1979 KZ1000ST almost done

Well after fixing my screw-ups I got the bike started for the second first time tonight :laugh:




Still need to go through the carbs but it is running!


Tank lining went perfectly. My service manager did it for me and he always does his absolute best at anything he does for people. He had put the final coat of kreem in the tank and left it upside down sitting on some soft coveralls for protection on one of the benches. The next day "someone" had taken the coveralls and put the top of the tank down on gritty cardboard and left scratches along the backbone . Of course we know who this "someone" is (yardboy) but he wouldn't ever do anything adult like actually taking responsibility :huh: . Anyway, the tank is being re-cleared by a good friend of my service manager and he will pay for it all.


Once that is done and the carbs are set up, she's ready for breaking in!

Mk11 Is now on my list. Nice bike.

Sounding good! Need to see a riding youtube next!

I thought you were Scottish too for moment there! (saw the night-watch plaid and until you moved I thought "no way, a kilt?! :lol: )

Well everything is done except seating the rings and doing a final synch on the carbs. Got the brakes bled and all is well, hopefully everything is mint for the start of next week. My dad and I are going for two weeks on a trip down through montana, idaho, oregon, washington, BC, Alberta and back to SK. Will be interesting on an untested (mostly) bike!

Awesome restore. Who makes those rear shocks and where'd you get them? How'd you do pin stripping on the tank, is it a decal, if so for what model and again from where? Lastly, how do you like the Avon's?
Down the road I'll be doing some things to my own ST, you're definitly an inspiration.
Best,
Ken

Stay away from those Bears! Be safe and have fun.

fxdl2051 wrote: Awesome restore. Who makes those rear shocks and where'd you get them? How'd you do pin stripping on the tank, is it a decal, if so for what model and again from where? Lastly, how do you like the Avon's?
Down the road I'll be doing some things to my own ST, you're definitly an inspiration.
Best,
Ken

The shocks are original Kawi equipment (made by KYB) on the 2000era ZRX 1100 and 1200's.

Pinstriping was done by hand by Greg Sabatini at Sabatini Autowerks in Rowlett, TX. Haven't had a chance to test the avons yet but I'll let you know.

Motor Head wrote: Stay away from those Bears! Be safe and have fun.

We'll try! Knowing our luck we'll probably get a moose this year :laugh:

Well everything seems to be pretty well worked out, finally got out on it tonight for its first warm-up/break-in run. Need to play with clutch adjustment and a bit more carb tuning still but the motor feels nice and tight. I only went about 20 miles and at one point thought I was going to have a really unlucky night. I was running it up and down the gears to put the engine under load and looked in my rear view to see flashing lights. Pulled over and about four fire trucks went by. Too bad though, I already had all sorts of excuses thought up that I didn't get to use :laugh:

Heres a few pictures of it all put together, I'll try to get some outside ones tonight



Detail of the paint:




Left side:












Still have to do about 300 miles this weekend and change the oil/filter/oil pan gasket (home-made one on there right now) before leaving on the trip. Good thing I have Sat off!

That is one beautiful bike Tim, just fantastic looking!

Thanks Rage, I didn't go as crazy as I am on my actual project bike (the Z1 that I haven't had a chance to look at in about 4 years :laugh: ) but it makes a good ten foot bike: looks good from ten feet away. It is a very tall bike, I hadn't really had a chance to ride it before breaking it down so this is more or less my first few rides. Very tall but it handles nice and feels solid. Also, the carbs are still out of tune but it runs better out of tune than my 75 Z1 daily ride ever did in tune, the engine feels good.

Had to start figuring out the luggage situation tonight. I do have an original in the box AMCO luggage rack for the bike but it is a real pain so I thought I'd check with the luggage I have first:


Fortunately everything fit perfectly, the bags rest on the rear of the seat and I still have lots of room to sit so nothing has to rest on the tail section. Also just have a SlipStreamer Spitfire shield on the front for some protection. I just got a new AirHawk2 seat pad this week so I'll be reviewing that as I ride, hopefully it prevents the MonkeyButt!

wow...St is gonna become the bike everyone starts saving now i bet...folks are re-doing em nice and owners say nothing but great things....seems they will not be around forever either i never see em around here for about 3 yrs now in the classifieds...Tim that is one big strong great ST!!!