Time to move on...?

[rickm]

My first serious bike was a Yamaha YR5 (precursor of the RD350) before going on to Zeds and GPZs.
A year ago I bought an S3 400 triple to go with the 1000J, and I just love them both.
No doubt the J is quicker and more accomplished all round, but every time I start up the triple it just brings a silly grin to my face and is an absolute hoot to ride
I think they compliment each other brilliantly !

[Garry.L]

After years of wanting another RD350, I got to ride one, and was totally underwhelmed - really I had been spoiled by the power of the big zeds. 100mph on the RD350 felt like 70mph on the Z1....

I think you would be disappointed by the RD.

Interestingly Jeff a mate did a similar thing a few years ago, after years of modern bikes he came over all Nostalgic and bought a fully restored Mars Bar 350 which he'd had new back in the day.

I think he rode the bike twice then sold it on as he also felt very underwhelmed with it. However he blamed his expectations of the bike rather than the bike itself, ie he was expecting it to give him the same thrill it did when he first threw his leg over one in back in 1981 which was never going to happen really given 35+ years of advances in bike technology.

[ROZZER]

Im very fortunate in owning a mint Z1B and a mint matching Nos 1980 350lc however if I had to sell one its the lc that would be sold, would never let the Zed go.

[Is Vic There]

Having a RD350LC, RD500LC, RZV500LC, RG500 and NS400 I would really recommend the little NS400, better ride and build quality is superb. I think the NS is the next bike to go up in value, I also have a RD250 and 350 YPVS which are also great and another bike to consider along with the RGV250. Saying that I've just bought a little FZR250 that has a race tuned 350LC engine in it, get that tomorrow

[RALPHARAMA]

H2.jpg

I get the stroker thing! When I ride the silly Purple Kawasaki it makes me laugh out loud, but is hugely impractical for real riding. There no fooking way I would consider riding to Yorkshire or Germany on it. Every year I ride longish distances on my Z1000A1. Strokers are hoot for local scratching, but they could never be considered a usable classic.

2016-08-23 16.46.59 HDR.jpg

Thrashing my DT down green lanes is brill and I'd recommend it to anyone, but not instead of a Zed

I sold a Z1000A2 once and lived to regret it. I'll never make that mistake again. Think long and hard - it's hard living without a zed in your life - I tried it once

[Fred the Zed]

Having a RD350LC, RD500LC, RZV500LC, RG500 and NS400 I would really recommend the little NS400, better ride and build quality is superb. I think the NS is the next bike to go up in value, I also have a RD250 and 350 YPVS which are also great and another bike to consider along with the RGV250. Saying that I've just bought a little FZR250 that has a race tuned 350LC engine in it, get that tomorrow

Good advice but the NS400 is already fetching strong money in the UK. Being Hodna, they are well made but its a bit too fussy for my liking. RG500s are getting silly money now and RZ/RD500's are going the same way.

Fred

[Haggler]

H2.jpg

I get the stroker thing! When I ride the silly Purple Kawasaki it makes me laugh out loud, but is hugely impractical for real riding. There no fooking way I would consider riding to Yorkshire or Germany on it. Every year I ride longish distances on my Z1000A1. Strokers are hoot for local scratching, but they could never be considered a usable classic.

2016-08-23 16.46.59 HDR.jpg

Thrashing my DT down green lanes is brill and I'd recommend it to anyone, but not instead of a Zed

I sold a Z1000A2 once and lived to regret it. I'll never make that mistake again. Think long and hard - it's hard living without a zed in your life - I tried it once

Took the kettle to the Mosel valley last year and the year before went on me power valve, so you can tour on them. Oh yeah did assen on the kettle 2 2 up with lugguage

[Fred the Zed]

Good effort Haggler!

Well impressed.

Fred

[RALPHARAMA]

The old boiler of course is the exception They were pretty OK on fuel and not mad powerband monsters.

But long distance on a YPVS, that can't have been comfy, nor cheap :lol

Both beautiful bikes!

[Andrew_s]

My mate 'Dangerous Dave' (his UK Z1 was on the club stand at Stafford) has just added a UK RD500 to his collection - he's always wanted one and although I'm not a oil burner fan I'll get to ride it. He picks it up in a week or so.

Long story, and the Z900 is staying put, but I've just taken back my 93 FireBlade so at least I'll be able to keep up with him.....................or at least until I decide to sell it again

[Philippe]

Hi Fred

when you need the place and or the money, I understand you want to sell your Z1-R...if you don't need one of the previuos things mentioned before : don't sell it, you'll regret it sooner or later.
Just let me tell you a true story.

In May 1983 I bought a brand new green Kawasaki Z1000ST. It was an E1 that stood in the shop for 4 years, waiting to be sold.
I enjoyed it, went several times to France, Germany and once in the summer of 1990 my wife and I drove to Rome
In 1992 I decided it was time for something different. The faithfull ST was sold and swapped for a Yamaha 750 Virago...which was swapped for a Yamaha FJ1200 the next year.
The ST was gone, it disappaered out of my life.
In 2002 I sold the FJ and didn't bought another bike. After all I was nearly 40 years old...
I had no bike anymore and started buying Porsches 944. My dream cars.
In februari 2009 I started thinking about buying an old bike to restore, no not to ride it, just for the fun of restoration.
I thought about it and decided I would go for a Kawasaki Z1000 ST. I placed an adverticement on the internet and two days later I had an answer.
I was able to buy a red Kawasaki Z1000 ST which needed much TLC. The restoration began and in the fall of 2009 the restoration was completed.
In the spring of 2010 I started riding on the ST and really enjoyed it. I wondered what might have happened to my old ST, the one I bought in 1983. It was gone, I found no trace of it anymore, was it still running? Did it still exsist or was it taken apart?
Between 2010 and 2014 I bought several other bikes to restore.
In september 2014 I was searching the internet and all of a sudden: a Z1000ST for sale.
It was a green E1 model with a Sebring 4 in 1 exhaust and with lots of other details that reminded me of my old bike.
Could it be possible? Could it be my original ST?
I contacted the seller and gave him some little details that only I could know.
It was my old bike indeed!
I went to the seller the same day and bought my old ST ! After 22 years she was back!
She's in my collection now and will stay there forever.
After reading this give it a second thought !

Cheers
Philippe

[swampy]

that is a brilliant story Philippe. i love hearing about owners being reunited with there old bikes.

[BigZCas]

I feel exactly the same about my green Uk Z1000a1 that i had when i was 18.
Part exchanged my RD400 for it.
Unfotunatly i have lost my old photo album and cant even remember the No plate (old git ).
Guess i will just have to buy one and pretend
Used to love the S&S Performance pipe on that

[Haggler]

The old boiler of course is the exception They were pretty OK on fuel and not mad powerband monsters.

But long distance on a YPVS, that can't have been comfy, nor cheap :lol

Both beautiful bikes!

Surprisingly the PV is extremely comfortable and not bad on fuel either

[Fred the Zed]

Hi Fred

when you need the place and or the money, I understand you want to sell your Z1-R...if you don't need one of the previuos things mentioned before : don't sell it, you'll regret it sooner or later.
Just let me tell you a true story.

In May 1983 I bought a brand new green Kawasaki Z1000ST. It was an E1 that stood in the shop for 4 years, waiting to be sold.
I enjoyed it, went several times to France, Germany and once in the summer of 1990 my wife and I drove to Rome
In 1992 I decided it was time for something different. The faithfull ST was sold and swapped for a Yamaha 750 Virago...which was swapped for a Yamaha FJ1200 the next year.
The ST was gone, it disappaered out of my life.
In 2002 I sold the FJ and didn't bought another bike. After all I was nearly 40 years old...
I had no bike anymore and started buying Porsches 944. My dream cars.
In februari 2009 I started thinking about buying an old bike to restore, no not to ride it, just for the fun of restoration.
I thought about it and decided I would go for a Kawasaki Z1000 ST. I placed an adverticement on the internet and two days later I had an answer.
I was able to buy a red Kawasaki Z1000 ST which needed much TLC. The restoration began and in the fall of 2009 the restoration was completed.
In the spring of 2010 I started riding on the ST and really enjoyed it. I wondered what might have happened to my old ST, the one I bought in 1983. It was gone, I found no trace of it anymore, was it still running? Did it still exsist or was it taken apart?
Between 2010 and 2014 I bought several other bikes to restore.
In september 2014 I was searching the internet and all of a sudden: a Z1000ST for sale.
It was a green E1 model with a Sebring 4 in 1 exhaust and with lots of other details that reminded me of my old bike.
Could it be possible? Could it be my original ST?
I contacted the seller and gave him some little details that only I could know.
It was my old bike indeed!
I went to the seller the same day and bought my old ST ! After 22 years she was back!
She's in my collection now and will stay there forever.
After reading this give it a second thought !

Cheers
Philippe

She's gone already... I've asked for first refusal if Pigford decides to sell her on later.... though I suspect he'll keep her.

Fred