Z1OwnersClub GB

Hello guys
here I am again.
I mounted the Z1R collector on the Z1000ST. Some of you may consider it as a "Frankenstein"bike but I like it. It's modified with original Kawasaki parts and they're more or less from the same period, so I give it a go.

When putting the headers on, trying to hold the shells, the copper rings and mounting the exhaust crowns all at the same time, I often wished I had four hands but I don't so I use rubber bands to hold the shells onto the header pipes. After mounting the exhaust crowns they're removed by cutting them. A simple trick but very usefull.

The number 2 and 3 headers went on rather easy and everything was bolted together. Now it's just the silencer that has to be ordered, that will be next month, I have to keep the peace in the family!
After two days I managed to get the electricity working. I found out that the oil pressure switch and the neutral switch needed replacement and allso that the wiring of the right handlebar switchblock wasn't working. I replaced the interior of the switchblock and then things went the right way. It took me two days of searching to sort it all out. The major breakthrough came when I realised I was using a US main loom and European switches and other electric components. S**t Happens...

Anyway things were going great and I continued the "good work".
The tail cover, the side covers, the fuel tank and the Z1R fairing were mounted on the bike.


This afternoon the BT45 Battleax tires were delivered and mounted on the alloy wheels.
The disc rotors were mounted and the wheels placed under the bike.
It starts to look like a bike instead of a jigsaw puzzle. A few more details need attention but I'm ahead of schedule.


Original Kawasaki mirrors are ordered, I still need a windsreen, a Z1R muffler and an ST saddlepan.
They'll come within a few weeks and then the bike will be finished.
See you later guys.

Must admit to liking the black & grey of the ST.

Hello Guys
an update on the Z1000ST-R
Past week, a few parts arrived from Germany and Holland

A new replica windscreen for the Z1R fairing...

and a new replica Z1R silencer from Germany
I was able to buy some ST parts in Holland a few months ago and on saturday I met Piet from Holland in Wieze. He brought the parts along.
Amongst those parts was an ST saddle.
As most of them the saddle pan was damaged and rusted, so I had it repaired and now it's treated with a rust neutralizer.

After that it has to be painted and refurbished. I need some higher temperatures in order to paint it so I'll have to wait to continue the work on the saddle.
See you soon!
Philippe

Tidy!

Nice job..

What a great read your restoration makes!

Looks really nice.

Can't wait for the next installment

Kudos

Drew

Hi
I'm back again.
Yesterday the temperature was high enough to paint the seatpan. Allthough not high enough for drying so I took it inside for the paint to cure.
This morning the paint was dry and I was able to continue the work.


As you can see I was lucky, the original stickers were in good shape so I taped them off and I could preserve them.
It was time to do the upholstry.

I started with putting the original plastic protection strip back on the rim of the pan

Next it was time to remove as much rust as possible from the bottom of the foam .
It's necessary to remove the rust, otherwise your seatpan will start to rust again, it's contaminating!!!

Afterwards I placed the rubbers on the seatpan.
It's easier to do it in this stage, the rubber has a tendency to become hard and it's nearly impossible to get them in the right place if you can't pull on them from the other side.


Gents, mind that the rubbers of an ST seat are higher than those of other seats.
The correct height is important as the rubbers rest on the frame tubes and provide the support for the seatpan.

As you can see left: an ST rubber, right a rubber from another seat(Z1000A, MK2,...).

I glue the foam to the seatpan with clear"Pattex" a contact glue
Now came the tricky part: putting a new seat cover on.
Try to put the cover in the centre of the foam, attach it on the front and the rear and make sure it's in the right place.
Once it's in the right place I start in the middle and work left and right to the front and to the rear of the seat.


I try to use as much of the original pins of the seatpan as possible.
Some of them break off due to metal fatigue


If that happens, there's an easy way to cure it, put a rivett with a plain washer on it through the cover and the seatpan and attach it.


Afterwards I installed the seat strap with the original hardware and attached the seat to the bike. All that was left to do was to adjust the seat so that the lock was working and the seat closed.


That's all for now, next time I'll put some pictures of some details, yes details are important!
See you next time!
Cheers
Philippe

Read this with great interest as I have a st in this colour it's been in my family since new and just coming up to 21000 miles , these bikes are so under rated . Will def be out on it this year

Hi Mark
I'm glad to hear there are other ST owners who love their bikes. Those bikes are underrated indeed! They're strong as a bull and you can allways count on them to get you without trubbles from A to Z. Keep them on the road and enjoy them. My first Kawasaki I bought back in '83 was an ST.
I rode it untill '92 and sold it. Heard nothing about it for 22 years and bought it back in 2014.
Greetings
Philippe

Hi guys
as promised some detail pictures:

This is the place where the kickstarter of an ST belongs: under the air filter and battery box, attached to the frame by a U shaped bracket and a butterfly bolt.


The kickstarter axle is protected and covered by a rubber cover, the same as on a Z1R


The tool kit is placed in a plastic box under the seat, in front of the battery
It sits on the two frame tubes and is secured underneath by a lip of the batterybox.
As you can see the tools are in there (not all of them)


At the bottom of the tail cover there's a place to put the owners' manual.


The one I have is in French, better than none.

A lot of other details of the ST are different from a MK2 . Allthough the two bikes have a great resemblance there are dozens of differences! Most parts are not interchangable between the two models so be carefull if you want to restore an ST or a MK2 and when you buy parts. A lot of times I see parts offered as ST or MK2 parts that aren't. If you have any doubts about a part, look it up in the parts list or ask here on the forum.
So that's all about the restoration of the Z1000ST-R.
I have to do some fine tuning to make her perform excellent and wipe out the "bugs" that are inevitably when restoring a bike from scratch.
Greetings from Belgium
Philippe

I've really enjoyed this thread, Phillipe, and I am looking forward to the Z1a you are starting, keep up the good work, we are all getting great information here.

Sorry meant Z1B

Just starting out on my own ST restoration......this thread is indeed an inspiration

Top work philippe

Hi men

just have a look at where I stumbled upon when surfing on the web:

Z1000ST-E1(KZT00E) 10-18 KAWASAKI シャフトドライブ 程度良好!エンジン実働!吹け上がり快調/輸入新規(国内未登録)/豊橋市/E30812-18-OH39
出品者 yuwsz20420 (評価)
落札1,271,000円
入札154 終了日時08/25 21:15


She was sold in Japan. Back to her roots after about 42 years.
Life can be funny!
GrtZ
Philippe