My winter project - 1980 Z1R

Leon,
Right now she's got points, but without hesitation a Dyna will be one of my first purchases! You've got a Badass machine by the way!

And thanks again for the welcome, I look forward to keeping you guys updated throughout the winter!

-Mike

the 80 models should have the factory elec.ign.being as how it is gone tho the dyna is your best option.what are your plans for the bike as far as mods or resto?

leon holmes

If I am not mistaken, the engine is quite a bit different. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the 79 Z1R have the MK2 engine with the heavier crank shaft with the different cam sprockets and cam drive sprockets that had an odd tooth count? Also had the later drive chain cover and the polution ports in the head and valve cover? It looks like someone took the original engine for for a DRAG motor and installed something they just found. But there is a bright side. This motor is MUCH MUCH more common and the parts are much easier to find. Any part from a 1978 or older motor will fit here. It may not be original, but it will be less expensive in the maintenance $, and also cheaper to HOP UP. Even though the MKII motor was a little better motor, many parts are getting hard to find. "God forbid" you twist a crank shaft on one. This is a good find.

Leon, here's the dream list:

Moriwaki exhaust, Dyna Ignition and Coils, new K&N pods, oil cooler with steel braided plumbing, Rizoma bars and barend mirrors, Ohlin's shocks (gotta love the piggy backed reservoirs), upgrade brake components. I would like to get her running like an S.O.B, then worry about the paint.

Been e-mailing a bit with Jim at Redline Cycles in IL. He's given some great advice too.

Regarding the Ohlin's, another option may be to get my hands on a set of KYB rear shocks that came off of a ZRX, probably just need a little fiddling to get them to work. I am going more in the direction of a Japan style hop up than a complete resto.

I'm not a stranger to 2 wheels by any means, but would love any knowledge to these KZs that you're willing to share, as I was 4 when the z1rs came out.

I picked up these on Ebay awhile back for a reasonable price.

Another pic

Thanks for the input Otto. Yeah, original intention has always been to 'tweak' it a bit, so the fact that it has a 'a' type motor is fine.

When first planning this project, a MKII was first choice with Z1R a close second. Absolutely love the looks of these 2 in the whole KZ lineup, but MKIIs are sooo hard to find in the US, huh?

Do you know of a good source for Lockhart style oil coolers?

Now those are cool, Kawickrice! Hey, I was a UCF grad, had/still have plenty of friends on the Gulf coast too, shoot was married this past Feb at the Hilton on Clearwater Beach. Hope the weather is great down there... we're around 49 degrees here in NY!

Thanks for the pix! - Mike

There should be no reason for an oil cooler. I am running my GPz1150 with no oil cooler and it never came close to overheating. If you want to punch that thing out to 1103 (Which I would not recommend with stock sleeves) than get an oil cooler. but if you stay up to a 1075 you will not need one. I would find a nice set of cams with about a .360 lift which will drop right in. and get rid of those 26mm Mikunis and replace them with a more modern set of CV Mikunis (stay away from Keihins). I know that the guys here will try to talk you into a set of smooth bores but they first of all are much too big for any motor much under a 1150 and are LOTS more expensive. A good set of 34mm CVs from a police bike or a 81-85 CSR / LTD / Specter will perform as well as any set of smooth bores at a fraction of the price. I have a set on my GPz1150 and it SCREAMS. Take a look at my project.
kzrider.com/index.php?option=com_kunena&...w&catid=11&id=169462

Otto,
You, my friend, are a mad scientist! IMPRESSIVE!!

Did you buy that bike in NJ?? I too own a 1980 z1r and saw that bike for sale right down the street from me! It would have been mine if it had the original engine and inner fairing plastic around the gauges. Welcome to the z1r club!!

That's the one, Mike. As I was in the hunt for a MKII or Z1R for this 'hop-up' project, I found this to be a great deal regardless of the inner fairing panel and swapped motor, so I couldn't pass it up.

How is your project coming along?

We should meet up and go for a cruise or 2 this spring, Phillipsburg is about 2.5 hours from me. Find something twisty where we could wrestle these tanks around the turns!!

-Mike