New from Austria

Long time lurker, first time poster here. I'm the owner of a  KZ 750E1 (Austrian/European Model) since 2020. I bought it because it was the first used bike i could afford when i startet driving motorcycles in the early 1990ties. Over the years i tried to change the bike back to it's original state how it was delivered in 1980. It has been an expensive journey and i did everything except the paintwork myself. Unfortunately since i'm a city dweller i don't have access to my own workshop or a garage except for storage. The bike is not perfect (are they ever?) and right now i'm dealing with a slightly cracked oil pan and a leaking brake hose fitting (old braided steel lines). I already have an oil pan and a new set of custom fitted brake hoses and just need the time and place to make the repairs. 
First two pictures are showing how the bike looked when i got it. It looked good from a few feet away, but there were many problems and shoddy work done from the preowners. This ist the reason why i have decided to bring the bike back to it's original state (last four pictures is the current condition).
If one ist converting a bike back to it's original condition, there is so much to learn. Part numbers, differences between US/European models (there are even important small differences between the German and Austrian model). The biggest problem is that there are so few original and NOS parts available. You can get almost anything for a Z900/Z1 or a Z650 original and reproduction, but the Z750 series is kind of neglected. I know it's far from perfect, but i'm happy with it.
This forum is great and its knowledgebase invaluable.
Greetings from Vienna and please excuse my English, it's not my first language.
 

WElcome to KZRider
Lots of good people here to offer good  advise
Dave

Welcome to KZRider...and you have done a wonderful effort in reconstructing the original E model!

Welcome here also from the "neighborhood" germany!
Your Z750 looks amazing and like brand new to me, like  it´s coming direct from the dealer in 1981  ,  congrats on your work !!!Looking closely at the details, this bike is a definite contender for BotM or BotY!
(I have to admit—without a hint of envy—that in all these decades, I’ve never managed to restore a motorcycle to this kind of "like-new" condition!!! It always amazes me when people pull it off *so* well!!!)
 

Welcome from the UK, bike looks great

Welcome aboard! Looks like you have done a really good job of restoration.

MFP-Joe post=928459 userid=24810Welcome here also from the "neighborhood" germany!
Your Z750 looks amazing and like brand new to me, like  it´s coming direct from the dealer in 1981 

,  congrats on your work !!!Looking closely at the details, this bike is a definite contender for BotM or BotY!
(I have to admit—without a hint of envy—that in all these decades, I’ve never managed to restore a motorcycle to this kind of "like-new" condition!!! It always amazes me when people pull it off *so* well!!!)

Thank you! I've tried to use as much original parts as possible. One has to be very patient for good used or NOS parts to turn up. For example i had to go through 3 different exhausts until i got a 4 in 2 that wasn't full of rust or dents and scratches. People and shops are sometimes asking for a small fortune in exchange for their parts. But i got very lucky acquiring the original exhaust a few years ago from a guy in Germany who was willing to send me the complete exhaust (as you may know it is one big heavy piece from the header to the back of the muffler) and on top of it it was a bargain (i paid only around €  150,- including all postage and handling fees!). But for other parts like the upper fork legs i had to shell out € 400,- for a set of NOS parts. All used ones had either rust or noticeable vertical wear patterns and a re-chrome would have been even more expensive. 
I have tried to use only historically accurate accessories like the case savers (Tarozzi from Italy), fork stabilizer (Telefix) and braided steel brake lines. I also have a second NOS "sporty" seat from Giuliari, but i like the original better. It even has the original seat cover and spent the better part of the last 40 years in some guys dusty but dry basement before i got my hands on it. But some parts are hard or seemingly impossible to find. For example i looked for over 5 years for an original plastic fork cover before i gave up and found an high quality Japanese reproduction, since this part was used on other more popular Kawasakis as well. But i guess i will never find other parts like a really complete tool kit /owners tools, but i have to draw the line somewhere. I'm not the type to replace every little screw and bolt to the original and expensive Kawasaki pot metal version and i don't need all the original stickers on the frame, tank or instruments. I will just try to keep the bike in its current condition and keep up with the maintenance. 

Welcome from Canada leoloso. Great looking bike. Great job on the restoration. I also have a 750E1 bought in 2003 which I keep clean and in good shape but nothing like your "as new" condition. Awesome.

 

Wow! The Z 750 looks in excellent shape! Welcome to the forum!  

Super Nice Job leoloso!!

Welcome to KZR, a comfy little air-cooled corner of interwebs motorcycle madness.

You've done a great resto on that bike.  The challenges of finding 'correct' items is one of the (supposed) fun parts for the vintage bike enthusiast.

   We were based at a fine hotel in beautiful Seefeld, Austria during August - September of 2025 for a Austria / Germany / Switzerland / Italy tour of the Alps on a BMW R1200 RT.  The indigenous locals we met everywhere were universally friendly and welcoming.  Awesome food!  American drivers could take lessons from any native EU drivers on negotiating roundabouts.  The autobahns were a joy!  A few of the roads up / down - to / from the mountain passes were extraordinarily tight.  Stelvio Pass should be on any experienced Rider's bucket list.

   We rode to the Vienna area one morning on our way out for a day trip to do the Rax-Seilbahn cable car.  Fine strudel and best hot chocolate at the restaurant on top.  Cold up there!  Didn't have as much time to spend in Vienna as we would have liked.

   You live so close to many literally world-class roads and Ridin' experiences!!  Envious!

   So many passes, so little time...

Good Ridin'
slmjim & Z1BEBE
 

slmjim+Z1BEBE wrote:

   We were based at a fine hotel in beautiful Seefeld, Austria during August - September of 2025 for a Austria / Germany / Switzerland / Italy tour of the Alps on a BMW R1200 RT.  The indigenous locals we met everywhere were universally friendly and welcoming.  Awesome food!  American drivers could take lessons from any native EU drivers on negotiating roundabouts.  The autobahns were a joy!  A few of the roads up / down - to / from the mountain passes were extraordinarily tight.  Stelvio Pass should be on any experienced Rider's bucket list.
  

Good Ridin'
slmjim & Z1BEBE

 

I did wonder if you guys made that trip in the end, it was looking doubtful at one point if I remember correctly