I'm finally getting there putting the road fzr back together, have drained it for the winter and was wondering what type and how much %coolant people are using, as there seem to be so many types sat on the shelves of my local motorfactors and I've never really changed it in any of my bikes as it's been done as part of shop services and the race bikes only use de-ionised water! Is it correct that certain types aren't suitable?
cheers
Taggy

Any of it. I just use bog standard antifreeze from a car factors, mix it 50/50 with distilled water. Stick it in and then top it up with distilled water.
Run the bike with the top off the rad to bleed the system ... easy enough.

You need 1 litre anti freeze and 2 distilled water.

thanks very much! new about the rad cap but not that any will do!
cheers

Not really an answer but shows you how important coolant is.

The winter of 2009/2010 I left my race bike with my mates bike in the back of his van, no coolant. When we got the bikes out for the new season he looked over his and hey presto the engine was shagged(£2500) tuned engine knackered. But I didnt see any problem with mine, fired her up easy enough and she ran fine. Changed the oil, and guess what Knackered Motrac engine(£2700)
A costly mistake by both of us being lazy. This year I spoke to Slick Bass and he told me fill the whole lot up with coolant, Which I have, drained her yesterday and hey presto, she is fine!
I know in racing they say no coolant but I think I might just leave a few drops in!

If you are racing, don't put anything but water in it, I've seen what just water can do on a track in a race, anything other just makes it very difficult to sort and clean, plus you will be fined and or banned if they find you've got anything other in there as a result of a crash or testing.
not fair to others and not safe!

Taggy wrote:I'm finally getting there putting the road fzr back together, have drained it for the winter and was wondering what type and how much %coolant people are using, as there seem to be so many types sat on the shelves of my local motorfactors and I've never really changed it in any of my bikes as it's been done as part of shop services and the race bikes only use de-ionised water! Is it correct that certain types aren't suitable?
cheers
Taggy

Yes - some have silicates in which basically grind your engine clean...not good. You want a motorbike friendly coolant.

In the summer I use water only anyways,,it works better IMO and can flush it through whenever without any issues.

I forgot to put coolent in an old NS 125 years ago, went to kick start it and it wouldn't move!
I took the bike inside & defrosted it under the stairs for a few hours and it was all ok. well' as good as an old Honda 125 could be anyway
I also agree NO coolent in race bikes as its slipery as f**k when spilt!