Ever since a bought the Z back in 2008 I�d noticed that the vibration was much worse with a full tank of fuel. As the fuel got used up the vibes gradually disappeared until about three bars on the fuel gauge and then everything smoothed out. I always just assumed this was a trait of the bike. However�

Last night I had the tank off to check the valves. Whilst taking a break to warm my fingers up with a cuppa, my eye caught something I�d never noticed before � how the tank�s anti-vibration rubbers were fixed to the frame with cable ties. What actually seemed odd was that the ratchet heads of the cable ties (sitting in the grooves in the rubber) were all aligned pointing upwards from the top of the frame rail. It dawn on me that the rubber can�t compress at all like this; all that�ll happen is the tank will sit on the hard nylon heads of the cable ties transmitting, not absorbing vibrations.



Sure enough, under the tank there was evidence of rubbing (both sides) that suggested the anti-vibration rubbers had been doing naff all for the last six years! The tank had clearly been sitting on the cable tie heads when it was full of fuel. When less than half full there was obviously just enough rubber sticking out proud of the cable tie�s heads to absorb some of the vibes.

After all these years, and I�d taken the tank off maybe a dozen times, I�d never noticed this before!

Anyhow, to cut a long story short, I put some new cable ties on, with the heads facing inwards at ninety degrees to the frame rail top, filled up with fuel this morning... and bingo, my full tank vibrations have gone!

Maybe next time you have the tank off, take a closer look at the orientation of the cable ties on your rubbers if you're suffering the same�

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