Bike of the Month.

Staying in the US for May with this stunning black Ltd from Joseph. The bike has a poignant back story involving the loss of a great friend, there is perhaps a lesson for all of us here given that another great builder “Indian Larry” was also lost in a similar “freak accident”. You will see alongside the “main feature bike” I have included some pics of Joe’s other KZ a beautiful 1327 “Pro-Street” not just because it’s gorgeous but more importantly this bike also has links to Joe’s great friend Vinny.
Well, the story goes that my very good friend and bike builder Vinny Cira passed away on the bike. Vinny and I built numerous bikes over the last 25 or so years. Vinny was an auto body painter and loved colour. He had built KZs in the colours Lamborghini red, yellow and orange. I've always had a black KZ1000 (three in fact) and we called them my cruisers as they could run on pump gas and go anywhere. Every one I built sold rather quickly and I used to tell him because it was black. Vinny didn't care for black bikes but did like mine. Vinny painted my 75 Z1 pro street in PPG radiance colour line and it has three colours. We did it twice (but that is another story!) Another friend and Vinny had gone down to PA to buy two bikes and brought them up to NY to a self storage unit. Our other friend Tom was the purchaser and is a great engine builder... he has several KZs and planned to restore this particular bike. At the storage unit after unloading, Tom decided he wanted to take the bike to his house not far from where they were at. Vinny said “let me warm up the bike and oil” ( easier to drain it).... making a few short laps around the storage area. No helmet and unfortunately he hit a loose metal drainage grate at less than 15 miles an hour and the bike jerked him off, the bike landing on his head. He passed away a couple days later. I have to add that Vinny was a very experienced rider... crazy how this happened and haunts me to this day. The bike sat in the impound lot for a crazy amount of time due to the death,  I told Tom I wanted to buy it, he agreed and I was able to buy it and carry out a complete “redo” of the bike.More resto mod as it has a few I think upgrades... GS1150 swingarm.... 18 front mag wheel and brand new Murray X Pipe... all new throttle speedo tach and clutch cables. Brand new custom seat and pan. The bike was a frame off complete. Powder coated frame swingarm brake callipers  triple trees battery box etc. Every harness and electronics on the bike including lights and controls are brand new. Complete dyna 2000 ignition and brand new tires (16 rear 18 front). Brand new Mikuni 34 flatslides. Every single nut bolt and washer was chromed including axles and engine covers and velocity stacks. Lower engine painted black. New “all balls” steering head and wheel bearings seals and completely rebuilt brake callipers and rear master cylinder. Front master cylinder is brand new. All engine seals and gaskets replaced. Braided brake lines. I have no intention to tear into this engine as it had very low miles other than I added a pan gate in the oil pan and adjusted valves. Besides, I have a built 1327cc Pro street 1975 Z1 for different days. Building the bike was a labour of love and so many things come to mind as I write this. Vinny and I both loved the sound of the Murray X pipe as Tommy has one on a bike of his.....making contact with Dennis Murray and actually buying one from him was priceless. Vinny and I rode many days and nights together with great friends from all walks of life and different riding styles from Harley guys and crotch rockets to pro street guys. It didn't matter what you were riding as long as you were in the wind. Ironically this is bike number 11 that I have been involved in building and they say that has a religious ring to it. It's been therapeutic building this one and I think of him all the time,,, especially when I ride this bike.






























 

Love your taste in bikes !!!

You're right - black is the perfect color for your bike!

sf4t7 wrote:

You're right - black is the perfect color for your bike!

Smart man Scotty

What a cracker bike!  Looks damn cool , perfect screwed and clean! Always a good ride on it!

Dave, we've gotta admit - we're already fans of that color,   haha

Beautiful bike, love the Murry pipe. Sad story anytime we lose a loved one ,never mind doing something we all have done.My son-in-law passed years ago on a zx9,leaving my daughter and granddaughter . May they rest in peace 

That is a awesome bike. Love the turbo! Nice job.

Thank you guys for all the kind comments. Much appreciated. I know Vinny is looking down on this post with a big smile on his face! A little note,,,, the first picture was a couple days after it came out of police impound as you can see the bent back rim and busted gauges and front master, I definitely replaced all of them. I kept all the original parts broken or not, Tommy wanted the original destroyed controls so I gave them to him,

Staying with the "global" theme this month we are off to New Zealand for Rich's fabulous 650 (I love that green ) Over to Rich

I first got the Z650 (KZ) bug in the very early eighties, after servicing , customising and restoring a few of these in the UK. Always having bikes throughout my life, selling my GS750, and modified TDM850 when we emigrated to NZ in 2010. After 2 months living here, went out and bought a new Suzuki 1250, (the roads are too nice to be without one),  followed by the faired variant and then onto a Triumph 1050 tiger sport. Sold that in 2018 and became toyless.
Then, just under a year ago, came across this Kawasaki KZ650b1 on our local auction site, and after several chats, bought it. This had been imported into NZ by the seller from California, apparently from Bartels - the Harley Davidson dealership as a repossessed bike, but they have not replied to my emails asking for any information to clarify that.
The importing owner said that he had gone through the bike, stripped and cleaned the carbs, and various other things, which once I started going through it, found that this was not the case. So stated my project.
I didn’t realise at the time when I bought the bike, and after research, found it to be a very early B1, with the engine number being 177, and frame number 225. There were owner papers under the seat showing first registration in California 2nd October 1976, which also showed the engine and vin numbers to further verify its identity.
This, along with the fact it appeared to be totally original and not messed with, prompted me to follow the gentle restoration path.
After joining the KZ forum, found out following great advice, than the front calliper and disc were fitted to the wrong side for some reason, possibly they could not find the correct calliper so swapped it round? , as least that is now sorted, the disc is stamped with the correct date code for the bike and in good shape so I just had it skimmed.
The carbs were fairly well gummed and the jet needle on number 2 was rough. I replaced the parts after cleaning, setting up and reading write ups regarding getting quality parts. CSMNL is one of the companies I have used. The fuel tap had been swapped out for the vacuum type, so have put that back to the original (nos). Replaced the choke plunger seals, thanks to Rob for great service and product.
The handlebar switches, the left had been replaced with the hazard type unit, and the right had virtually zero coating left on it prompted me into sourcing replacements, (and parts to refurbish the original right side unit), and after good conversations with Clay, got pair which are now fitted. Great work Clay👍
The wheels are original and have the correct date codes, I have cleaned and polished the spokes on the front, but thinking about replacing them but on the fence about that. They are nearly 50 years old , so safety is paramount.
I have replaced the tyres with Bridgestone’s, original size, and gone for an x-ring chain, genuine cables and hoses etc. The wiring is all good, charging properly, and everything works as it should.. The exhaust was in great condition apart from someone had polished it with emery cloth, and the resulting scratches would not polish out, so had to re-chrome it. Re plat ed the nuts, bolts and washers. All of the indicator assemblies, front and rear lights are original, but had to replace the headlight as it was American spec and pointed the wrong way for NZ roads.
There are still things that I want to do, such as change the speedo face to KMH,, only as that is the road measure here, and the police are anal about speeding, and during the public holidays, there is a zero tolerance policy enforced, so will be better than fines!!
Anyway, that is a basic overview of my bikes journey, and I thank everyone on the Forum for great help and knowledge, and am humbled to be asked for information and photos to be added as a contender for BOTM

That looks great! Super clean. I love the green as well. 

Two thumbs up Rich !  Great job.