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Z1R-TC
Moderators: paul doran, Taffus, KeithZ1R, chrisu
Z1R-TC
Hi,
I've been after a Z1R-TC for quite sometime as I've always liked the oddball stuff, and the fact that it seemed very unlikely I'd ever get my mitts on one was just made it even more attractive!
In July last year I was cruising Ebay in the small hours as you do and something made me think of searching for Z1R-TC. I nearly fell off my chair when I saw a Black Molly near Washington DC looking for a new owner! A few conversations with the owner followed and after a long wait until the end of the auction several days later (at 3am!), sweaty palms and an unhealthily increasing pulse I'd won it... for some reason which I still can't believe I was the only bidder! The bike was picked up by the transport company and driven to Texas where it caught a boat for Felixstowe, and nearly 3 months later it was in the back of my van trundling down the M4!
Considering the TC 34 years old, it's history is quite short...
Bought by the original owner in '78, he had the crank welded and pinned and the sump baffled by the local Kawasaki dealer at a cost of $1k in 1979. He then rode it for 6k miles before his wife made him park it (apparently) and having pulled the battery, removed the petcock, drained the fuel, and put oil in the cylinders that's where it stayed until 2001. Cue the second owner who bought it and also just stored it as part of his collection before coming to conclusion he was never going to do anything with the bike, so put it on Ebay last year, which is where I step in!
For me the best bit about the bike is that it's so completely original and considering it's 34 years old, it's in pretty good condition - and came with the original keys, locks, TC handbook, tools and even the kick start under the seat still... not sure about the oil cooler tho! Does anyone know??? The only damage as far as I can see is a broken front right indicator and instrument cowl - if anyone has either for sale please get in touch.
Because of its originality I personally think it would be wrong to go to town and do a nut n' bolt resto, so the plan for the bike is simple; strip it down and replace all the service items and consumables such as hoses, cables, chain, sprockets, tyres, fork stanchions, rear shocks, fluids etc. etc etc... and make it reliable whilst retaining its originality.
The top is off the motor now and the cams etc all look extremely good - it turns over fine, so we need to decide how far to go with that. The turbo and fuel pump are also off and need to be sent off for checking and rebuild if necessary. If anyone can recommendation the best people to do this, please let me know.
I'm really looking forward to finding out more about the bike - and TCs in general as we go, but in the meantime here are a few pix before the stripdown started . . .
Pix of the breakdown to come soon!
I've been after a Z1R-TC for quite sometime as I've always liked the oddball stuff, and the fact that it seemed very unlikely I'd ever get my mitts on one was just made it even more attractive!
In July last year I was cruising Ebay in the small hours as you do and something made me think of searching for Z1R-TC. I nearly fell off my chair when I saw a Black Molly near Washington DC looking for a new owner! A few conversations with the owner followed and after a long wait until the end of the auction several days later (at 3am!), sweaty palms and an unhealthily increasing pulse I'd won it... for some reason which I still can't believe I was the only bidder! The bike was picked up by the transport company and driven to Texas where it caught a boat for Felixstowe, and nearly 3 months later it was in the back of my van trundling down the M4!
Considering the TC 34 years old, it's history is quite short...
Bought by the original owner in '78, he had the crank welded and pinned and the sump baffled by the local Kawasaki dealer at a cost of $1k in 1979. He then rode it for 6k miles before his wife made him park it (apparently) and having pulled the battery, removed the petcock, drained the fuel, and put oil in the cylinders that's where it stayed until 2001. Cue the second owner who bought it and also just stored it as part of his collection before coming to conclusion he was never going to do anything with the bike, so put it on Ebay last year, which is where I step in!
For me the best bit about the bike is that it's so completely original and considering it's 34 years old, it's in pretty good condition - and came with the original keys, locks, TC handbook, tools and even the kick start under the seat still... not sure about the oil cooler tho! Does anyone know??? The only damage as far as I can see is a broken front right indicator and instrument cowl - if anyone has either for sale please get in touch.
Because of its originality I personally think it would be wrong to go to town and do a nut n' bolt resto, so the plan for the bike is simple; strip it down and replace all the service items and consumables such as hoses, cables, chain, sprockets, tyres, fork stanchions, rear shocks, fluids etc. etc etc... and make it reliable whilst retaining its originality.
The top is off the motor now and the cams etc all look extremely good - it turns over fine, so we need to decide how far to go with that. The turbo and fuel pump are also off and need to be sent off for checking and rebuild if necessary. If anyone can recommendation the best people to do this, please let me know.
I'm really looking forward to finding out more about the bike - and TCs in general as we go, but in the meantime here are a few pix before the stripdown started . . .
Pix of the breakdown to come soon!
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- Regular Poster
- Posts: 98
- Joined: 16th Jun 2011
- Location: London ish
Now that is a very nice Bike, I remember back in the day..when Daytona's in Ruislip Manor were selling clones of TC's and they had a pile of Twisted Cranks, that they replaced on Warranty...apparently in the States I believe they were sold without Warranty, don't know if that was true tho I'm sure someone will be along shortly to correct me!
Bugger ! whose Idea was that!
'78 Z1r '79 z650/1100 '77 Seeley H**** 750 GPz1100 B2 '86 GSXR750R Ltd '97 KTM620 '76 S3a 400
'78 Z1r '79 z650/1100 '77 Seeley H**** 750 GPz1100 B2 '86 GSXR750R Ltd '97 KTM620 '76 S3a 400
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- Regular Poster
- Posts: 98
- Joined: 16th Jun 2011
- Location: London ish
Thanks all - great to see the response the bike has had, and I'll try to keep you updated
Hi Keith,
Always up late I hope to be having a chat with Big Fluff soon.
I much prefer 'original' over 'restored' so yup that's the plan! Hopefully it'll come out ok with a bit of spit n' polish!
Hi Pigford,
Ta! I'm in Midsomer Norton and you're welcome anytime - the kettles usually on, but the TC's not being stripped here. As soon as it's back I'll let you know
Cheers Baldylocks
Having read a few articles from back in the day, you're right in saying they were sold without a warranty in the US! But hey, what could possibly go wrong with simply bolting a huge turbo to a standard bike?!
Here are a few more pics - not quite as nice as the first couple of pics suggest now we're getting into it, but a good place to start I reckon….
Eeek!! Bugs nest found behind the instrumental cowl - complete with dead bugs inside!
Keefleaf wrote:Up late again I see
Bike looks a Gem
Big Fluff on this site would probably be the best person for Turbo advise.
Keep us posted,cheers,Keith.
Hi Keith,
Always up late I hope to be having a chat with Big Fluff soon.
davejames wrote:Wow what a find Totally agree with the the replace the consumables, clean it up and put back together. Far too nice to warrant a rebuild
I much prefer 'original' over 'restored' so yup that's the plan! Hopefully it'll come out ok with a bit of spit n' polish!
Pigford wrote:Fantastic find.... UkKev has just taken delivery of one - hes storing it for a mate
Where exactly in Somerset are you? - I'd love to see it one day over a cuppa
Hi Pigford,
Ta! I'm in Midsomer Norton and you're welcome anytime - the kettles usually on, but the TC's not being stripped here. As soon as it's back I'll let you know
Baldylocks wrote:Now that is a very nice Bike, I remember back in the day..when Daytona's in Ruislip Manor were selling clones of TC's and they had a pile of Twisted Cranks, that they replaced on Warranty...apparently in the States I believe they were sold without Warranty, don't know if that was true tho I'm sure someone will be along shortly to correct me!
Cheers Baldylocks
Having read a few articles from back in the day, you're right in saying they were sold without a warranty in the US! But hey, what could possibly go wrong with simply bolting a huge turbo to a standard bike?!
Here are a few more pics - not quite as nice as the first couple of pics suggest now we're getting into it, but a good place to start I reckon….
Eeek!! Bugs nest found behind the instrumental cowl - complete with dead bugs inside!
- paul doran
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- ade woollams
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theres a guy i know of in the states that must have around 12 of em.jammy bugger..
dragracing, because it takes more than one ball !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNoktjNP ... ture=share
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNoktjNP ... ture=share
Nice bike, and nice to see another one being restored. Now my friend Paul's bike is at my place right now, it is a late 77 build, one owner unrestored bike, with full dealer paperwork from new. But I notice a few things that are different over the two bikes. I shall post some pictures tomorrow for the forum to peruse
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