The bike is now finished and is on the front cover of this month's Practical Sportsbikes. There's a long list of small niggles to sort over the winter but the engine is now fully mapped and the final outcome was 168bhp at 10psi of boost and 130 lb ft of torque. I'm really pleased with the way it tur...

...and if you are looking to scratch your turbo itch, I have almost finished restoring a second bike to a very high standard. It's about 98% original but with modern rear shock, fuel pump and fuel pressure regulator. I just don't trust 35 year old fuel components. The black/green bike has been away ...

It's a standard Hitachi turbo but with an upgraded billet compressor wheel and the wastegate set to the top end of the standard range. The oil pump has also been upgraded with a later ZR7 unit. The spider downpipe was gong to be titanium but Racefit reckoned inconel would be more durable. The pipe i...

some more pics

My 750 turbo is almost finished. The bike has an all-new fuel injection systems with a Motec ECU and it's off being mapped and getting an MOT. Almost everything else is done. There are some very minor things outstanding (a few fasteners to upgrade, a tweak for the hydraulic clutch bite point, revise...

It's been ages since I last posted but I am still a member and thought someone might be interested in an update. I sold the Z900, which was not the original plan, but it gave me the space and budget for a new project. It's not Z1-based but it is an air-cooled Kawasaki, a 1985 750 turbo. The original...

For a short length of wire for a low current application the gauge is not critical. I used 0.5mm2 for control lines, 1.0mm2 for horn and lights and 10mm2 for starter and main earth on my Zed special. I would recommend using solder sleeves to splice in a wire extension, pics here: http://www.z1owners...

I think that dummy engine may be based on my old crankcases. My original bike had cases with no engine numbers so I bought used Mk II ones from the US. Harris used the original cases when they modified my Z900 frame. I was so pleased with their work that I left them the cases for dummy/jig use and a...

I have fitted quite a few motogadget parts including a speedo and they have all been excellent. The speed sensor is tiny and therefore very unobtrusive. My only reservation is that the cable going to the sensor was very thin and didn't look butch enough to me given the likelihood of being hit by roa...

I will have to have a look at those new Ohlins. I have a 1986 Kawasaki turbo sitting in the garage as my next project. I have been told that the bike is too good to modify which makes me determined to modify it. The plan is a full sanctuary style rebuild but with modern turbo and fuel injection. Hav...

Thanks Kenty, glad you like it. The Ohlins forks come in black or gold and I thought black was the best option. Chrome tubes would also have been nice but getting hold of the forks was hard enough. Harris had to import them from Japan. they aren't usually sold in Europe. Assuming the bike passes its...

I hope to be there on my Z900. Haven't had time to get the MOT done yet, but this gives me an incentive to get it sorted.

They look fab, good choice. Black springs or yellow? I ordered black, Ohlins supplied yellow but they looked 'right' so I kept them.

CB1300 Ohlins are 310mm eye to eye uncompressed. There are lots of other ones in the 320-330mm range from memory so you should be able to find something off the shelf. Call Oliver Pearson at Harris and he will be able to find the best match for you. It's partly a cosmetic choice, I don't like bikes ...

I had a similar problem with my build and ended up using Ohlins designed for a CB1300. They were the shortest available off the shelf shocks. My concern was to get the chain run as straight as possible, i.e. front sprocket, swingarm pivot and rear axle all in a straight line when seen from the side....