Hello! New member from Canada

Hello everyone. I've finally become a member after a few years of searching this site. When I first got my bike, there wasn't a lot of information or parts, but this seems to have changed dramatically.

I'm at least the third owner of my 1975 Z1B. It just rolled over 27000 miles. I bought it in Toronto after a kid drove it all the way from Halifax to go to school. Best $700 I ever spent. It was painted bright red when I bought it. Obviously not the original colour. I suspect it was Super Candy Red from the factory. The red paint was cracking so I've painted it blue in the interim.

I've had it stored away for a few years and this summer was it's first time out in about 5 years. I had most of the engine gaskets replaced this spring, new tyres etc. Other modifications include a Dyna S ignition, the Mikuni BST36SS (from an '89 Katana 750 - If I remember correctly) replacement air filters, straight bars and the MAC 4 into 1 pipe.

It runs great but all the rubber bits are starting to disintegrate. I'm still chasing a small oil leak from up underneath somewhere (where the wire from the stator goes up - but it's covered in oil and I can't trace it without some serious cleaning!)

My first thought was to put dual-discs up front because the braking is woeful. After reading about some mods on the KZ forums, I'm now thinking about replacing the front end completely (ZX7? ZX9? USD fork?) and the rear swingarm (GSX 1100?). I'd like to go with both new rims and disc on the rear as well. Maybe some fat tyres too:lol:

Looking forward to chatting with you all about the bikes we love. At least give my wife a break! Ha ha

Here is a pic. Does anyone know why the previous owner would chop the tail off like that? I've never seen another bike with this done to it.

Jason, Welcome to KZR nation. Keep that Z1 going thay seem to be one of the "I wanna bike" lotta maint. and some repair ahead but well worth the Bens and sweat,Kaws are great bikes,like NO OTHER. can't think of any reason why someone would shave the tail off other than it was hurt(banged up be on repair or fixing). Zs abound here you"ll find all the help you need from our BRAIN TRUST. the invasion continues. regards Duke

welcome fellow canuck/nova scotian you have definitly come to the right place.

welcome...you can find tail pieces on e-bay pretty cheap...side covers no...tail pieces yes....or in the classifieds on here....i got one for 21.00 on e-bay cause no one bid.....watch and they'll turn up...nice bike...welcome....craig

Welcome fellow Canadian newbie. At least only the tail section was cut, the 650 C that I bought had the rear section of the frame chopped off as the previous owner was fabricating a real ugly solo seat! Not too big a deal as I have an extra frame that I can graft the rear section from but still yikes! Like the other guys were saying tail sections aren't too hard to find specially if you are going to repaint anyway. Nice looking ride by the way....

welcome to z-jungle! do you have name/address of previous owner? if so id like to send timebomb over there to stomp on him for what he did to that poor defenseless tailpiece! :laugh:

glad yer here...always cool to talk to someone who knows who Wendel Clark is...
cool bike too

Who keeps letting all these damned Canadians in here?




Welcome!

Welcome aboard from another westerner :laugh:

rheohead wrote:

It runs great but all the rubber bits are starting to disintegrate. I'm still chasing a small oil leak from up underneath somewhere (where the wire from the stator goes up - but it's covered in oil and I can't trace it without some serious cleaning!)

If I'm reading this correctly it's probably the grommet on the alternator cover, a common place for leaks on these bikes. A new grommet is easy to get (and the cover gasket if you need it) from Z1 Enterprises . To replace it you'll have to cut and resolder the three wires from the alternator but its not a big job.


Good luck with the mods, looks like a good baseline to start from!

Welcome from New Brunswick

Welcome from down the 401, I'm in Kingston...got lots of friends and family in the T dot