Z1OwnersClub GB

Hi,

I have just bought a Z1000A1 project for the winter but wanted some advice from the group please.

It's a Z1000 1977 UK bike (does that make a difference?) Frame and engine numbers match the V5. It has been stored for a very long time so low mileage (10953)

The front forks/wheels/brakes/headlight are missing and the rear has been converted to mono-shock with a Suzuki rear wheel and swingarm. Rear sets fitted and pillion footrest removed. 4 into 1 exhaust and 2:4 seat. Yamaha front wheel?

Engine/carbs, frame, bodywork (clean tank inside), handlebars, clocks, seat, yokes and switches are all good. Engine is bored 73mm

Missing ... Wiring, battery box, starter motor, crank (knackered/rusty), air box. (plus the parts listed above)

Is this worth restoring or should I go with a custom?
Or sell it/swap it for something more complete

Any info or advice would be helpful ... Thanks

Depends what you want it’s a long difficult and expensive road to put it back to standard but there’s no reason why it wouldn’t make a decent non standard bike with a bit of work.

Too far away from standard.

Hi

Thanks for the replies.

I am thinking of non standard because I don't have a large amount of money to throw at it plus I can get a later front end from a mate of mine.

I just thought I would ask on here in case the UK Z1000a1 is rare and worth saving.

Maybe keep it standard apart from the rear and front end.

Thanks

I have 2 1000a1's one is standard apart from a set of Z1 4 pipes and the paint job and the other one I started with a frame and the engine cases left in a garden for 12 years, this one I moved the rear shock mounts and customised it a bit with a bandit swing arm and wider spoked wheels with the original hubs best of both worlds although the rivet counters were aghast when I did the shock mounts telling me how it had devalued it but that is not the reason to own a motorbike.

It's worth it if you think it's worth it.
At the moment you'll just about get your money back on a full resto (to as new/better than new) on a z1000a if you're starting with a bike at £2-3000 value.

Hi surreyz90075
restoring your Z1000A1 in the condition it actually is will be long and very expensive. You'll have to buy all the missing parts or find a donor bike...
If you have no experience or not enough money to restore it, don't start with a restoration to original specs.
Don't underestimate the knowledge of building a custom bike, parts must be adjusted, you'll have to use a lathe to do that or you must have a friend who wants to do it for a little bit of money.
If you don't want to end up with a money pit I would advise you to sell the parts and buy another roadworthy bike with the money you recieve from those parts.
That is my personal advice when it comes to make your Z1000A1 to a roadworthy bike. I don't want to take your dream away, I only want to point you to the reality of the condition your bike is in.
GrtZ
Philippe

Sgt.Pinback wrote:Too far away from standard.

What he said.

A gen UK Z1000 with all the correct UK spec bits would be worth well North of £10K, but the amount of time effort and cash it would take to get this example to that standard would make it uneconomic unless there have some kind of personal attachment to the bike.

surreyz90075 wrote:Hi

Thanks for the replies.

I am thinking of non standard because I don't have a large amount of money to throw at it plus I can get a later front end from a mate of mine.

I just thought I would ask on here in case the UK Z1000a1 is rare and worth saving.

Maybe keep it standard apart from the rear and front end.

Thanks

Your could go down this road okay I see you still have the rear shock mounts so you could keep it twin shock

Build a special your more than half way there, engine work and monoshock done

A good nick UK A1 is gaining value all the time, especially stock

Thanks for all the advice,

The money is an issue because my wife would rather go on holiday than spend it on some old rusty money-pit (her words). Having been married 3 times I am starting to get the hang of it.
The bike has cost me £780 without parts I have recently got for it.

I am OK with doing the work, I am an ex toolmaker with a good workshop and I make parts for classic/vintage bikes and steam engines. To be honest I keep changing my mind but the modified bike would be a lot easier and I can get it on the road next year.
I have a set of 29 smoothbore carbs for it and a complete front end from a Mk1 bandit plus I have made some brackets to convert it back to twin shock that I will Tig weld on. The monoshock takes up all the space for the battery box and the plastic rear guard .... water everywhere and no lower left side cover mount. No centre stand.

If I buy new Z1000a1 handlebars and switches etc and don't modify anything more I or someone else could change it back later.

Is the clock in MPH standard on the Z1000?
Is the UK Z1000a1 like the UK Z1 with a different light, long rear mudguards, ridged footrest, switches etc?

Thanks

Hi - I think modified sounds good, especially as you have a Bandit front end which looks good on a Zed.
Not overly keen on Bandit wheels though, they never look that "exciting" to me.
Twin shock also looks proper on a Zed.
Keep us posted & lots of photo's is the way to gooooooooo

The Z1000 is so much better than the Z1 in lots of different ways, much better riding bike

King of Kings wrote:The Z1000 is so much better than the Z1 in lots of different ways, much better riding bike

+ 1

Agreed