Just now getting caught up from our few weeks away & hurricane Milton adventure.
We named that bike 'The Seven Year _itch'. Life, health, deaths & general circumstances got in the way of focusing on this basket case daily, so it occupied the service bay off & (mostly) on for 6+ yrs.
The pics don't do justice to the entire challenge. The seller is a trusted individual that many here would recognize. His comment prior to the sale while we were inspecting everything in his dimly-lit warehouse was, "I didn't take it apart. I bought it from the guy who did. He said he's pretty sure all the parts might still be there. Maybe."
What we found was a dozen or so boxes of disorganized, grimy parts, the bare frame, correct #'s empty cases, early Z1 jugs & head, and a '75 Z1-B motor sans head with stuck pistons for a donor crank & tranny. Ultimately, almost all the OEM parts were found scattered among the boxes, along with a few parts from other years' Z1's and a few outright mystery items.. The very few parts not there we had on the shelf or could order from Mama Kaw. Green/ yellow tankset is from Z1 Enterprises during Jeff Saunders' ownership.
Bike is as close to box stock as we can make it with current parts availability and a not-unlimited budget.
We've done a few Z1 refurbs since finishing The Seven Year _itch. Did them just to flip, as we didn't need or want them. Unless the right bike comes along & the spirit moves us at the same time, we're unlikely to ever do another one. We'll just focus on maintaining the collection we've got. Too, we're of an age that liquidating & downsizing pings every now & then on the farthest distance of our over-the-horizon radar.
calum wrote above, "Out of curiosity, what are the six bikes in the set? I figured there would just be '73, '74 and '75."
Two color schemes each year over a three year production run.
Thanks for the kudos everyone. It was a fun Project*.
Good Ridin'
slmjim & Z1BEBE
* A project doesn't qualify as a Project unless & until it draws blood. slmjim dutifully left his bright red DNA in the innards of The Seven Year _itch after it demanded & obtained it's required blood sacrifice.
A biker looks at your engine and chrome.
A Rider looks at your odometer and tags.
1973 ('72 builds) Z1 x2
1974 Z1-A x2
1975 Z1-B x2
1993 CB 750 Nighthawk x2
2009 ST1300A
www.kawasaki-z-classik.com
An enthusiast's forum focused exclusively
on all things Z1, Z2 and KZ900.
