cleaned up the frame and swingarm as much as I could, replaced some worn-out parts, It took forever, but getting rid of the surface rust was worth it. I mean, I saw a lot of articles that saying how much lighter this model was, so I wanted to make sure it stayed that way.
I’m not gonna lie, putting it all back together was a bit of a challenge. There were a few moments where I thought I’d messed something up, but I managed to figure it out. It was definitely a learning experience. I read something about how restoring these old bikes takes a lot of patience, and they were not kidding.
Finally, after all that work, I got it all back together. Started it up, and man, that engine purred. It was such a satisfying feeling to hear it run after all that effort.
Taking it out for a ride was amazing. It’s definitely not the fastest bike out there, but it handles great, and it’s surprisingly comfortable. From what I read it is more like a sporty tourer. I guess it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but I love it. It’s got that classic look, and it’s just a blast to ride.
Overall, I’m super happy with how it turned out. It was a lot of work, but it was totally worth it. I’ve got a classic bike that I can be proud of, and I learned a ton in the process. Now I just need to keep it in good shape. There aren’t too many of these around anymore, and I want to make sure this one stays on the road for a long time to come. If you are thinking about it, you should do it, this bike is a nice choice and worth your time. It is a nice bike for riding on the road!
