1978 Z1-R Rebuild

Thanks People,

I like the original look on these machines - but it doesn't always come cheap these days !!

I am from Staffordshire - England swest - so the tune was just a motoring related pick from YouTube I am afraid. But it related to motoring in times past and fitted the length of my film pretty closely - so it got picked.

Final missing body panels due back to me this Thursday then she can be taxed and back on the road for Monday 1st June.
Whooopeeee !!!!!!! let's hope for a dry June in the UK

Just for that, I'll have to do a clip on Beaumont/Banning and the bike. That's where Willy Boy started his run. Through Morongo, Yucca Valley and Joshua Tree. Young Robert Blake played Willy. Mind if I use the audio?
Steve

Hi Steve,
Yes I would like to see a clip that shows the area featured in the tune please.

Feel free to use the audio track - it is on youtube under their add audio - copyright free section.

Just type motor into your search box and it is in the top 10 matches.

Here is my KZ650 at the same stage during an earlier rebuild -

From Mark

G'day Mark - congratulations on your "tidy-up" - great work! I'm also rebuilding/restoring a '78 Z1-R and am very interested to know what paint you used to get such a close match to the original (NLA) "Metallic Stardust Silver?" There are a few car metallic paints which come close but yours is soooo good! Ta, Bill.

"I love it when a good plan comes together."
(Hannibal Hayes, The A Team)
Steve

That is such a sweet Z1R, I am in love with your bike!

Hey People,
Thanks for the positive comments.
I think my bike painter mixed it up special - so you would have to get him to do it in England for you.
The Z1-R book recommends HONDA HAVASU BLUE as a near match.
Google some pictures of that and see what you reckon.

From Mark

At last - SHE LIVES ! ! ! !

Rebuild now finished - took from November to end of May.

A new seat strap kit is provided with the bike but I am liking the clean, low lines she has right now.



Wonder what bike will be next to get the Zed Rider treatment :laugh: :laugh:

Pretty quick timeline for a very extensive "tidy up."

Many thanks for the words and pics - always handy to have close-ups of assembly for reference!
Mine was bought as a basket case - it was actually going to be used by the PO as a "spares" donor -but I managed tp persuade him to sell it to me back in Oct 2011. I have already posted pics of the project as it progresses and not much has changed physically since then. I'm working on adapting a u/s of A wiring harness to an Oz bike with Z1000 switches . This model had a reserve lighting circuit, the components for this are NLA and often the first items to fail electrically. I've bypassed these and re-pinnedthe switch harnesses to interface with the main loom but got to checthe whole she-bang out with a meter before applying power, so that I don't let any of the brown smoke escape from the wiring :silly:
Am also masking up the motor for respray - motor paint job was pretty cruddy when I got it - hope to get the paint on next week.
Will post some progress pics of the paint job. I intend to use VHT satin black engine enamel over VHT primer - I used this on some other satin finish parts (brake calipers) with good results.
Seat components are off to a trimmer for re-assembly - got a new cushion, cover and strap to go on the refurbished base next week. BTW - Anyone have a spare "spare " kickstart lever and bracket looking for a new home? I have just the place for them. :lol:

pertonpc wrote: At last - SHE LIVES ! ! ! !

Rebuild now finished - took from November to end of May.

A new seat strap kit is provided with the bike but I am liking the clean, low lines she has right now.

Wonder what bike will be next to get the Zed Rider treatment :laugh: :laugh:

You, sir, have real talent. Thanks for the vids. They are a pleasure to watch.

As for what to do next, may I suggest a '77 or '78 Z 1000. I always thought it would be neat to have a Z1, a KZ 1000, and a KZ 650 as a matching set. The 650 and 1000 especially look like big brother and little brother.

WoW! That bike really is amazing; it's difficult to believe it has ever been off the dealer's showroom floor! Talk about paying attention to detail - even the red band on the brake line looks like new! I take my hat off to you! Ed

wow that is an amazing resto... you have officially defined the new "10" on the 1 to 10 scale. That bike is as good as it gets! Well done.