Z1000R 1983. Worth saving?

You might be right Tyrell, the European GPZ's might have come with the 2.50 rims. I am not familiar with the European models. I did all my research based on the US models. For the seat I used the stock GPZ750 seal pan and my upholster re-cut the foam then put on the ELR seat cover. Looks just like the original ELR seat.

My Canadian market Kz1000J3 has a 18"-2.50 rear. My 81 GPZ1100 had the same
Barney

One easy ELR identifier is the distinctive yokes, it puts the bars a little higher and further back. The idea was to change the rider's seating position and weight distribution. The frame castor is IIRC 1.5 degrees sharper than the gpz1100 too.

It would of been so easy for kawasaki just to use their existing 1000/1100 series parts numbers rather than building a revised frame and yokes for what was a short run model.

Gents
Thank you all for your posts and advice. I have started to strip the bike and the frame is going for bead blasting and spraying tomorrow . One of the challenges that I am going to face is to find the back shocks, the bike bone yard said they stripped the shocks of and sold it years back and had fitted the trade ins on the bike. Any suggestions?
Regards

I can see that the seat is going to be a challenge by itself.

ZRX shocks

They just as scarce in South Africa, Maybe can import from USA or Europe. Thank you

In my opinion, any of the pedigree rare and unique "specials" sport bikes are worth saving, or at least keeping them from turning into rust or scrap metal - CB1100R, Katana, ELR, RC-51, RC30, OW01, ZX7R, etc.

They will only increase in value over time. Also, because it is a true original ELR, even if it doesn't have all the correct parts, it is still a respectable notch above the GPz based clones in desirability, no matter how nice they are, to purists and collectors.

So I say you made the right choice. Just take your time, keep all of the parts you have (my CBX motto now is "don't throw anything original CBX away"), Don't alter or permanently modify the frame or any of the unique ELR parts, and enjoy it as much as possible while you are returning it to it's former beauty and glory. Don't worry about finding the correct shocks and other difficult parts right away. Get some good shocks to use for now and just wait it out for some decent originals to show up someday - or not....

Concentrate on restoring the parts you have and getting the bike to look and run good first. Worry about the fine details later...and don't throw anything away (did I say that more than once?)...

Kray-Z wrote: In my opinion, any of the pedigree rare and unique "specials" sport bikes are worth saving, or at least keeping them from turning into rust or scrap metal - CB1100R, Katana, ELR, RC-51, RC30, OW01, ZX7R, etc.

They will only increase in value over time. Also, because it is a true original ELR, even if it doesn't have all the correct parts, it is still a respectable notch above the GPz based clones in desirability, no matter how nice they are, to purists and collectors.

So I say you made the right choice. Just take your time, keep all of the parts you have (my CBX motto now is "don't throw anything original CBX away"), Don't alter or permanently modify the frame or any of the unique ELR parts, and enjoy it as much as possible while you are returning it to it's former beauty and glory. Don't worry about finding the correct shocks and other difficult parts right away. Get some good shocks to use for now and just wait it out for some decent originals to show up someday - or not....

Concentrate on restoring the parts you have and getting the bike to look and run good first. Worry about the fine details later...and don't throw anything away (did I say that more than once?)...

Well said

Thank you so much, I hear you brother! I will not get rid of any spares (done it once before on other bike, never ever, ever again). And yes Im gonna take my time and enjoy restoring her. I had another small win today found 2 clocks one in M/ph and other km/ph. will attach pics.

Thx again for your post.

Regards
Doc

You might consider buying a decent running donor bike: GPz, or J in good nick and building from there, keeping the original ELR frame and yokes.

It might sound crazy to sacrifice one bike for another, but the ELR is worth than than any of the K big fours, also restoring ground up is massively time consuming and replacing/reconditioning everything expensive...assuming you can find the parts. Easily costs as much or more than it's value to restore...in my experience. A guy on ebay UK had spent £11, 000 on a GPz 1100 B restoration, double what the bike would ever be worth imo.

SA has high import duties that kills a lot of EU imports. Getting a bike in unregistered, or in bits as salvage might be an answer.