16-06-14, 07:16 PM
This bike will only ever be one thing..a very poor mans z1b rep. But that floats my boat...I was hoping to get it done including buying the bike for under two grand all in but it's gonna be closer to £2200-£2500 now I've decided to go the whole hog with paint..For that money I can justify keeping it.
Got a bit done over the weekend..stripped the tank back and only five small dents that have been filled over its 32 years..not too bad I guess.
Fitted a z1 grab rail..involved hours of fannying around getting it to sit just right including welding new brackets in exactly the right place, but well worth it. Anything that gives it a z1 look at a passing glance helps it's case. And it fits in with keeping the chrome muddie at the back. More hours spent polishing engine cases and side plates. And a few with a dremel and countless brass cup brushes polishing the engine..I want it to look clean but I don't want it to lose it's authentic patina...and I deffo don't want it to end up looking like a tarts hand bag... Just want it to look used but loved. As it will be.
Some small touches that lose it's last tenuous links with its previous life as a lardarse cruiser...got shot of the chrome trims on the airbox, chrome horns, and painted the emissions boxes on the rocker cover black...their obviously still there but nowhere near as noticeable. It's getting there blokes..been vying between the kh indicators in the rear and the bulbous Zthou ones on the front, but dumping them for the smaller kh items front and back. Need to make some alu plates to replace the to tomasselli headlamp ears, sort the Rear footrests etc etc but it's not far of ready for paint..just gotta fill the holes in the tail and prep it. Centre stand will be one of the last things to go, it's been damn handy....