A hello to all.

Hi Special K fans. I hope to learn from, and contribute in whatever way I can to the KZRider forums. For those who don't know me, which is everyone, since this is my first post , let me introduce myself.

I'm 52 and I've been riding street bikes since I was 19. My first bike was a Harley-Davidson 350 Americhi import. Two years later I sold the 350 and bought my second bike, a 1974 Z1, becoming its third owner. That was in 1977, and after 30 years, 60,000 miles, 30+ states and 2 Hawaiian Islands, I still have that bike. It is the one in my profile image that was taken in Hawaii when I was much younger and in the service of the US Navy.

About 19 years ago I stumbled across a beautiful 1973 Z1 in the college parking lot where I was taking some computer classes. I left a card on the bike offering to buy it. About a year later, I got a call because the bike was now for sale. If I still wanted it, I would get first shot, but there was no haggling on the price of $1500. Needless to say, I bought it; becoming its third owner as well, and I have it still. The frame and engine numbers match #00089.

Around 6 years ago I purchased my 1990 Ninja 750. It is a beautiful and marvelous bike, but I'm too old to ride a crotch rocket anymore, so I intend to sell it in the spring and commence restorations and overhauls of the 73 and 74. As the second owner of the Ninja, I hope that its third owner gets as much use and pleasure from it as I have from my two big Zs.

Anywy, hello to everyone.

Welcome early73z! Yeah, you'll be able to contribute here with an early (very) frame number...carries alot of clout around here. But, we'd let you in even if you didn't have a Z1 (I used to, and might never again, for that matter)...might I also suggest the MSN Z1/Z900 owners site as that site focuses on 1973-77 Z1/Z900's. I am very curious about the matching VIN numbers you have, which would be exceptionally uncommon as most Z1 motor/frame VIN's are within 300 or so of each other but don't match...and did I mention pictures!? We love pictures on this site:) :laugh:

Post edited by: Mcdroid, at: 2007/12/22 03:48

Thanks for the greeting Mcdroid. I'll get some pics shot and posted in the next week or so. Other than in a museum, I haven't seen any other 73 Z's with a lower frame or engine # yet. It is my understanding that the first few hundred Z1s had matching frame and engine numbers. At some point, the factory had a reason to build a bike with non-matching frame/engine numbers and it then became a general practice.

I never once regretted buying my 74 in my first ten years of ownership. So, about twenty years ago it occurred to me that someday the early Z1s would become as collectable a bike as the Vincent Black Shadow. All Z1s were relatively cheap then, so I decided to keep my eyes open for an original and complete 73 to keep my 74 company. That was the inaugural year of the Z1 and I happened to really like the “root beer” look of the 73 Z. When I bought it about 19 years ago, I wasn't expecting that I'd get a low frame number bike. I didn't realize what I had until I signed the title transfer at the guy's house. Afterwards however I figured that I had something pretty special. Over the last 19 years I’ve had friends tell me to sell it and put the profits into a new bike, but I like having an original Z1 more than any new bike. I’m torn between doing a full restoration and just keeping it original. The only parts that I know of that are not factory original are the tires, horn, spark plugs, the air and oil filters, and it is on its second OEM factory drive chain and sprocket set. The tank has some scratches and the tailpiece has a faded spot, but otherwise, it is in pretty good shape.

I intend to start the process of fully restoring the 74 early next spring. The 74 has been modified many times in the last 30 years, but now that I’m older, I want to try and undo most of the damage. That bike has been strapped to the back of a navy destroyer and been ridden to the southern most point of the 50 states. It has taken me on trips through 2 Hawaiian Islands and more than 30 states, plus Canada. I bought it with 13,012 miles on the clock, way back on April 10th, 1977. It has 73,000+ miles on it now.

Interesting. I have a 1977 KZ1000A with a frame number of '95' but, alas, it doesn't mean squat I rue, to this day, trading in my Z1B for a new KZ1000A1 in 1976...maybe, but unlikely, I'll pick up another Z1 but it'll have to be a an undiscovered underpriced garage queen...I'm currently enamored with early GPz's and I'm thinking of snagging a KZ1000R model, or maybe importing a KZ1100R from Canada...well see. Again, welcome to the group...and check out the MSN group for technical questions on Z1 restorations.

Welcome to the site. Great Bio. Look forward to photos.

Best of success.

Welcome, I'm looking forward to your pics, also!
-KR

Looking forward to getting to know you all. My photos from the past are still locked in the original slides and prints. I'm looking into getting the slides copied to digital. My own digital camera is in the shop under warranty, so I took the point & shoot out to the garage to snap a few. Both Z1s have been under sheets in the garage for a couple years while I toyed with the 750 Ninja. Once the Ninja is sold, I'll have time and garage space for reviving each of the Zs. I got a front shot of the 73 partially uncovered and one of the engine pad where the engine number is stamped. I posted the 2 pics in the members gallery Z1900 section.

Hello to all. I am also pretty new to posting also. I own a 73 z1 with the frame number in the 10800 range. I have been the owner for almost 25 years now. After sitting for 14 years i have it roadworthy again, putting 3000 miles or so on it so far. Mine has a different motor, rims and a few misc parts. In the 80's i hit a dump truck and did some damage to it which is why some parts are not original. I am just happy to have her back on the road again. Early73z don't paint it leave it the way it is, Replace the mods back to stock. I think it would show character like that. Keep the pics coming, i will round up photos from my project and post them when i can get them organized.

Welcome Kawickrice! Jeez, the Z1's are coming out of the woodwork...same advice I gave 'early73z'...if you are thinking of restoration, try the MSN site also:)

Hi Kawickrice, Great picture. I like your chroma-color paint job. I have a Lester mag on the rear of my 74 like yours. I see a 76 or later Kawasaki mag and fender on the front. I have a "king & queen" seat like yours for my 74. Mine is a Corbin-gentry seat that I bought for a major bike trip on the 74 back in 1983.

Here is quick pic of the 73 out in my garage. This shot and another of the engine with engine number are in the KZRider gallery.


I want to restore the 74 to "mostly" the original stock look, but probably stay with a 4 into 1 exhaust and the mag rear wheel. I haven't decided if I want to put the tank back to the stock 74 Z1A look, or the early 73 Euro green look. Right now I have it painted to resemble the 73 pattern in black & silver.

For the 73, I want to keep it as much as possible to its original parts, but I'm very tempted to replace some with NOS replacements if I can find them.

Mcdroid, thanks for the MSN suggestion. Do you have a direct URL/link or should I do a google search?

early73z wrote:

Mcdroid, thanks for the MSN suggestion. Do you have a direct URL/link or should I do a google search?

try this:

groups.msn.com/WorldwideZ1Z900Ownerscommunity

MSN will require you to register and join...it is fairly painless.