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newer 'old' bikes

Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2018 9:28 pm
Author: ddg900
As you can see from my profile, I have a kz900a4. I now have these two sat alongside - I was really keen to see what the first round of 'retro' bikes were like compared to the 70s icons upon which they were (allegedly) modelled. Anyone else on here have any knowledge or own any of the zephyrs?

zr1100a1 009a.JPG

Re: newer 'old' bikes

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2018 8:01 pm
Author: kev edwards
I had a 750 Zephyr, could not fault it done everything i asked of it.
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Re: newer 'old' bikes

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2018 8:35 pm
Author: Haggler
Possibly made just a little early, much prefer the look of the zephyr to the latest incarnation. If only they had made a decent exhaust on it and fitted the round back light with appropriate duck tail. Never mind though as well hapy with me Z1R shed :jake

Re: newer 'old' bikes

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2018 9:29 pm
Author: Garry.L
Likewise a 750 Zeph, Fantastic retro other than the cement mixer start up when cold.

I turned this....

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Into this......

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Re: newer 'old' bikes

Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2018 6:06 am
Author: rickm
Nice, I like that :up

Re: newer 'old' bikes

Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2018 6:12 am
Author: Padders
Mikes lovely 1100 quality build.

Re: newer 'old' bikes

Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2018 8:16 am
Author: Charlie
Great looking bikes.
I reckon they will become classics in their own right (in fact they already are doing so). Some of those replica's are stunning. They are far more convincing than the weak efforts recently produced by Kawasaki with the RS and it's brother.

Re: newer 'old' bikes

Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2018 11:50 pm
Author: ddg900
Agreed - and there's some seriously good looking iron in those photos. :) I'm going to stay with the original spec on both mine - just prefer my bikes to be like that, TBH.

Its just as rare to see a Zephyr round this way as it is to spot any of the 70s Z's. I'm sure there'll be a few at the local bike meets and pubs, but other than that, I've yet to see one just trundling around town like any other 'regular' ride. At least my 750 does get a bit of use! From my own perspective, I think its a very underrated machine - very reminiscent of a good performing old Z650, but with less of a sit-up-and-beg riding position, and its as cheap as chips compared to the 650 - just watch out for rusting fuel tanks though, you'll be hard pushed to find a good replacement!

Re: newer 'old' bikes

Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2018 11:22 pm
Author: ddg900
Been out on the 1100 a few times now - very pleased with it, feels like a proper big, heavy 'old school' lump for a short-arse like me haha! However I can't say that I prefer it to the 750 - they ride differently and are more suited to differing tasks, IMO. Therefore I shall be keeping them both (which has pleased my missus no end! haha! :roll: )

One thing I will probably be changing are the 1100s handlebars - its fitted with Renthals but they seem to be a shade narrow for a bike of this size; the 750s are definitely wider by about 2" either side. Any of you with a standard 1100 able to tell me the width measurement of the OEM bars, please?

Re: newer 'old' bikes

Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2018 3:56 pm
Author: ddg900
making the most of the fine weather, plus the fact that I'm addicted to strawberry frappucinos :) . Getting more used to the 1100 now, even with the narrow bars. Its definitely a nicer/smoother ride that the kz900, but then that's to be expected. Always thought there would only ever be one 'keeper' choice if I was forced to sell all my bikes bar one, but now I may have to rethink this option ...

zr1100 001.JPG

Re: newer 'old' bikes

Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2018 1:29 pm
Author: rickm
I admit I'm being lazy here, but when and what were the last big air-cooled bikes that Kawasaki sold?

Re: newer 'old' bikes

Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2018 1:42 pm
Author: Kwackman
Zephyr?

Re: newer 'old' bikes

Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2018 4:10 pm
Author: ddg900
air-cooled as in air+oil cooled, or just pure air only?

Re: newer 'old' bikes

Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2018 5:34 am
Author: rickm
ddg900 wrote:air-cooled as in air+oil cooled, or just pure air only?


As in "not water cooled" ?
Oil coolers are allowed :)

Re: newer 'old' bikes

Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2018 2:29 pm
Author: ddg900
That font of all knowledge (MCN !) says 1985 GPz1100A3! Where's a marque expert when you need one? :D