Have changed Zed’s oil today. Last Sunday after being out on the bike for a while I noticed the clutch juddering quite badly and near home I also clocked plumes of blue smoke. The smoke was intermittent but I couldn’t help thinking at the time, this is going to be bad and probably expensive. Any how after some thought and checking of the history of the bike it seems the oil was probably 12 months old. The previous owner has told me he used the bike daily to go to work and back which was 5 miles each way. Having ridden the bike a little now I know 5 miles is not really enough to warm it up properly. Couple this with some sludge in the filler cap and I’m thinking that it’s worth trying some fresh oil and a filter.

Filter came from eBay eventually after the local post office depo found it and I set to work after lunch. Oil tray out and spanner in hand I go to drain the oil and find the exhaust is right in the way. 10 minutes later with the exhaust off I put a spanner on the drain plug only to find it’s solid. So I hammer a socket over it and manage to crack it with the torque wrench; same story with the oil filter cover plate

Some hours later with fresh oil in and the exhaust back on I go for a short test ride. What a change, clutch is much better and gear changes are much better. No blue smoke either. Fingers crossed this has resolved the problem, however I do have a bit of an oil drip from the filter housing now and can’t get a spanner near it because the bloody exhaust is in the way.

I’ve just seen a very nice looking Z1000A2 on eBay for what seems like a good price too. I’m really tempted