Intoduction

Scirocco
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Re: Intoduction

27 Apr 2020 13:57

#824427

Nice bike you have but the rear grab bar is misssng. Finding one is like searching a needle in a hay stack.

My 1975 Z 1 B 900 Project

www.kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/605133...ears-deep-sleep-mode

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Rick H.
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Re: Intoduction

27 Apr 2020 15:15 - 27 Apr 2020 15:18

#824435

Welcome to the best Kawasaki motorcycle forum out here. I really enjoyed your intro and the picture of you in your factory garb. Believe it or not, one of the reasons I opted to purchase a '77 KZ-1000 was because it was made in Lincoln. My youngest belongs to a M/C club that only allows people in it that have American made bikes so he is always teasing me about not being able to join the club because I ride BMW's. When I bought the '77 KZ the joke was on him because I told him now I can belong to the club he is in. He said no way, you bought a Kawasaki and it's made in Japan. I hauled his young butt out to the garage and showed him the sticker on the frame that states U.S.A. and I broke down the VIN for him showing it was built in Lincoln. He finally had to admit the bike was built in the US and I could officially join his club. At that point I said, "Nah I don't want to anymore." Anyway this is actually my third Kawasaki I have owned. The first was a new 1975 Z1-B that I wish I would have never sold. I and many others no doubt will look forward to your stories from Lincoln. I can't speak for everyone, but I love information from the past. I hope you are enjoying retirement. It is very unusual to find someone that works at one place for as long as you have.
Rick H.

Rick H.

1977 Kawasaki KZ-1000A1

Last edit: 27 Apr 2020 15:18 by Rick H..

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650ed
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Re: Intoduction

27 Apr 2020 16:54

#824441

Rick H. wrote: ............... At that point I said, "Nah I don't want to anymore."
Rick H.

Amen to that! Any club that is so exclusive as to be snobbish isn't worth belonging to. Ed

1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)

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krazee1
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Re: Intoduction

27 Apr 2020 17:19

#824445

Scirocco wrote: Nice bike you have but the rear grab bar is missing. Finding one is like searching a needle in a hay stack.

I can actually find the grab bar on top of the cabinet in my garage! I just think it looks cleaner without it. It also has sportbike bars instead of the originals which I still have. In the "old days" we had sissy bars with a Kawasaki eagle insert, which I see on Ebay now listed as "super rare".

Mike

Former M.E. at Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing, Lincoln, NE
1966 W1 (the Z1 of 1966-50H.P. and 100mph!)
1974 Z1
1978 KZ1000 LTD
1976 KZ900B pile O parts
1980 KZ750E
1980 Honda XL250S (I know, wrong flavor!)

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krazee1
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Re: Intoduction

27 Apr 2020 17:37 - 27 Apr 2020 19:13

#824448

Rick H. wrote: Welcome to the best Kawasaki motorcycle forum out here. I really enjoyed your intro and the picture of you in your factory garb. Believe it or not, one of the reasons I opted to purchase a '77 KZ-1000 was because it was made in Lincoln. My youngest belongs to a M/C club that only allows people in it that have American made bikes so he is always teasing me about not being able to join the club because I ride BMW's. When I bought the '77 KZ the joke was on him because I told him now I can belong to the club he is in. He said no way, you bought a Kawasaki and it's made in Japan. I hauled his young butt out to the garage and showed him the sticker on the frame that states U.S.A. and I broke down the VIN for him showing it was built in Lincoln. He finally had to admit the bike was built in the US and I could officially join his club. At that point I said, "Nah I don't want to anymore." Anyway this is actually my third Kawasaki I have owned. The first was a new 1975 Z1-B that I wish I would have never sold. I and many others no doubt will look forward to your stories from Lincoln. I can't speak for everyone, but I love
information from the past. I hope you are enjoying retirement. It is very unusual to find someone that works at one place for as long as you have.
Rick H.

I only worked in one place so long because I had a lack of initiative! Actually I felt really lucky to have that job, ended up that motorcycles were my job and my favorite hobby. I drifted away from bikes for a while, I had a real near miss on the street and sold my last new Kawasaki, a 1982 GPZ1100 in about 1988. In the early 90s I answered an add in the paper for a 1976 KZ900 LTD that had been pretty well butchered but I brought in home anyway. Since then I've acquired a few more bikes and projects and now have time to work on them. I'm really impressed by the level of expertise on this forum and drool over many of the members rides pictures. I look forward to sharing more pictures and history from Lincoln. I think it's really cool to share with enthusiasts around the world, I found a pretty unmolested 1976 KZ900 for one of my Japanese bosses who spent the big$$$ to send it to Japan when he returned. VERY popular machines in Japan, which is a good thing, I see many more reproduction parts coming from there.

Mike

Former M.E. at Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing, Lincoln, NE
1966 W1 (the Z1 of 1966-50H.P. and 100mph!)
1974 Z1
1978 KZ1000 LTD
1976 KZ900B pile O parts
1980 KZ750E
1980 Honda XL250S (I know, wrong flavor!)

Last edit: 27 Apr 2020 19:13 by krazee1.

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Mikaw
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Re: Intoduction

27 Apr 2020 19:51

#824455

Karzee1,

Welcome to the cuckoo’s nest. You will find the most willing people here that want to help. Not just to get these vintage bikes to run but to get them running correct. Bring on the vintage photos, I’m a big fan of history.

1976 KZ 900 A4 kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/613548-1976-kz-900-a4
1976 KZ 900 B1 LTD
1978 KZ 1000 B2 LTD
1980 KZ 750 E1
Kowledge Speaks, But Wisdom Listens.
Jimi Hendrix.

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z1kzonly
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Re: Intoduction

27 Apr 2020 21:44

#824461

Hello, Now this is cool to see from someone that worked at the assembly plant. I grew up 5 minutes from the Tonawanda Chevy engine plant. Seemed 1/2 the neighborhood worked there. When I was a teenager just starting to drive. The older guys with muscle cars had no shortage of lifters, bearings, valves etc. Fresh out of the plant.

Livin in "CheektaVegas, NY
Went thru 25 of these in 40 yrs.
I SOLD OUT! THE KAW BARN IS EMPTY.
More room for The Old Girl, Harley 75 FLH Electra Glide,
Old faithful! Points ign. Bendix Orig. carb.
Starts everytime!

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Rick H.
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Re: Intoduction

28 Apr 2020 08:45

#824495

Ha! Same for me living in Milwaukee as a kid. I don't think anyone in my neighborhood actually bought any Harley-Davidson parts. They just magically appeared out of thin air!!

Rick H.

Rick H.

1977 Kawasaki KZ-1000A1

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krazee1
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Re: Intoduction

28 Apr 2020 11:45

#824508

There definitely were advantages to working at the factory, as in buying new bikes for dealer cost with interest-free loans and buying parts for below dealer cost.(wish I would have bought more!). I never did build a bike "one piece at a time " AKA Johnny Cash style, I was raised to be honest and tell the truth, and after the plant became a Foreign Trade Zone it was a Federal offense to pilfer.

Mike

Former M.E. at Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing, Lincoln, NE
1966 W1 (the Z1 of 1966-50H.P. and 100mph!)
1974 Z1
1978 KZ1000 LTD
1976 KZ900B pile O parts
1980 KZ750E
1980 Honda XL250S (I know, wrong flavor!)

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krazee1
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Re: Intoduction

28 Apr 2020 19:19

#824527

About 1982, American Turbo Pak kit on a KZ900 with a 1015 cylinder and pistons. 11,0 @ 130 mph with a street tire

Former M.E. at Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing, Lincoln, NE
1966 W1 (the Z1 of 1966-50H.P. and 100mph!)
1974 Z1
1978 KZ1000 LTD
1976 KZ900B pile O parts
1980 KZ750E
1980 Honda XL250S (I know, wrong flavor!)

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Rick H.
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Re: Intoduction

29 Apr 2020 06:54

#824539

That is a way cool picture! Thanks for posting..

Rick H.

Rick H.

1977 Kawasaki KZ-1000A1

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krazee1
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Re: Intoduction

29 Apr 2020 07:28

#824541

The picture was taken at a pretty low budget track in Kearney NE, which was a section of unused runway at the airport. The "timing tower" is visible on the left, a plywood structure built on the back of an early 1950 era truck. Also notice all my adoring fans filling the grandstand! The back of my helmet said "Adios MF" (my friend) and the raccoon tail on the back was inspired by female badass Kawasaki drag racer Vicki Farr's pony tail.

Mike

Former M.E. at Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing, Lincoln, NE
1966 W1 (the Z1 of 1966-50H.P. and 100mph!)
1974 Z1
1978 KZ1000 LTD
1976 KZ900B pile O parts
1980 KZ750E
1980 Honda XL250S (I know, wrong flavor!)

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