Out on the J

[KevH]

Spotted the chance of dry day yesterday. I don't mind the cold or wet but not keen when there has been salt on the road as I've never been the best bike cleaner(mind you im much better since I've carried out a refub that cost far more than any bike I've ever purchased). 80 odd miles and the J ran faultlessly. I couldn't find a back drop with a mountain view or village green so went for the next best thing, a pub.

[KevH]

Forgot to add the picture.

[dixiethedog]

Nice bike!
I had a black with the gold stripes Z1000J about a hundred years ago. I have a lot of fond memories about that bike and some good tales.I wish that I could afford a nice one now!

[gray]

I hired one in Gran Canaria in the late 80's - fastest I'd ever been without a helmet till the police pulled me over at 100+ on the motorway. Acted all cooperatve and was sent on my way. Happy days

[KevH]

I purchased this one 31/01/82 when I was 21 so most of my times, good and bad this bike features in them. It was the main reason for overhauling it last year. Dispite a lot of engine mods and it not being the easiest ride at lower RPM still a great ride as long as I keep t above 3500 rpm. And still makes me smile when I ride it.

[Sifu]

Very nice mate

[dixiethedog]

My fave tale about my Z1000J was when myself with a pillion got chased by the Police for speeding when we were on our way to "The Percy" (a then biker pub in Newcastle). We were parking up when the chasing Police Cossie drove by slowly. When we left the pub at about 11pm (after drinking soft drinks!) the same Police car sped past up with blue lights on. Little did I realise he was just getting ahead of us to sit on a slip road and to try to catch me! Well, that night in the pub, somebody I knew was there with their pretty girlfriend who I had been chatting too. "Mmmm...I like her..." Her boyfriend had a H*nda VF400F and was riding in the same direction as me. So I showed off. She was on the back of his bike when I displayed how fast a Z1000J could go. The next thing, I have my mate on my pillion punching me in the rips to make me take notice of the blue lights behind. Bugger. Anyway, off to court I went. But back then I was your typical long haired leather jacketed, holey jean type of person. So for court I got myself a shirt and some trousers to look smart. And then at the last moment found that I did not have a suiatable pair of shoes. My mate who had been on the back of my bike worked part time for another mate who owned an undertakers (also a zed owner with a Z1000st). "Can I borrow your shoes please for court? "Yes, as long as I can have them back for 1pm for a funeral, what time are you in court? "10am". I was being prosecuted for exactly 100mph and expected a ban. The very nice magistrate awarded me 3 points and a £70 fine!! "YEAH!!!!!". I left court (in the centre of Newcastle) and headed straight to a rock bar called Trillions to celebrate. Later that day when I returned home after tea time my mate phoned my house with the question, "Where are my f****** shoes!!!!!!!??????". He did the funeral with a brand new pair of white trainers that he coloured in with a black marker pen. They say that you meet the nicest people on a H*nda, but I bet they don't have the same laughs we had back then on our Kawasaki's. Let the times roll. Indeed.

[KevH]

Great story. I had a few run ins with the police on this bike as you can imagine after 43 years of owning it. The best one being pulled on the M6 coming back from the NEC bike show in 1985 with mates on a Z900 and a z1000R. Staffordshire police Jaguar picked us up at Stafford and got alongside us as we slowed for J15 Stoke on trent, He claimed he had been hitting speeds of 130mph but couldn't catch us. He obviously couldn't get an accurate speed on us and said he was reporting us for 98 mph.
Being young and stupid we agreed as we had been travelling much quicker. £75 (nearly a weeks wage)fine and 3 points. He also bollcked my mates girl friend saying as she was pillion on the last bike she should have seen them. I forgave her and we've been married for 30 years now. I can't believe I've never dropped the bike. I've thrown most of my bikes down the road at some point most notably my GSXR1100G on the Isle of man.
Another incident involved a bee in my helmet, and a really wild weekend at La mans 24 hour with a group of German lunatics. All great memories.

[dixiethedog]

Great story. I had a few run ins with the police on this bike as you can imagine after 43 years of owning it. The best one being pulled on the M6 coming back from the NEC bike show in 1985 with mates on a Z900 and a z1000R. Staffordshire police Jaguar picked us up at Stafford and got alongside us as we slowed for J15 Stoke on trent, He claimed he had been hitting speeds of 130mph but couldn't catch us. He obviously couldn't get an accurate speed on us and said he was reporting us for 98 mph.
Being young and stupid we agreed as we had been travelling much quicker. £75 (nearly a weeks wage)fine and 3 points. He also bollcked my mates girl friend saying as she was pillion on the last bike she should have seen them. I forgave her and we've been married for 30 years now. I can't believe I've never dropped the bike. I've thrown most of my bikes down the road at some point most notably my GSXR1100G on the Isle of man.
Another incident involved a bee in my helmet, and a really wild weekend at La mans 24 hour with a group of German lunatics. All great memories.

This is the great thing about motorbikes. We all have fantastic memories and stories to tell when it comes to our bikes, our friends bikes or even bikes that we have seen when out and about. I would hardly start a story with, "Back in the 80's I had a Datsun Sunny and get any interest but the second anybody recalls a story about being out on their Z, GSX,GS my ears prick up. But if anybody starts to talk H*nda I change the story back to my Datsun Sunny!

My black Z1000J came with a genuine Z1000R seat and a set of black chrome Gpz (factory std) exhausts when I bought it. I sold it on and then it was sold again to I believe somebody who worked or helped out at KZ Bits (a specialist Kwak breakers in Newcastle) who fitted a 4-1 Harris exhaust. And then it vanished into the thin air never to be seen again. I wish that I could remember the bikes reg plate.
But congratulations on having your Z1000J for so many years. It will be part of the family now.

[KevH]

It's definitely part of the family. It's amazing how many people I bump in to who say remembered when you had that black Z1000j and there amazement when I say I've still got it. Thanks for the great story. I must find the time to put some more stories onto the forum.

[paul doran]

Lovely Zed I have another one now this will be My third J but it is not as nice as yours Kev
Put up some more pictures when you can

[KevH]

Thanks paul, once I had started the back to ridable restoration it was a difficult decision not to do a full nuts and bolts back to standard job. I do really enjoy riding this one and can't believe it cost a couple of grand more to restore than it cost to buy new.

[KevH]

A few more pics of the J.

[r3sc]

Really nice bike!