Author Topic: Lordy..where do I even begin to start.... (Read 10817 times)

ogri48 · « **on:** 20 May 2014, 02:59:32 pm »

Oh the joys of buying a bit of a shitter.....

Frosties · « **Reply #1 on:** 20 May 2014, 03:52:40 pm »

That's not bad at all assuming it weren't too much. It's only up close you'd notice the bits n pieces. Best of all it sounds feckin great. Hope its a good'un

karlo · « **Reply #2 on:** 20 May 2014, 04:45:16 pm »

Loads of potential in that, custom Idea's running through my mind , I love old Zed's.

ogri48 · « **Reply #3 on:** 20 May 2014, 05:27:09 pm »

It was 1400 quid outta practical sports bikes, a 70 year old feller had it in his shed. The motor is strong, only done 18000, and once I get the kerker modified and painted black it will do. As you said, it sounds great. Going to go for a "z1 rep look to the layman ", can't afford to go to mad, but will splash out on decent clocks and paint. Sourcing a z900 seat and duck tail as we speak...

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #4 on:** 20 May 2014, 06:31:32 pm »

Nice one ogri - agree, that's got potential. I used to like the Kerker 4-1s, fancied one for a Z650 I used to have , but pricey. Had a Z1 briefly, US import, standard but for the pipe. I didn't gel with it though cos at the time I'd been used to more modern fare and it felt a bit like a tractor in comparison, wonder how I'd feel if I rode one now, having not had FZRs, RGs etc for a while, and can maybe appreciate the older stuff for what it is.

A site that might be useful to you:

https://www.z-power.co.uk/merchantmanager/index.php?cPath=1

ogri48 · « **Reply #5 on:** 20 May 2014, 07:43:21 pm »

Great link nick, thanks mate

I honestly don't know if it's a good buy or not..the motor is sound, took it to an old skool bike mech today ( he runs a thou amongst others) he loved it, checked compression and it's got high comp pistons ( apparently a common thing with the ones that come over from the states, yanks used to mod them a lot) reckons it won't take a lot to get it looking right, if it cost more than a grand it's deffo not worth it, I've got my cb1300 going on the bay tonight along with the pc3, pipe , k&n filter and viper seat, that'll free up some funds, but whatever I do it will always be a bit scruffy. First job tomorrow is wheels out tomorrow and stripped, then cleaned up and painted black or gunmetal, white deffo don't work with this bike..gotta weld a different bracket on the kerker so I can fit some rear footrests, grind of the old bracket then paint down pipes and can black, hopefully have a seat and some seventies indicators by the weekend and it'll start shaping up. Gonna drop the forks in the yolks a tad too, it looks like it's wheeling at a standstill with the GPz front end lol. Original front end had axle in front of fork legs instead of inline, that's why the front muddie sits weird, a bit of elongating with the mounting holes tomorrow should sort that.
Rode it back last night, about forty miles, it's far better than that gt550, but brakes tyres suspension and handling are woefully nothing like modern..it'll be a nice bike to keep but only as a rally bike or local meet grunter, there no beating a modern ( by our standards that to me means anything built in the last 14 years) bike.

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #6 on:** 20 May 2014, 07:51:59 pm »

Hmmm, looking at the photo: looks like fuel tank is maybe an LTD one. Barrel has rounded-corner fins, but cambox ends look more thou J vintage or thereabouts. Front brakes look like something from a later bike too, certainly wouldn't have thought original discs. Wheels look like Unitrack GPz fare.
So base bike is a thou LTD?

Deefer666 · « **Reply #7 on:** 20 May 2014, 08:38:59 pm »

get a Parisienne fairing on it and build a Jim Goose replica!

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #8 on:** 20 May 2014, 08:40:34 pm »

Quote from: Deefer666 on 20 May 2014, 08:38:59 pm

get a Parisienne fairing on it and build a Jim Goose replica!

But make sure the rear wheel nut is tight

sadlonelygit · « **Reply #9 on:** 20 May 2014, 08:53:45 pm »

i'm a fuel injected suicide machine

got a soft spot for old Zeds
motor is a J, tank looks like a zephyr
sounds sweet tho'

zx9 front end...........unitrack rear...........a tin of green paint

ogri48 · « **Reply #10 on:** 20 May 2014, 09:00:50 pm »

Believe it or not my missus thinks it should be a goose rep lol. The motor has deffo been out cos the frames been powder coated so could be different from original..carbs are black, so not original.
Yup base bike an ltd, Californian too as it has the weird cam cover for their emissions crap, though that's an easy swap out. I've heard of blokes rounding the squared fins off to mimic the z1s but I couldn't be arsed, it will always look like a copy to anyone who knows a bit about them.
If I can get the basic silhouette right without spending too much I'll splash out on a z1 paint job, though it's going to be tough on a budget. The thing is you can buy a mint early z1000 for 4.5k, a better bike than a z1 in many ways and just as good looking, so unless I can buy this and do it up for £2.5-£2.8k all in its not gonna be worth it. If it costs too much to get it looking right the tank will be rattle canned gloss black...

Deefer666 · « **Reply #11 on:** 20 May 2014, 09:02:48 pm »

I am sure you can mock a La Parisienne fairing up using a GPZ1100 unitrack one

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #12 on:** 20 May 2014, 09:17:56 pm »

I've always wanted to do a heavily modded Z650 myself, but never had the funds $:\$
There was a beauty in a bike mag some years ago that had seamlessly fitted RGV250 front and rear, wish I could've done something like that. And I wouldn't mind doing something with a thou J too.

Oooh, and looking at Zephyrs to check the fuel tank shape, I found this little cracker:

Deefer666 · « **Reply #13 on:** 20 May 2014, 09:27:23 pm »

A Goose rep is on my list of builds, I just gotta find a cheapy 1100 Zephyr

ogri48 · « **Reply #14 on:** 20 May 2014, 10:36:27 pm »

That is gorgeous...
I'd love to go down that road but unless I sold the fz1 too ( and that ain't happening) the parts larder is decidedly bare......

ogri48 · « **Reply #15 on:** 22 May 2014, 09:57:43 pm »

Wheels out today and painted, then dropped yolks 40mm down the forks and sorted out the mudguard positioning properly, looks loads better for the sake of some spannering and 25 quids worth of paint..it's funny, the GPz wheels and tyres look a lot chunkier now their black, almost like a decent 3 spoke...got z1 seat and indicators/ rear light along with some decent zephyr clocks anda few other bits and pieces turning up next week, should start coming on...

ogri48 · « **Reply #16 on:** 22 May 2014, 10:01:02 pm »

That kerker is a good bit of kit, got a lovely bend where the manifold sweeps around to clear the oil filter, it'll look good when it's done hopefully

Millietant · « **Reply #17 on:** 23 May 2014, 01:44:17 am »

I'm with Nick on the engine - either a 1000 J, or as it's from the USA, more likely to be a z1100. Rest of the bike defo looks to have started off as a USA model z1000 LTD, with more modern running gear. When Kawasaki advertised their LTD range in the early 80's (maybe even late 80's), they always had a young, beautiful, blonde, either a cheerleader, or in tennis gear, either sitting on or draped over the bike. Aren't we grateful for political correctness.

ogri48 · « **Reply #18 on:** 23 May 2014, 09:57:00 am »

Never thought to check the barrels for capacity, that would explain why it feels so strong, off to In laws for weekend today

So no work onnit til next week..

caretaker · « **Reply #19 on:** 23 May 2014, 02:20:29 pm »

go to the 'custom fighters' forum, go to 'streetfighter pics', there you will find 'muscle bikes' which will give you some inspiration.

ogri48 · « **Reply #20 on:** 31 May 2014, 12:47:52 pm »

It's starting to look like a proper bike at least...zephyr clocks/ new ignition/ better bracket/ proper indicators and a z1 seat have cheered it up no end. Exhaust off for some cutting, welding and painting next...

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #21 on:** 31 May 2014, 01:34:11 pm »

Definitely getting there

Tailpiece still to come? And thoughts on a paint job?

ogri48 · « **Reply #22 on:** 31 May 2014, 06:27:37 pm »

I'm about spent out nick. I'm thinking it's only ever gonna be a cheapo vintage short rides bike, so no more spendy......no tailpiece, and possibly no paintjob, if I get the pipe finished and a few other minor but necessary bits and pieces and and get 1800 quid for it I'll just about break even and have done all the work just for the love of it..it's been a eye opener, decent spares are dead expensive, and you spend more time replacing bearings/ cutting new threads/ fitting timeserts than you do on the actual job you started.
Spend on more bits and decent paint I will very defiinately be out of pocket, and I want to get as much back as I can to fund getting a zephyr and doing more than just a tart up...

bristol banger · « **Reply #23 on:** 31 May 2014, 06:33:50 pm »

I like the look of that, Nice work

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #24 on:** 31 May 2014, 08:54:11 pm »

http://planetjapanblog.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/kawasaki-z-750-special-by-bagus.html