Anybody try the repo side covers from z1e?

My right side cover decided to liberate itself from my bike yesterday. I was wondering if anyone has bought the reproduction side covers that z1e sells. Are they like the cheesy ones that require fasteners or are they exact repos with the tabs and all?


Thanks

Can't speak for the covers for the KZ900, but I have purchased the covers for the KZ1000J/R/KZ1100B (assuming they are from the same manufacturer) and they are better quality than the OEM...not made of ABS but rather polyurethane and the tabs are solid and cannot (I mean cannot) break. No holes, however, drilled for emblems.

Personally, I don't mind the cheesy bolt on ones so much :woohoo:

That said, I don't have any experience with the non bolt on repro sidecovers. I'm sure they are decent enough to work and fit.

To prevent loss of side covers, first replace the hardened rubber grommets with new ones and then drill a small hole through the side cover's molded plastic stud for a small hitch pin. Install the pin after the side cover is installed.

This way the seat must be removed/opened to acess the hitch pin and prevents some one from stealing the covers without doing a lot of work. Most thieves are the snatch and grab variety.

how about the guy who sells em..lemme see ,is he ever on here to answer the question....

i heard they were top notch but may require some block sanding cause there are some waves in the finish of the plastic,,,i heard

I am here....

yes, they have heavily reinforced posts. As Mike said, they are not ABS but an ABS-like polyethelene plastic.

Overall, very tough.

Cool beans, I will order one soon. I will also be using the hitch pin idea. The side cover actually came off while riding. I was home when I noticed it gone. I actually found it, but it is crack most of the way through and would require more time and effort to repair than I am willing to give up. It was also off a 78 so only two of the posts fit into the grommets. and the carbon fiber side panels are pretty awesome

i drill a small 1/8"ish hole in top front corner and use a piece of that beaded chain around frame tube on mine.
if something goes wrong and i need to start yanking wires or fuses fast i dont want to be trying to open a seat and reaching through smoldering wires to try and pull cotter pins to get side covers off myself anyway.

Yet another option:



Good Fortune!

pretty amazing how the new gromets hold the tabs so well, almost do not need the cotter(i still wire mine though)...Z1E has the gromets and they are cheap enough to just add six or so when placing any order....i went from having old or torn ones a few years ago,to having a nice zip bag of extras in the shop and new ones on all my bikes by just remembering to ask for moreover the last few years on orders...

same with filters and exhaust rings....order something you want bad and then also save on the extra shipping by always adding these wear items imo

their green t-shirts are off the hook this year too!!!!

trianglelaguna wrote:

their green t-shirts are off the hook this year too!!!!

I bet they look good
at the beach :blink:

I use the same method Patton put up a picture of. Drill and cotterpin. Saved me a couple sidecovers even with new grommets. If you got pods it's a must as side winds gets around sidecovers and blows them off. Nothing like having a nice paint job and looking down when you get home to see a sidecover missing.