KZR's Bikes of the Month for 2024

1973 Z1 rebuild

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10 Jun 2022 00:12 #868596 by 750 R1
Replied by 750 R1 on topic 1973 Z1 rebuild

The Metzeler tyre was on there when the bike was last ridden in 2002, they were nice and soft.

Yes, I ran them back in the 80's on my 1988  Gsxr 1100 and my old ex race bike GPX750R, very good tyres 

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  • hardrockminer
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10 Jun 2022 04:16 #868601 by hardrockminer
Replied by hardrockminer on topic 1973 Z1 rebuild
Those cases look excellent!

I have several restored bikes along with a 2006 Goldwing with a sidecar. My wife has a 2019 Suzuki DR 650 for on and off road.
The following user(s) said Thank You: blackozvet

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10 Jun 2022 05:10 #868602 by blipco
Replied by blipco on topic 1973 Z1 rebuild
Living next to the beach isn’t a bad thing, well it can be I guess but it’s overall desirable. You have a nice bike to work with here, I’m gonna watch.

"Swim against the current, even a dead fish can go with the flow"-somebody (I forget Who)

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  • Buzz Nichols
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10 Jun 2022 07:52 #868603 by Buzz Nichols
Replied by Buzz Nichols on topic 1973 Z1 rebuild
I can empathize about the beach. Some years ago I moved from the Arizona desert to fog shrouded Monterey, CA. I watched helpless as my bikes rotted before my eyes. The oceanside is a great place for people—for bikes, less so.

You're off to a great start!

Is this thing working? Is this thing on?

1978 KZ1000 LTD

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13 Jun 2022 00:13 #868699 by blackozvet
Replied by blackozvet on topic 1973 Z1 rebuild
Having looked at some Z1 threads it got me thinking about being a Z1 owner in the 70's and 80's compared to recent times.
When I bought my 1973 in 1979 the 72/73 Z1 was the red headed stepchild of the Z series.  It was actually the least desirable bike as the Z1a, Z1b, Z, and Z1000 bikes had come out, each with improvements and styling updates.  I bought the 73 because I couldnt afford any of the later model bikes.
From 1973 onwards the Kawasaki 900's were being crashed all the time, it was almost like a rite of passage to Kwaka 9 ownership.  The number 1 question when buying was "is the frame straight ?"  The number 1 statement when selling was "the frame is straight / the frame has been replaced"  The 900 frame left a bit to be desired, was easily bent in a severe enough crash and was the first point of criticism from the anti Kawasaki brigade of the time.  the most popular put down line of the time was "I hear these things frames are made from spaghetti !"  It was a comment that was mildly amusing the first 389 times I heard it, but then started to get a bit old.
Back then no one actually cared what the frame number was.  Fast forward to today and the number 1 question is "what is the frame number ?"
The identity and value of the Z1 bike today is centered around its frame number.  
Back in the day I doubt that too many people even knew about date stamps on particular components, I know I certainly didnt.
Things have changed in recent times, the collectible/ muscle car market has gone crazy and motorbikes have been caught up in the nostalgia.
Now if only I had known then, what I know now, I would have gone around buying up all those 72 and 73 bent frames and storing them away !

1973 Z1 900 Kawasaki
The following user(s) said Thank You: kzstreetfighter71, sf4t7

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13 Jun 2022 01:00 #868701 by Wookie58
Replied by Wookie58 on topic 1973 Z1 rebuild
"Z1 was the red headed stepchild of the Z series"
Wheelhop - see what I mean about gingers being persecuted .

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  • hardrockminer
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13 Jun 2022 04:27 #868706 by hardrockminer
Replied by hardrockminer on topic 1973 Z1 rebuild
"Only a ginger can call another ginger "ginger"". (Tim Minchin)

I had a 75 that I bought brand new.  I rode it for several years before switching the exhaust when it rusted out.  In 78 I switched tanks because mine was beginning to peel.  I left the tank, side covers and tail piece in my Dad's garage.  It sat there for years before he asked if he could throw them out.  I finally said OK.  Around 1985 I sold the bike for $500 to buy a small boat motor.  In 2014 when I got back into biking I advertised in the paper where I once lived to see if my old bike was still around, but I got no response.

I have several restored bikes along with a 2006 Goldwing with a sidecar. My wife has a 2019 Suzuki DR 650 for on and off road.
The following user(s) said Thank You: Wookie58

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  • slmjim+Z1BEBE
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  • Enjoy Life! IT HAS AN EXPIRATION DATE!
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13 Jun 2022 04:52 #868709 by slmjim+Z1BEBE
Replied by slmjim+Z1BEBE on topic 1973 Z1 rebuild
   slmjim still has his first Z1, a late-'73 manufacture date green/yellow Z1-A he bought new in March, '74.  It remains the period custom it became over the decades, but still with the OEM green/yellow livery.  It would be an easy one-day project to return it to original except for the rims that disappeared from his Mom's garage during a cleaning frenzy in the mid '80's.  The spoke wheels were replaced with then-new Lester mags in the mid '70's.
   We have a correct set of 4-4 pipes for it, as it currently has Jardine 4/2 crossover headers feeding Bassani mufflers.  The main thing is, that it survived slmjim's goofy urge at one time (circa 1980's) to repaint the tankset in a black & white checkerboard scheme.  An acquaintance who turned out to be wiser than slmjim counseled against doing so and, that advice plus the cost of the project resulted in the OEM paint surviving in VGC today.
   In the day, tens of thousands of decent 4-4 pipes landed in dumpsters in favor of aftermarket 4/2 and 4/1 systems.  The refrain "Had we known then what we know now" comes to mind...

Good Ridin'
slmjim & Z1BEBE

A biker looks at your engine and chrome.
A Rider looks at your odometer and tags.

1973 ('72 builds) Z1 x2
1974 Z1-A x2
1975 Z1-B x2
1993 CB 750 Nighthawk x2
2009 ST1300A

www.kawasaki-z-classik.com
An enthusiast's forum focused exclusively
on all things Z1, Z2 and KZ900.

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13 Jun 2022 08:23 #868714 by Wookie58
Replied by Wookie58 on topic 1973 Z1 rebuild
"Only a ginger can call another ginger "ginger"". (Tim Minchin)

HRM - On that basis I'm qualified (or at least I was in my pre-chrome days  )
 

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  • Buzz Nichols
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13 Jun 2022 11:36 #868718 by Buzz Nichols
Replied by Buzz Nichols on topic 1973 Z1 rebuild
I thought you were never supposeed to smile if you were sitting on a Harley.

Is this thing working? Is this thing on?

1978 KZ1000 LTD
The following user(s) said Thank You: slayer61, Wookie58

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13 Jun 2022 15:10 #868729 by blipco
Replied by blipco on topic 1973 Z1 rebuild
"I thought you were never supposeed to smile if you were sitting on a Harley."

And waving too!

"Swim against the current, even a dead fish can go with the flow"-somebody (I forget Who)

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13 Jun 2022 23:21 #868748 by Wookie58
Replied by Wookie58 on topic 1973 Z1 rebuild

"I thought you were never supposeed to smile if you were sitting on a Harley."

And waving too!
Guys I don't know if you have ever sat on an idling FXDX with a 110 inch stroker kit but trust me, it's hard not to let the sensation take you to your happy place 
The following user(s) said Thank You: blipco, Street Fighter LTD

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