New member ....old KZ1000

Just want to say Hi.
I've recently got back in the saddle, after a 33 year hiatus.
Had not planned to get back into bikes, but the wife is of a certain age and having a bit of a crisis.
When she suggested that we needed a bike I had no idea she had already got her eyes on an old KZ1000, and who am I to argue with a lady.

Grew up on strokers, Fizzies, GT's, etc
Then I switched to Zed's back in 79, and had em all.
Z900A4 x 2
Z1000A1 x 2
Harris Z1000 ... nice, but pricey and no where to put beer.
Gpz1100B2 ...Insanely fast for it's time, and first time I did a buck and a half
Gpz1100 Unitrak thing
And loved em all except the Unitrak thing...what a pig that bike was.
Now I have an old 77 Kz1000 and a KZ900 on the way, not interested in the new stuff at all.
The last bike I rode was the GPZ1100 B2, and we parted company at 120 mph on a beautiful long sweeping left hander on the Yorkshire Moors. A bog is the only place to land at that speed LOL. Hi sided over a hedge into a stinking bog. Just broke a couple of bones is all, and possibly brain damage cos I shaved off me beard, cut my hair and joined the Army, without ever getting back on a bike ...until now.

She got me the !000, bless her, and she's working away for the summer, so by the time she gets back there will be a nice shiny old 900 waiting for her, and if she doesn't want it, well I guess I will have to look after it )
I am a Kwakker man. and do all my own work, and I am sure there is so much I have forgot I will be picking the brains out of the members here.
Cheers

Welcome.
If I had a wife and she was going through a "crisis", that's the kind I'd want her to have. :lol: Some just get mean. :whistle:
I got Bossie back on the road after 15 years in 13. Feel like I'm 30 again. :woohoo:
Pics, lots of pics.
Steve

SWEST..................I'm with you on that score. :lol:

Daftsod, good choice, old Kwaks. I admit I also have an RD400 and RZ350.

Welcome back, daftsod....I also have one of those spouses that supports my Kawasaki affliction.

Welcome, Around here the only thing to high-side into at full retard are boulders, ravines, trees, barbed wire and other vehicles.

I started on BMWs, They are their own breed of bike like a HD but practical. Bought my Kwaker, strictly budget based, after a 15ish year hiatus and love it.

My wife tolerates it. I just rearranged the garage to facilitate the wrenching of the beasts. As long as she has her half for the car....

Its all a matter of timing.
400 yds earlier I would of kissed a tree or two, 400 yds later on the exit I would be into a nice stone wall, the jaggedy sort that us Brits build all over the place kzrider.com/media/kunena/emoticons/laughing.png
I rode that road every week for three years, 81 miles door to door. Had some awesome rides on empty roads and just pushed it over the edge, it was always going to happen, and I know I was lucky.
Now I'm in Canada all I have to watch out for is Deer and Moose and any other critter that decides he's had enough of life.

Second time around is as much fun as the first time, never too old to go nuts.
Now all I have to do is set this one up for me. A steering damper or two and a fork brace are top of the list, followed by some brakes, any brakes, even a rock on rope will be better than the original..
I guess we are lucky to have good wifeys

welcome.

we will be needing some pics of these beast!

because,

leon

Leon, that's a sweet collection you have there. Good to see guys saving the old ones from the bobbers.
I tried to post pics so we will see if this old f*rt can pull it off.








Took the original paint off and put it in the basement, that is survivor paint from 77. Far from perfect, but still pretty good for 39 .
Got some old bodywork, a few rattlecans and a case of beer....

And of course this post is worthless if the pics don't work

wow those are awesome! :evil:

i've always loved both of those paint jobs .

i had a red one like that,
consumed it for parts :whistle: .
i have one 78 z1r that i fed several different bikes to when i was young and they we're plentiful :pinch: .

leon

Thanks for the compliment.
And I have cried over a few beers when I think of what I let go back in the 80's.
But hey, they were 10 a penny back then.
Putting that to rights now tho, aim to buy at least one a year and more if the price is right.
Makes more sense than a pension..and right now I'm enjoying building more than riding.
Just finished an old barn find 72 Honda, birthday present for my brother.
Hard to believe this was the Hyabusa of its day eh LOL





Cheers
Derek

Some great looking bikes there Derek, welcome back and you've got a very supportive wife thats killer

Brett