Z1000 LTD to standard

[DeadZedDave]

Looking good ! That rear tyre looks just like the originals !! As for tyre height / wheel diameter, the Ltd would have had an MT90-16 tyre originally and if you find an old original one you'll find the tyre height / wheel diameter is virtually identical to the 4.00-18. The issue arrises with modern versions of some tyre brands where 130/90 x 16 tyres (MT90 - 16 equivalent) and also some modern MT90-16's are quite a bit smaller height / diameter. I've no idea why ! It probably just means your tyre height / wheel dia. is back to where it was when it left the factory (more or less). Just wondering how it worked on on the disc side with the spacers - I see the Ltd. calliper looks like it fits a treat ! Bikes looking sharp with the new pipes too - and guessing it'll play a fine tune on them (loud as well)...

[Hard Road]

Looking good ! That rear tyre looks just like the originals !! As for tyre height / wheel diameter, the Ltd would have had an MT90-16 tyre originally and if you find an old original one you'll find the tyre height / wheel diameter is virtually identical to the 4.00-18. The issue arrises with modern versions of some tyre brands where 130/90 x 16 tyres (MT90 - 16 equivalent) and also some modern MT90-16's are quite a bit smaller height / diameter. I've no idea why ! It probably just means your tyre height / wheel dia. is back to where it was when it left the factory (more or less). Just wondering how it worked on on the disc side with the spacers - I see the Ltd. calliper looks like it fits a treat ! Bikes looking sharp with the new pipes too - and guessing it'll play a fine tune on them (loud as well)...

It raised the back end about 20-25mm or so, had to jack the bike up to get the spindle in. hence the need for a longer stand.

as to the fitment it was easy, I used both LTD spacers, then the tophat spacer in the calliper bracket i turned round so it went in from right to left. that left a gap of 4mm to fill, but the washer under the spindle nut was a perfect fit !!!! then found another washer for under the nut. all tightened and wheel and chain in line, brakes works as it should.

bike sounds good but not loud.

[Hard Road]

front wheel done and fitted, but not after an issue !!!! when i nipped up the spindle it went tight, i thought it was something to do with the speedo drive but it turned out the middle spacer was missing who fits bearings without the spacer anyway took the one out of the mag wheel and all sorted still waiting for the paintwork

[Hard Road]

finally got the paintwork back, just waiting for the decal kit to finish

[baldrick]

looking forward to seeing it all done , its proving to be quite the transformation

[Hard Road]

looking forward to seeing it all done , its proving to be quite the transformation

bodywork all on now but still waiting for the decals, hopefully they'll turn up today just been for a little run, its bloody cold though

[KevH]

Thats a really good job.I had an A2 back in 1979 but it had the Ally wheels which at 17 I preferred but now I would choose the spoked wheels as they seem to really set a bike off. When I traded my A2 in for the J2 that I still own knott Mill Kawasaki centre gave me £700 for it, and it was in very good condition(still stings ). It's the one bike I wish I still had.

[Hard Road]

Thats a really good job.I had an A2 back in 1979 but it had the Ally wheels which at 17 I preferred but now I would choose the spoked wheels as they seem to really set a bike off. When I traded my A2 in for the J2 that I still own knott Mill Kawasaki centre gave me £700 for it, and it was in very good condition(still stings ). It's the one bike I wish I still had.

cheers Kev, its a bit different from the scabby LTD when i got it !!!! the wire wheels do look better than the mag's but i don't know how long i will put up with them being so skinny ???

[DeadZedDave]

Looks good ! Hard work has paid off and must be some kind of record for a super quick transformation. Will look forward to see the decals but straight black works for me every time. After taking the time and effort to get the wire spoke chrome rims fitted I'm surprised your'e going to change it .... at least for a while.... looks great as it is. I saw you pic of the ST framed GSXR version you posted earlier but I guess you know the early Z1000 framed bike will never handle as well as the ST framed one did - even with modern wide radials (you could weld bracing into the frame in the time honoured fashion but its still going to handle like an old Zed). The brakes will be a bit better of course !! Great job.

[Hard Road]

Looks good ! Hard work has paid off and must be some kind of record for a super quick transformation. Will look forward to see the decals but straight black works for me every time. After taking the time and effort to get the wire spoke chrome rims fitted I'm surprised your'e going to change it .... at least for a while.... looks great as it is. I saw you pic of the ST framed GSXR version you posted earlier but I guess you know the early Z1000 framed bike will never handle as well as the ST framed one did - even with modern wide radials (you could weld bracing into the frame in the time honoured fashion but its still going to handle like an old Zed). The brakes will be a bit better of course !! Great job.

thanks Dave, yeah 6 weeks turn around but i had to retire early due to ill health so plenty of time on my hands.
as to the wheels im not used to them as all my bikes generally have wide wheels on !!! im not gona do anything till next year so it'll give me time to get used to them, my other thought is just changing the rear rim to a wider one but keep it 18inch, maybe a 3.5 inch rim ??? that way a wider tyre won't look as bad.

[Hard Road]

its been a very long time since ive had a bike with thin wheels so i guess im just not used to it, the first zed i built over 25 years ago was based round a GPZ frame and a MK2 engine, i used ZZR1100 wheels on it and it handled good.

[DeadZedDave]

Whatever happened to the red bike ? The GPz/Mk2 in the picture...
That looks like a GPz 750 R1 frame you've used there ?? I myself built a couple of z650 framed /Z1000 engined bikes back in the 90's and those bikes really do handle good - Night and Day compared to an early z1000 or z900 so if my eyes don't deceive me I think a GPz750 frame with a Mk2 motor is going to handle pretty good too. It looks like you built it out of 100% Kawasaki parts as well which in my opinion just makes it better - not a big fan of putting other make parts on a Zed. One of my own z650/1000s used 17 inch radial wheels / tyres from a ZZR and that bike handled really well ! Should have been a keeper ! A 3.5 inch rear rim on your latest would get a 150 tyre on the back, though I can't remember if it'll clear the swinging arm which might be a bit narrow - either way I'm sure you'd sort it but then I think you know how it goes - next you'll want a wider 18 inch on the front and then better brakes and so it'll go on. I've had a few wire spoke wheel bikes myself down the years and the one thing that always gets me changing over to cast mags is that wire spoke wheels are a total pain in the arse to keep clean. I'd rather be on the road than getting sore fingers cleaning between wire spokes. Maybe just me. Anyhow, they'll be putting salt on the roads soon around your way so you won't want that stuff anywhere near those wheels ! Plenty of time over the winter to plan the next steps ? Look forward to seeing it with graphics but I think if was me I'd just leave it as it is, for a year at least and just enjoy the experience of riding an Old Zed. You can always squeeze a 130 on the back - at least it'll look a bit better !!

[Hard Road]

Whatever happened to the red bike ? The GPz/Mk2 in the picture...
That looks like a GPz 750 R1 frame you've used there ?? I myself built a couple of z650 framed /Z1000 engined bikes back in the 90's and those bikes really do handle good - Night and Day compared to an early z1000 or z900 so if my eyes don't deceive me I think a GPz750 frame with a Mk2 motor is going to handle pretty good too. It looks like you built it out of 100% Kawasaki parts as well which in my opinion just makes it better - not a big fan of putting other make parts on a Zed. One of my own z650/1000s used 17 inch radial wheels / tyres from a ZZR and that bike handled really well ! Should have been a keeper ! A 3.5 inch rear rim on your latest would get a 150 tyre on the back, though I can't remember if it'll clear the swinging arm which might be a bit narrow - either way I'm sure you'd sort it but then I think you know how it goes - next you'll want a wider 18 inch on the front and then better brakes and so it'll go on. I've had a few wire spoke wheel bikes myself down the years and the one thing that always gets me changing over to cast mags is that wire spoke wheels are a total pain in the arse to keep clean. I'd rather be on the road than getting sore fingers cleaning between wire spokes. Maybe just me. Anyhow, they'll be putting salt on the roads soon around your way so you won't want that stuff anywhere near those wheels ! Plenty of time over the winter to plan the next steps ? Look forward to seeing it with graphics but I think if was me I'd just leave it as it is, for a year at least and just enjoy the experience of riding an Old Zed. You can always squeeze a 130 on the back - at least it'll look a bit better !!

cheers Dave, the red bike had an early GPZ1100 frame with the Mk2 engine, it was mostly Kawasaki but the swinger was a GSX750 with shock mounts welded on, and that lovely Harris exhaust. the seat believe it or not was of a Hodna !!!!!
like all my builds I have to sell to start the next one i sold it to build a GSXR1100 streetfighter (that kept trying to kill me) an evil bike but was well sorted.
looking at the Z1000 i think it looks a little to black !!!! and i love black bikes, the decals will just break it up a bit and a classic zed needs the classic stripes
yeah will ride it as is for now but i dont think it'll get much use with the crap weather coming in

[DeadZedDave]

Any detail regarding the Mk2 motor into the early GPz frame would be appreciated - it's something I've considered myself recently. Did you need to cut out / reposition the rear lower cross tube - the one with the centre stand lugs ? - did you use that tube to weld on some lower crankcase mount lugs for the Mk2 motor or is the GPz frame strong enough not to need these lower mountings ? Same question about the front lower cross tube - did you need reposition it or just cut the GPz crank case mounts off ? Obviously the bottom crankcase mounts on the Mk2 halfway along the lower frame rails need to be made from scratch (same on the 650 conversion). Any information will be appreciated !

[Hard Road]

Any detail regarding the Mk2 motor into the early GPz frame would be appreciated - it's something I've considered myself recently. Did you need to cut out / reposition the rear lower cross tube - the one with the centre stand lugs ? - did you use that tube to weld on some lower crankcase mount lugs for the Mk2 motor or is the GPz frame strong enough not to need these lower mountings ? Same question about the front lower cross tube - did you need reposition it or just cut the GPz crank case mounts off ? Obviously the bottom crankcase mounts on the Mk2 halfway along the lower frame rails need to be made from scratch (same on the 650 conversion). Any information will be appreciated !

can't really help much !! i bought the frame off a mate who i went to collage with (another mechanic) the frame was already modified to take a Mk1 and 2 engine, i think i made the engine mounts, it was all a bit of a blur really as it was just after i split with my first wife and was a using drugs again !!!! i don't use them now by the way except the ones for my heart and arthritis i built it in the middle room in my house this bike morphed over time as it started life as a hardtail chop with a big bore GSX1100 engine in it !!! sold the suzuki engine to a drag racer and bought the Mk2 Kawasaki engine. i then modified the hardtail to take a swingarm, not long after i bought the GPZ frame.
i worked at my mates bike breakers for a while when the zed engine came in, the seller said the gearbox was fecked !! i srtipped the bottom end to find out the 3 ball bearings where stuck, so took them out and the gearbox was perfect, so i bought it