Opinions on Z1 Aftermarket Bodywork?

What is your opinion on the aftermarket '73 Z1 bodywork?

Has anyone bought it?
Was it a good quality paint job?
Is it worth the money?

What about resale value on a bike with aftermarket body?

Opinions please.

After you referring to the sets sold by Z1Enterprises or the repaints by Paintworkz?

Yeah, the set from Z1 Enterprises , I've also seen a set from Reproduction Decals.

I'd assumed it was the same supplier. No?

What's the difference between Paintworkz, Z1 & Repro D?

Paintworkz will paint your existing bodywork and do an excellent job...probably one of the best (the best known, for sure, and possibly the overall best) Z1 repro painter in North America. If your bodywork is not in repaintable shape, he'll use repro bodywork.

Both Z1E and Reproduction Decals sell the painted repro body sets and I strongly suspect they are from the same supplier in Japan (and I think that supplier is Doremi). Jeff says they are good quality...and I believe him.

...and to answer your question...few things add value to a bike like original paint in excellent shape. However, a quality repaint will not detract from the value of a Z1, it just might not be worth as much as a true original.

The set i saw that Jeff sells were beautiful. I think he sold three set in Ohio.

For the price i don't think you can go wrong.

s3steve wrote:

What's the difference between Paintworkz, Z1 & Repro D?

Well between Paintworkz and Z1E (which is reproduction sets) the main difference that I can see is price. A full set of painted bodywork is about $400 more from Paintworkz than a repro painted set from Z1E. I'm sure they do good work, I'm just not convinced it's $1400 worth of good work :dry:

it's only as good as the first slip of a wrench ,or friendly scratch...if i forked out 1200-1500 for painting...it is gonna be for a bike i will not ride.....


that's just me...........paint get's scratched.....always

A member here bought a set from Z1 Enterprises a few months ago for a Z1A I think it was and he was very pleased. I can't for the life of me remember who it was though.

I have yet to look at a painted aftermarket kit, but I seen the unpainted aftermarket parts.

The aftermarket Z1 tank has a seam welded flange and a wider steering head opening similar to a KZ. The rear corners are a bit off. Basically it looks like a universal tank that will fit a Z1 or a KZ. The plastic parts are a good reproduction of originals except they are missing a few of the small raised details.

The aftermarket kits are a good value for new parts. They are great for a streetfighter, but not for a quality high dollar restoration.

Yes my prices are higher, but I mask off and spray all the stripes on.

Kawasaki sprayed most of the stripes on the Z1's. The only decals they used were for the white stripes on the 74, and the white top tank stripes and both color tail stripes on the 75.


Ralph
www.paintworkz.com

Ralph, the plastic parts are fairly close to original. Yes, some very small detail is different. But, make that a big BUT, the plastic is 35 years newer... ...no matter how good a job you do (and you do a very nice job painting), the tired old plastic is still tired old plastic. Far too many of the plastic parts have stress cracks and broken posts. My only gripe with the aftermarket tails - the tail tray area is a little too tight for the tray.

The tank design is fairly close to the 74/75 Z1 tanks. The seam underneath is to the inside in the style of the original Z1 tanks. Yes, the neck area is slightly wider than the original 73 Z1 'V' shaped neck area - but for good reason - that design was too tight and damaged a large number of the wiring harnesses.

The tank is also new. While you can find good candidate tanks to repaint, far too many have significant rust on the inside and dings that would have to be filled for repainting.

We've sold a good number of the sets and customers have been very satisfied with the qaulity, and in particular the value for money. A number of customers with perfect Z1's have pulled their original bodywork off their bike, boxed it up and replaced with the aftermarket sets. That way if they do pickup a stone chip or a small ding it's not such a big deal.

Jeff.Saunders wrote:

A number of customers with perfect Z1's have pulled their original bodywork off their bike, boxed it up and replaced with the aftermarket sets. That way if they do pickup a stone chip or a small ding it's not such a big deal.

That there makes it all worth while. Good idea!

Thanks for all the feedback guys!

I think for my bike it may just be the aftermarket body work as my Z1 seems to be a dogs breakfast of Z1 & KZ900 / 1000 parts. It may be a very long term project due to everything I'm going to need.

A special thanks to Jeff at Z1 Enterprises for helping me sort my bike as what the heck parts are actually on my bike.