First Ride

[ANZed]

My first chance to get out on the KZ1000 yesterday, I bought it last December.

[chrisNI]

I'm not the biggest fan of standard spec Z1000s but that does look well...

[Pigford]

Great example - well done, have fun

[Garry.L]

Proper Bike.

[BigZCas]

lovely
Do like that colour.

[Kev1R]

I really like the 1000's and that is a great example.
Nice colour and looks very clean

[ANZed]

Thank you all for your positive comments, the bike shows only 6200 miles which from the history I have with the bike seems to be correct, it's not been restored everything looks original to me and it's the same colour as the one I had back in 1980 at 19.
I have a decision to make with the exhaust system though, I like the look of the standard setup but because of the rarity of them I am considering removing the whole system in order to preserve it, is that the right thing to do? then what do I fit ? 4x4 900 pipes a 4x1 or try to find a nice 4x2 with a bit more bark to it ?

[Garry.L]

I like the look of the standard setup but because of the rarity of them I am considering removing the whole system in order to preserve it, is that the right thing to do? then what do I fit ? 4x4 900 pipes a 4x1 or try to find a nice 4x2 with a bit more bark to it ?

An original 4-2 in nice condition would be next to impossible to find if you needed one, so as you say looking after yours is a priority. When I had my A1 it always wore it's original pipes but I would get paranoid about them getting damaged on every trip out.

The Z1 4x4's do look VERY nice on the Thou and are IMHO a much better choice than the aftermarket 4-2, 4-1's that are available. That said they're also not exactly as cheap as the others either.

There is a repo of the original system available from France which looks very nice, but no idea on quality or fit.

Paul B's old US market Black A2 with a set of 4x4's which I think looks gorgeous.

[ANZed]

I have to say I do like the look of that A2 with 4x4s on it, will the 4X4s go on to a 1000 without modification, I seem to recall the rear mounts are different .
My other Z1000 has a new V&H on it which sounds great and looks ok from the offside but a bit naked from the nearside.

[Garry.L]

My other Z1000 has a new V&H on it which sounds great and looks ok from the offside but a bit naked from the nearside.

...... and that's the problem for me and why 4-1's never look quite right.

My old A1 in her original Diamond Sky Blue, and below that in her spare clothes with my take on the original Diamond wine Red.

[ANZed]

Gary

I have seen this pair of photos before and even considered trying to buy your bike at the time, stopped myself because I simply would not be able to bring myself to ride a bike in that sort of pristine condition, been there before with a previous A1 I restored in 2003/4, I just could not enjoy riding the bike because of the thought of its condition deteriorating slightly each time I took it out, resulting in the bike sitting in a storage bubble for a year unused, that just did not seem right so I sold it, (FOOL!!).

Here it is at Stafford not long after I finished it.

[Garry.L]

been there before with a previous A1 I restored in 2003/4, I just could not enjoy riding the bike because of the thought of its condition deteriorating slightly each time I took it out, resulting in the bike sitting in a storage bubble for a year unused, that just did not seem right so I sold it, (FOOL!!).

Remember seeing Your A1 at Stafford..... VERY nice.

I know where your coming from as I was the same and ultimately it was one of the reasons I sold mine. And like yourself I now think perhaps I should have kept it.

Trouble is I actually ride my bikes and as I'm sure you know even on dry warm days the bikes pick up all kinds of crap not to mention those little marks and scratches which you've no idea where they came from. Everyone says 'Just Buy a Rider' but I just can't live with a bike if it isn't 100% perfect so I'd just end back at square one again

I presume there's a rather large dose of Irony in all the above but I'm trying my best not to see it.

[ANZed]

I sold the bike to a guy called "Hutch" mark Hutchings I think was his name, he also had an MV cant remember where he came from I think it was somewhere in the midlands, would love to know where the bike is now RGV143R, I owned it first time when I was 19 (1980) then bought it back again in 2002/3 with the idea of restoring it and keeping it forever (FAIL!).

[chrisNI]

Zed power (and possiby others) can supply a Japanese chrome four into two with crossover front pipes that looks like two Kerkers, I've seen it on Zed Power's stand one one of Dave's projects, and I think the Ferrys may have one possibly on Kath's Z1000. It looks pretty good.

[ANZed]

Chris
Thanks I have seen images of them but not keen on the crossovers I like symmetry and the iconic look of the Z headers just looks right, although I do like the look of the two rear silencers on that system, shame they don't offer a set with conventional headers.