Early Z1?

So what is considered an early Z1?

Anything built in '72??

'72 build date and '73's up to probably VIN# 005000. There were changes throughout, different bikes from 72 to the last 73.

Kidkawie wrote: '72 build date and '73's up to probably VIN# 005000. There were changes throughout, different bikes from 72 to the last 73.

To add to what Kidkawie stated, purists who know more about the Z1 lineage than I do, consider any Z1 with a frame VIN of 2200 or less, to be the most desirable of the 'early' Z1 year model.

two pictures here, one is of an early early z1 and one is of Ronnie Corbett trying a z1 for size, its a little known fact that the two Ronnie's enjoyed touring on motorcycles together. www.motorcyclistonline.com/features/colu..._steak/photo_02.html

The 72/73 Z1 did evolve a massive amount during production.

The first bikes were the prototypes - V1 preface to engine and frame numbers - a few still survive today. These have a number of differences rangine from the tach drive angled differently in the head, to a shorter swing arm and different center stand pivot (flared pipe versus a bolt).

The Pre-Production bikes - Z1F-900xx - aka the press bikes. A short series put into the hands of a limited number of editors for review - a few of these still survive today.

Then production proper started with Z1F-00001. Changes happened constantly - here's just a few in no particular order, the tensioner cast body changed, the fork lowers changed, the pipes changed, the carb body casting changed, the rear brake hub lever changed, right side handlebar switch, and towards the end of the 73 run there was a blurring of changes between the Z1 and Z1A impacting engine cases, sprocket covers, and a few other parts. Internally, there's even more changes - things like the o-ring around the cam chain tunnel, changes to the idler sprocket shafts and their dampers, shim buckets and some other things too.

In the USA, all the early bikes were sold as 73 models due to them having to get through EPA/DOT stufff... but in most other countries, the bikes up to 2200 were considered 72 models.

Thanks for the history lesson guys, very informative!