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1973 Z1 rebuild 09 Jun 2022 01:34 #868545

  • blackozvet
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Hello everyone, I have performed an Indiana Jones rescue mission to dig my Kawasaki 900 from its tomb in the garage.
I have owned this bike since 1979 when I was a young teenager.  I know the last 2 owners of the bike but not the original owner.
When I bought the bike I was told it was crashed by the original owner, frame was bent and a new frame fitted.  This was fairly typical back then, in fact the most important question when buying a 900 back then was "is the frame straight ?"  Fast forward 40 years and the most important question is "what is the frame number ?"
The engine number is Z1E19110 (July 73) and frame number is Z1F22235 (August 73)  Now I know that Z1A production began in August, its got a mismatch in the numbers department, but the bike is what it is and I'm not pretending its anything other than that, so don't go hating on it please 
the bike has been a street bike, a drag bike and a show bike and my plans are to return it to a modified Jaffa street bike.  It has a modified 1075 engine that was originally built by Fuel bike racer 'Fat Cat' Hoskins.



1973 Z1 900 Kawasaki
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1973 Z1 rebuild 09 Jun 2022 04:23 #868548

  • hardrockminer
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I will follow your re-build with interest.
I have several restored bikes along with a 2006 Goldwing with a sidecar. My wife has a 2019 Suzuki DR 650 for on and off road.

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1973 Z1 rebuild 09 Jun 2022 05:03 #868550

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This is like an old school burlesque show, a slow lift and of the dress shot by shot, I’m interested.
06 Gsf 1200 bandit, 08 Triumph tiger 1010
05 Yam xv1700 , 02 Hon shadow 1100
1975 Z1 (currently working on)
1977 Z1000 ( running and in storage)
1978 Z1000 (currently working on)
1978 Z1r "skinny tank" (currently working on)
1978 Z1r "fat tank (gathering parts)
1979 z1000st (currently working on)

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1973 Z1 rebuild 09 Jun 2022 05:22 #868551

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I have been making some progress, unfortunately the burlesque show has slowly revealed that living next to the beach has not been kind to old red.
Every surface has been affected, there was lots of chrome on this bike and it has all pitted and lifted.  All the spokes have rusted.
Its going to require stripping absolutely everything and dechroming every part, alloy and steel.

 
1973 Z1 900 Kawasaki
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1973 Z1 rebuild 09 Jun 2022 05:30 #868554

  • Wookie58
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And so it begins ! 

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1973 Z1 rebuild 09 Jun 2022 05:39 #868555

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The wheels are off, spokes are all stuffed, the hubs were chromed and its flaking - all pretty nasty.  I have got some new stainless steel spokes already.
I tried to get the tyres off with a lever and couldnt budge them, took them to the bike shop and the guy remarked how hard the tyres were, he said to me "how old are these things ?" 
Only had to cut 1 spoke.

 
1973 Z1 900 Kawasaki
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1973 Z1 rebuild 09 Jun 2022 06:12 #868556

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The rear wheel is an aluminium 3.5? What size tyre are you running on it?
06 Gsf 1200 bandit, 08 Triumph tiger 1010
05 Yam xv1700 , 02 Hon shadow 1100
1975 Z1 (currently working on)
1977 Z1000 ( running and in storage)
1978 Z1000 (currently working on)
1978 Z1r "skinny tank" (currently working on)
1978 Z1r "fat tank (gathering parts)
1979 z1000st (currently working on)

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1973 Z1 rebuild 09 Jun 2022 06:19 #868557

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It was a 140/70 - whatever that works out to, the tyre is gone now and I cant remember exactly what it measures to.
The insides of the swingarm are pressed so that it can run a wider tyre.
1973 Z1 900 Kawasaki

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1973 Z1 rebuild 09 Jun 2022 09:41 #868571

  • Scirocco
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Look like an Akront wheel set i used in early 2k but my wheel/tire dimension are 5.75 X 18 with 180/55 and 3.50 X 18 with 120/70.



 
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1973 Z1 rebuild 09 Jun 2022 15:58 #868586

  • 750 R1
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That looks like an old comp  K metzeler tyre on the rear rim, a relic from the 80's   !!

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1973 Z1 rebuild 09 Jun 2022 19:34 #868592

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Yes, its got a pair of Akront alloy rims.  The rear size is about all you can get into the stock swingarm with it being pressed on the inside.

The Metzeler tyre was on there when the bike was last ridden in 2002, they were nice and soft.
1973 Z1 900 Kawasaki

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1973 Z1 rebuild 09 Jun 2022 19:43 #868593

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I have been going through the boxes of stuff that I have kept over the years, trying to work out what needs replacing and what original parts I have that can be put back on the bike.
I found the original points and dynamo cover (these had been replaced with chromed and finned parts)  They had a few scratches on them, nothing major so I got stuck into them with some wet and dry polishing and I reckon they are good enough to go back on the engine when the time comes.

 
1973 Z1 900 Kawasaki
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