3 weeks ago saw the arrival from Sydney...my new project 1980 Z1R MkII.
1 previous owner.."barn find"
Completely stock except for the Marzocchi Strada rear shocks, unknown exhaust??? and don't think it has the original horn.

Here she is,in all its glory...complete with dust....Thanks to "www.bikesonly.com.au"transport.



Now off the truck and down to shed.




After a quick bath...this is how she scrubbed up.





As it hadn't been started in ten years...this was the plan.

Removed the spark plugs and squirted some CRC down barrels...let it soak for a few hours then removed the kick start lever from under the seat.
Proceeded to turn her over,hoping it wasn't ceased...this was not the case.

Next removed the tank that full of old varnished smelling fuel ,will run some sought of treatment through it before restart....
Next off with the carb's "which were ceased up" some work to be done here....





By the look of #3 inlet rubber she wouldn't have been running to well previously. :roll:



Cheers..Dave

KZ_Rage wrote:

KZ250LTD wrote: Thanks all! I actually got the bike two years ago and it lit on fire the second time I rode it. I rewired the entire bike with new coils/igniter/reg&rect etc but it was still blowing fire out the carbs and had chunks of the orange adhesive from on the rotor coming out in the oil so I put it in the shed until I got sick of it sitting there.

The list of things done:
-new cam chain + APE manual tensioner
-clutch rebuilt (plates + springs)
-cylinders honed
-new rings
-new SS valves + springs
-coils
-master cylinder and caliper rebuilds + new brake pads all round + SS brake lines
-petcock rebuild
-new carb boots
-APE cylinder studs and nuts
-steering bearings
-ZRX1200 shocks for the rear
-fork seals
-ELR black Kerker 4-1
-paint + new sidecover badges

I guess I'll find out whether I like it now that I can almost ride it. In my opinion it is one of the more ugly KZ's ever made so I just did a photoshop beforehand of what I wanted it to look like and tried to match that. It had lived most of its life in a field I think but the inside of the engine was surprisingly clean.

Ugly? Not your bike for sure, IMHO, I think these shafties are just as good looking as any chain MkII. To me the only drawback to the look of the pumpkin was the original color, makes it stand out more for sure, that might be some of why the chain purists poo-poo it.

IMO in its stock configuration the ST is a whale-looking bike, the original pipes certainly don't help nor does the rear fender. That is why I did the photoshop beforehand, to see what ways I could make it look better and it actually ended up fairly close to the chop:
original

photoshop

Great job Tim, absolutely fantastic looking! You did a great job on the paint scheme and I think you have settled my mind on whether to go chrome or black on mine to replace my pipes. Are you putting the 28's back on or have something else in mind?

Thanks for the compliments! Yes, the stock carbs and airbox are going back on. In a few years when I have the money it'll be bored and flowed with CR carbs but for now I'm just going to ride.



My low profile filter cover arrived today so now I just have to install that, adjust the valves and my tank should be getting lined tomorrow and I'll get to see if she runs!

KZ250LTD wrote: Thanks all! I actually got the bike two years ago and it lit on fire the second time I rode it. I rewired the entire bike with new coils/igniter/reg&rect etc but it was still blowing fire out the carbs and had chunks of the orange adhesive from on the rotor coming out in the oil so I put it in the shed until I got sick of it sitting there.

The list of things done:
-new cam chain + APE manual tensioner
-clutch rebuilt (plates + springs)
-cylinders honed
-new rings
-new SS valves + springs
-coils
-master cylinder and caliper rebuilds + new brake pads all round + SS brake lines
-petcock rebuild
-new carb boots
-APE cylinder studs and nuts
-steering bearings
-ZRX1200 shocks for the rear
-fork seals
-ELR black Kerker 4-1
-paint + new sidecover badges

I guess I'll find out whether I like it now that I can almost ride it. In my opinion it is one of the more ugly KZ's ever made so I just did a photoshop beforehand of what I wanted it to look like and tried to match that. It had lived most of its life in a field I think but the inside of the engine was surprisingly clean.

Ugly? Not your bike for sure, IMHO, I think these shafties are just as good looking as any chain MkII. To me the only drawback to the look of the pumpkin was the original color, makes it stand out more for sure, that might be some of why the chain purists poo-poo it.

Great job Tim, absolutely fantastic looking! You did a great job on the paint scheme and I think you have settled my mind on whether to go chrome or black on mine to replace my pipes. Are you putting the 28's back on or have something else in mind?

I'm interested in hearing how the ZRX1200 shocks ride/handle for you, I have a shot at getting the ones off my old ZRX that I sold as the new owner wants to go with a set off of a 1100 as he has been told the dampening is more akin to what he wants on those. I still like the idea of restoring the Marz and putting them on but I have a lot of work to do to them.

Don't know how you ride but if you're a corner junkie then be prepared to feel the little bit of jacking it will give when you roll-on coming out, it's not deadly or anything but you will notice it, you adapt to it.

Keep up the good work and post more glamor shots!

Thanks all! I actually got the bike two years ago and it lit on fire the second time I rode it. I rewired the entire bike with new coils/igniter/reg&rect etc but it was still blowing fire out the carbs and had chunks of the orange adhesive from on the rotor coming out in the oil so I put it in the shed until I got sick of it sitting there.

The list of things done:
-new cam chain + APE manual tensioner
-clutch rebuilt (plates + springs)
-cylinders honed
-new rings
-new SS valves + springs
-coils
-master cylinder and caliper rebuilds + new brake pads all round + SS brake lines
-petcock rebuild
-new carb boots
-APE cylinder studs and nuts
-steering bearings
-ZRX1200 shocks for the rear
-fork seals
-ELR black Kerker 4-1
-paint + new sidecover badges

I guess I'll find out whether I like it now that I can almost ride it. In my opinion it is one of the more ugly KZ's ever made so I just did a photoshop beforehand of what I wanted it to look like and tried to match that. It had lived most of its life in a field I think but the inside of the engine was surprisingly clean

Thanks guys, still working on finding time to finally mount up those ZRX shocks. Oh and sorry that it was posted in the 'Engine' forum, guess it's more for 'Projects"!)

Leon, looks like your Z1R is evolving a bit, and is there a new addition to your stable?

Testarossa, the bars, bar ends and bar end mirrors are Rizomas. I purchased them from Motostrano.

It seems like most pieces are interchangable with about the same amount of fab work. You could add tabs to the top of the swing arm and use the stock or after market shocks. I used a ZRX750 swing arm that already had the traditional shock mounts.

If you found a good deal on the ZXR 600, use it, nice to have all of the parts like brakes, axles, wheels, fenders as this stuff adds up quick.

I bought this 77 kz1000 about 4 years ago after seeing it leaned up against a house. I stopped and asked if the owner would sell it. He said he would as it had been sitting like that for about three years. It only had 9026 miles on it but looked very rough. He had bought a Harley and just parked it never to be ridden again. It did kick over (obviously didn't start)and by having a friend kick while I held my hands over the exhaust, I felt that it had decent compression. We settled on $400, loaded it on the truck and brought it home. I put it in the shed and it sat for 3 1/2 more years. I had a ZRX100 that was my daily rider at the time as well as a 67 Super Hawk project going at the time.

The KZ was ugly as can be when I got it and my friend thought I was stupid for "wasting" $400. It had engine guards, high way pegs, king & queen seat with a high sissy bar,High rise handle bars and lot's of chrome and fringe too. I forgot to mention that it was bright purple! I could go on but I think you get the picture. Add the rust and it really was butt ugly.

Any way...I drug it out of the shed and into the shop about 3 months ago as I no longer had the ZRX and the Super Hawk is cool but it's a small bike. Fun to ride but small. I have owned a 57 Pan Head, a 78 Shovel Head as well as a 79 KZ1000 LTD and a 76 KZ900 in addition to the ZRX and needed/ wanted something with some size to it. I just picked up a 76 BMW R75/6 as my next project but will wait a year before starting it. Picked it up for $500 and is in really nice shape.

I have about a $1000 into it so far (including the $400 purchase price)and should be able to get it finished for, hopefully, only another hundred or so more. I made pipes, seat, replaced swing arm, gauges, shocks, cables, brakes and lines, wheels, and a ton of other stuff too.

I just wanted to attach a few pics of it hoping to get some feed back. I hope you all like it.

Thanks

baldy110 wrote: Race Tech charges $175.00 each to re-chrome. I sent them my ZRX shocks and they needed re-chroming. I didn't have them do it, way to much for my budget. They still have my shocks and I can't seem to get hold of anyone there. Not very good customer service. I sent them the shocks 3 months ago.

I dont get it....you sent them to Race Tech or not? Who is rechroming the shafts?

Race Tech charges $175.00 each to re-chrome. I sent them my ZRX shocks and they needed re-chroming. I didn't have them do it, way to much for my budget. They still have my shocks and I can't seem to get hold of anyone there. Not very good customer service. I sent them the shocks 3 months ago.

Finally got the painting done and the bike reassembled with the exception of my crap rear caliper. had the wiring all put together and bike was real rough at idle. checked some of the threads on ignition set ups and found advance mechanism was seized. cleaned everthing and put back together.also at the suggestion of a bud shortened my plug wires and redid the cap ends.did all this and started bike seemed to run alot better. still a little popping on idle but decided probably goo enough to road test.yeee haaa this thing is really sweet at about 1/4 to 3/4 throttle.pulls front wheel easily in first 2 gears.I think the pilot jet needs fattened up just a little.that and a combo of the old stock ignition.which is on my want list replacing it with dyna.to fully complete will need to get guages mounted and replace rear caliper. also just today got a pair of zrx shocks coming.Ill post some more pics when I get the shocks. overall very pleased with almost final completion of bike.thanks all members for inspiration and this very cool web site to search just about any issue ive been faced with.