Z1000 LTD to standard

[DeadZedDave]

Life is not always a smooth ride - not with the bikes either ! Will look out for some more updates when the graphics go on. All the best, Dave

[Hard Road]

Life is not always a smooth ride - not with the bikes either ! Will look out for some more updates when the graphics go on. All the best, Dave

I ordered them a week ago. Thought they would turn up today !!! I hate waiting for stuff

[DeadZedDave]

With you there ! Waiting for a delivery myself - Royal Mail Tracked48 - ordered on Monday gone ..... they say 48Hrs is just a target / aspiration BUT you would expect the Tracking to work - at least then I'd know how late it might be ! Got an e-mail last night saying delivery today but Tracking still shows item is at the other end of the country..... not holding my breath for Monday.

[Hard Road]

With you there ! Waiting for a delivery myself - Royal Mail Tracked48 - ordered on Monday gone ..... they say 48Hrs is just a target / aspiration BUT you would expect the Tracking to work - at least then I'd know how late it might be ! Got an e-mail last night saying delivery today but Tracking still shows item is at the other end of the country..... not holding my breath for Monday.

yep the royal mail are crap

[baldrick]

definitely needs the graphics just to finish it off.
on royal mail i checked tracking this morning on some airline fittings, they werent even down as having been picked up. lo and behold they got delivered the same day, ironically i cant use them now as i got another dose of isocyanate poisoning (really not recommended) and it looks like im gonna have to hang up the spray guns, i truly gutted, i liked spraying stuff and its really annoying thinking im gonna have to pay someone to something i could do myself, but echttttt.

look forward to seeing this one finished

[Hard Road]

definitely needs the graphics just to finish it off.
on royal mail i checked tracking this morning on some airline fittings, they werent even down as having been picked up. lo and behold they got delivered the same day, ironically i cant use them now as i got another dose of isocyanate poisoning (really not recommended) and it looks like im gonna have to hang up the spray guns, i truly gutted, i liked spraying stuff and its really annoying thinking im gonna have to pay someone to something i could do myself, but echttttt.

look forward to seeing this one finished

you of all people know these project bikes are never finished

[Hard Road]

another tweak of the mixture screws and barely a pop at cold idle but fine when hot, bikes running great now
still waiting for the decal kit i ordered 9 days ago !!!! and its only 110 miles away I hate waiting for stiff

[Hard Road]

I'm in a quandary with what i do with the wheels ????????
I've got a pair of bandit wheels/swinger and front end that i can use, or do i just get a slightly wider 17inch rim and keep the wire wheels ? opinions !!!

[baldrick]

i think the wider spoked ones would ;look cooler personally mate, but its up to you, your bike your choice
pros and cons ; wire wheels would be heavier but look better imho, what about shoehorning something like a pair of thruxton wires in there if theyd fit
bandit wheels; would possibly be an easier fit if you just transferred the entire front end over but remember you had to pull the tank back last time

but i hear you on the wider rims. i was genuinely shocked at how bad my std katana went through bends with skinny wheels on it.

[Hard Road]

i think the wider spoked ones would ;look cooler personally mate, but its up to you, your bike your choice
pros and cons ; wire wheels would be heavier but look better imho, what about shoehorning something like a pair of thruxton wires in there if theyd fit
bandit wheels; would possibly be an easier fit if you just transferred the entire front end over but remember you had to pull the tank back last time

but i hear you on the wider rims. i was genuinely shocked at how bad my std katana went through bends with skinny wheels on it.

cheers Alan, yeah i think wire wheels are probably the best choice as it keeps it more period, not bothered about the weight though. i don't want to go to big like 5.5inch rear, maybe a 3.5inch will be enough but can't decide from 17" or 18" ?????

[DeadZedDave]

I'll vote - Wire spoke wheels as is.
You've spent time and effort not to mention money swapping out the LTD set up so why not run it for a season at least. It looks great as it is.
That said, its your bike - you can do what you like with it !
HOWEVER if you decide to go down the 17 inch radials route, as it stands, you have a straight z1000 LTD frame with all its original brackets and you've had it coated. You'll need to cut bits off and chop it about a little to get the wider swing arm in the back plus more besides and it'll still handle like an old Zed even if you brace it up. Why not start with a more suitable frame and swap your "untouched" Ltd for a frame which will handle better straight away ? You can use all of the Zed bodywork and still end up with it looking like a modified Zed but it'll handle as good as it looks ! It's achievable, as you know and theres maybe someone who'd be glad of an unmolested frame to work with ?

[Hard Road]

I'll vote - Wire spoke wheels as is.
You've spent time and effort not to mention money swapping out the LTD set up so why not run it for a season at least. It looks great as it is.
That said, its your bike - you can do what you like with it !
HOWEVER if you decide to go down the 17 inch radials route, as it stands, you have a straight z1000 LTD frame with all its original brackets and you've had it coated. You'll need to cut bits off and chop it about a little to get the wider swing arm in the back plus more besides and it'll still handle like an old Zed even if you brace it up. Why not start with a more suitable frame and swap your "untouched" Ltd for a frame which will handle better straight away ? You can use all of the Zed bodywork and still end up with it looking like a modified Zed but it'll handle as good as it looks ! It's achievable, as you know and theres maybe someone who'd be glad of an unmolested frame to work with ?

cheers Dave, i think the problem is the cheap 400 x 18 tyre i put on the back, it just looks crap !!!! looking at other bikes it looks ok with a better looking tyre on !!! i think im gona buy a better tyre but a 120/90 x 18, i know its a bit bigger than standard but ive read a lot of guys use that size and are happy.
as for handling i prefer an older bike, i like a bike that moves a bit in the twisties !!!! yeah call me weird
ive rode 100's of sports bikes and yeah they handle like they are on rails but i find them boring !!!!!
my old GSX1100 with wider wheels on still keeps me awake in the corners its what i like in a bike.

[DeadZedDave]

That back tyre you put on looks like a copy of a Dunlop K70 ! That tyre was state of the art in the 60's for BSA 650's and the like - no surprise its not quite up to the job on an old Zed !
120/90 x18 is what most Zed owners have put on the standard 2.15 rear rim for years. It's an acceptable fit for the rim size according to most tyre company recommendations. Pick one to match your existing front and I expect it'll be a big improvement. A lot of owners seem to go for the Avons - though I've no direct experience. (you could search the forum for tyre advice - I'm sure theres been some discussion)
Sounds like a good plan going forward though. Look forward to seeing some pics of the finished job with the decals applied ....
Riding an old Zed set up the way Kawasaki intended can be a challenge (as I think you know !) but it's all part of the experience ! You learn to handle the bike the way it needs and how to get it back when it breaks out of line - it's all part of the fun....
Anybody can jump on a modern plastic rocket and look like a hero but those bikes make heros out of fools.... old Zeds rule !!

[Hard Road]

That back tyre you put on looks like a copy of a Dunlop K70 ! That tyre was state of the art in the 60's for BSA 650's and the like - no surprise its not quite up to the job on an old Zed !
120/90 x18 is what most Zed owners have put on the standard 2.15 rear rim for years. It's an acceptable fit for the rim size according to most tyre company recommendations. Pick one to match your existing front and I expect it'll be a big improvement. A lot of owners seem to go for the Avons - though I've no direct experience. (you could search the forum for tyre advice - I'm sure theres been some discussion)
Sounds like a good plan going forward though. Look forward to seeing some pics of the finished job with the decals applied ....
Riding an old Zed set up the way Kawasaki intended can be a challenge (as I think you know !) but it's all part of the experience ! You learn to handle the bike the way it needs and how to get it back when it breaks out of line - it's all part of the fun....
Anybody can jump on a modern plastic rocket and look like a hero but those bikes make heros out of fools.... old Zeds rule !!

yeah that why i went for that tyre as it looked period !! but i guess it was the wrong choice will find a good rear and be done with it (for now) im enjoying the way it rides, just how i like em but i WILL upgrade the front brakes as they give me the ebee geebies !!!!!
yep old Zed's rule ( and old GS/GSX's )

[DeadZedDave]

Not a wrong choice ! It looks just like the tyres they rolled out of the dealers showroom with when they were new - and thats why most people changed them pretty quickly ...... they don't last long anyway HaHa.
Upgrading the front callipers can make a big difference - if you're not to bothered about a traditional look, a pair of twin pots from a ZX10 (also found on a load of other Kawasaki's of that period) can easily be adapted with some (hardly visible) adaptor plates to run with the 277mm LTD discs. These give a heck of a lot more brake - easily enough for that skinny front tyre !