Brand new here from Kansas.

Hello, I just purchased this bike from a friend, he has raced it since the early 80's. It has 1,153 original miles, all on the track. I have known this bike since I was 12 years old and he taught me how to work on this bike. Once I dig into this bike, I'm sure that I will have a few questions for your members.
I have owned other motorcycles over the years, but this is the one I have always wanted.

Welcome from the UK

Welcome to the fun!  That is an interesting looking machine, what are you planning on doing with it? You going to keep it as is or make some changes?

Hi gd4now,
Twenty years ago I would have freshened it up and raced it, but now I would like to put it on the street. I have some original parts to the bike and I have ordered a few items that were missing or broken.
My first goal is to make it appear road worthy and pass the Kansas DMV inspection, because it has never been titled for the street.

Cool bike.  I have a similar project with my dad's Z1.  It was also a drag only bike since the early 80s.  Similar struts and wheelie bars.  

Do you know what work has been done to the engine?  If it has high compression pistons you may need to detune it a fair bit to make it back into a street bike.  My dad's Z1 has 12.5:1 pistons and he ran 110 octane race gas.

Welcome aboard!

HI DOHC,
The engine has big bore cylinders (1,48?cc range), 40mm Mikuni's, Dyna ignition, Etc. He could not remember the compression, but it runs on VP C14. The engine is not original to the bike, it's had several over the years. I don't think it could be detuned enough for the street, I will search for another engine and set this one on the shelf.

De-tuning a bit would not be too complicated, but with nearly 1500cc, I suspect you would be in a constant battle against over heating and its performance in the lower half of the rpm range would be frustrating. A different engine built with street performance in mind would be far more pleasurable to ride.

Hi TexasKZ,
I agree with you, the engine was built to scream, not to be choked down.

Where in Kansas do You live? I'm in Paola, Ks. Just got rid of a set of "D" engine cases, darn.

Keys_KAW wrote:

I don't think it could be detuned enough for the street, I will search for another engine and set this one on the shelf.

I think the Z1 is maybe around 1250cc, with big Lectron carbs in the 40mm range.  

I've gone back and forth on this.  It would be cool to preserve the engine my dad build, but I don't really need a 200 pound paper weight with sentimental attachments.

I figure I'll just replace the cylinder head and block and leave the bottom end as is, with a typical upgrade piston kit of 1045 or 1075cc at 10.25:1.  Eventually.....

I see you are missing the windshield on your fairing.  I have been tempted in the past to get one of the Bull Dock cut down windscreens.  I think it would look cool.

japan.webike.net/products/21025176.html


 

Hi asphalt900,
I live outside of Valley Center. I am going to search for a rebuildable engine. I do not know what they're going for these days.