Like 20 years ago a college offered me a -78 Z900.
It looked fantastic. I loved it. I bought it.
One problem: I had never driven a motorcycle. I started practicing in the office garage where the bike was stored - a tiny 30 cars garage with the company brass expensive cars to bump in too. Let me put it this way, I had good incentives to be a quick learner.
Like 15 years ago I felt the need to buy a German 70's sports car, after selling off some great drum kits and surfboards I had almost the cash to do it, with a tear in my eye the Z900 was traded in as a part of the deal. My first son was about to be born so I (wrongly) reasond that a motorcycle is a to dangerous thing to mess around with when taking care of babys anyway.
I have been kicking my self for letting the Z900 go ever sins.
Like 3 weeks ago I started to look around investigating the possibility of "re-buying" a Z900, the price had gone up to crazy, (living in a country made of snow and ice (and occasionally a short sweet summer) I just was not prepared make the leap.
Like 2 weeks ago a ad stating ”For Sale Z650 B1 -1977” caught my attention, I was not familiar with the model but i remembered vaguely from my Z900 days the Zed had smaller brothers. I called up the seller and told him the truth:
”Hello, I will not buy you bike, but can I come over just to get a feel for the Z650 model?”.
I immediately got over to the friendly sellers place and had a look. 25 minutes later (no kidding) I had transferred the money, done the paper work and rolled out of his garage. Ones again a Kawasaki rider.
The Z650 was just spot on for my Z900-itch. Sure, not as big, strong and epic as the 900, but absolutely everything I needed, In fact I think the Z650 might even be a better fit to my body size.
Future projects: For now I will just enjoy riding the bike, maybe clean it up, find missing badges and a air box, and all that other good stuff that comes with keeping old things on the road.
Hopping the forum turns out to be a friendly place when looking for Zed wisdom.
Regards
Jonas ’Nippon'