Tank restoration advice KZ1000A/ KZ900

redhawk4 wrote: I'm just not that keen on the tank decals for the original paint scheme on the A2, the way they swoop the graphics round the front of the tank spoils the beautiful lines of the tank for me. I love the combination of black and gold, like the JPS sponsored F1 cars and motorcycles of the era, Kawasaki just didn't catch my imagination with the way they did it this time. I prefer the A1 thin stripe. I really like the Z1 style thick gold stripe at the bottom with the thin white line above. I'm not really concerned with originality as I set out for my bike to be "customized" as I would have done it back in the day. I will keep it until I die so things like the effect on it's value are not an issue.

This look works for me, but the stripes need to be gold although I believe this was a stock scheme in some markets:

Attachment kawa_orig.jpg not found

Just not a fan of this tank decal style:

Attachment 2191_kawasaki_kz1000_leftside.jpg not found

This style gold on the black would look nice IMO:

Attachment Z1000A1.jpg not found

+1 2191_kawasaki_kz1000_leftside.jpg


This style gold on the black would look nice IMO:

I'm starting to think I might go in that direction, it would be relatively easy because I can buy that kit in gold and while it wouldn't be exactly original, it would all be KZ1000A just mixing the years and colors for my mildly custom look.

One thing I'm assuming here is the KZ900A4 tank is the same as the KZ1000A1 so the decals will fit.

I've seen matching 'added' stripes on side covers that added an awesome touch when they had the right 'flow' to them to join the tank and tail. Had an awesome profile look from the side view. I'm trying to find a pic.

redhawk4 wrote: I'm starting to think I might go in that direction, it would be relatively easy because I can buy that kit in gold and while it wouldn't be exactly original, it would all be KZ1000A just mixing the years and colors for my mildly custom look.

One thing I'm assuming here is the KZ900A4 tank is the same as the KZ1000A1 so the decals will fit.

Yes, they are the same.

redhawk4 wrote: I'm starting to think I might go in that direction, it would be relatively easy because I can buy that kit in gold and while it wouldn't be exactly original, it would all be KZ1000A just mixing the years and colors for my mildly custom look.

One thing I'm assuming here is the KZ900A4 tank is the same as the KZ1000A1 so the decals will fit.

I hit thank you by mistake :blush: you get a freebie :woohoo:
Anyway, here is the layout for the decals on a black 78
kzrider.com/forum/6-paint-a-bodywork/600...ent-78-kz1000#694805

I took my tank and tail to a vinyl pinstriper with a few photos of stock stripes for reference. I was never a gold fan so I went with silver. Helps keep the stockish look

That's why I got the green KZ900 tank, because I want to do away with the LTD tank.

kaw-a-holic wrote: I took my tank and tail to a vinyl pinstriper with a few photos of stock stripes for reference. I was never a gold fan so I went with silver. Helps keep the stockish look

That's very nice, the A1 decals keep the theme of the Z1, although much simpler.

bluej58 wrote:

redhawk4 wrote: I'm starting to think I might go in that direction, it would be relatively easy because I can buy that kit in gold and while it wouldn't be exactly original, it would all be KZ1000A just mixing the years and colors for my mildly custom look.

One thing I'm assuming here is the KZ900A4 tank is the same as the KZ1000A1 so the decals will fit.

I hit thank you by mistake :blush: you get a freebie :woohoo:
Anyway, here is the layout for the decals on a black 78
kzrider.com/forum/6-paint-a-bodywork/600...ent-78-kz1000#694805

No such thing as a free lunch

Kapahulu wrote:

redhawk4 wrote: I'm starting to think I might go in that direction, it would be relatively easy because I can buy that kit in gold and while it wouldn't be exactly original, it would all be KZ1000A just mixing the years and colors for my mildly custom look.

One thing I'm assuming here is the KZ900A4 tank is the same as the KZ1000A1 so the decals will fit.

Yes, they are the same.

Thanks I assumed they were, but the KZ900 does have quite a few differences to the KZ1000 so wanted to be sure before diving in and ordering the wrong thing.

Rockranch wrote: Wow that looks like a Denco 4-1 pipe on that red 'Z'? I been looking for a Denco 4-1 left side exit for one of my KZ's.

redhawk4 wrote: I'm just not that keen on the tank decals for the original paint scheme on the A2, the way they swoop the graphics round the front of the tank spoils the beautiful lines of the tank for me. I love the combination of black and gold, like the JPS sponsored F1 cars and motorcycles of the era, Kawasaki just didn't catch my imagination with the way they did it this time. I prefer the A1 thin stripe. I really like the Z1 style thick gold stripe at the bottom with the thin white line above. I'm not really concerned with originality as I set out for my bike to be "customized" as I would have done it back in the day. I will keep it until I die so things like the effect on it's value are not an issue.

This look works for me, but the stripes need to be gold although I believe this was a stock scheme in some markets:

Attachment kawa_orig.jpg not found

Just not a fan of this tank decal style:

Attachment 2191_kawasaki_kz1000_leftside.jpg not found

This style gold on the black would look nice IMO:

Attachment Z1000A1.jpg not found

Not a Denco on the red bike....Denco's had a shorter reverse cone megaphone

Dual post