Z1OwnersClub GB

Some of you will already know that I have managed to rescue this one from a shed near Plockton, near The Isle of Skye. The bike is quite well known to some and there have been rumors going round for years about why it was laid up for so long. I have known of its existence since 1995 and was finally lucky enough to meet the previous owner, Dougie, last year. After a bit of chat and negotiation Dougie very kindly sold it to me. It was hard for him to let it go but hopefully now this one can be restored to its former glory over the next few years. It will be a slow process as ££ is tight just now and there is an awful lot to do.

Just now i'm posting a few photos to let people see the state it was in when we finally dragged it out over a pile of rotting wood and heaved it into a van using fence posts as levers. ( The adrenaline was flowing that day.) The bike went into the shed in May 1985, so 32 years of West Coast weather has taken its toll but it will eventually get done. Right now i'm looking for a 1973 Swing arm if anone has one?

Its not as bad as it looks.......

I bought it home and began stripping it down. Dougie had done a rebuild just b4 it went in the shed. Every nut and bolt had been greased and tbh it all came apart fairly easily.He had hamerited the frame and it seems to have done exactky wot it says on the tin. The rust on the fork stanchions is the worst bit but even thesse can probably be ground down and refinished. I think about 90% of the bike is salvagable. My shopping list just now is a swing arm and a seat base ( or a new seat.) but clearly the list will get bigger and bigger. So far the frame and engine have been grit/soda blasted to assess them. The frame is in need of work with corrosion at the seat hinges and the engine is completely seized. (I havent even tried to do anything to it yet except gently remove the plugs....) I have soda blasted various other parts: hubs, grab rail, battery box etc and mostly they're not too bad but there will be an awful lot of refinishing to do. The wheel rims might be salvagable but again not sure yet. I have done a bit of cleaning/ renovating on the forks and carbs but again much more work and ££ are required. A bike like this deserves a full restoration but cost is a big consideration. I am aiming to get the frame professionally refinished first and take it from there..Its a bit of a challenge bit not the worst ive seen. I had a J model a few yeas back that looked even worse but turned out pretty good..

PS. Yes. Wrong front wheel. We swapped it to move the bike. The original had a flat....

Hi Tim
and I thought that my bikes were all wrecks when I bought them....RESPECT FOR YOU MAN !!!!
That will take a lot of work, effort and money to get it up and running again. It's a big challenge and I'm impressed about your courage.
It can't be the first time that you're doing a restoration on a bike when you see potential in this Z1. I know there are still some barn finds out there and most of them are in a bad shape.
The pictures tell me you're on the right way.
About the swing arm: I'm going to see what I have in stock and I'll let you know.
About the inner fork tubes: don't bother on getting them rechromed, buy new ones, they'll be cheaper and better.
The engine: spray WD40 or some good deruster in the spark plug holes and let it stay for a few days, cover the whole engine with the stuff and hope and pray that all the nuts and bolts will get out without breaking off. I hope the inside is not as corroded as the outside.
If the oil cooler is original Kawasaki: keep it.
Try to salvage and restore as much of the original parts as possible and see what you need, there's a lot of replica parts or original parts available out there .
Find the correct documentation, books, parts list and a Kawasaki workshop manual and use them .
Whenever you need advice, ask it on the forum, there are people here who can explain the details much better than I can.
And finally: don't forget to post a lot of pictures !!!!!
Good luck for you
Philippe

Well done pal
You don't happen to know what that old trials bike at the side of it was do you ?

You have an engine and frame, which is something at least.

Good luck, this will be interesting to watch.

Thanks. I'll post more later. Tbh this is about the 12th bike I've done but I want to do more tha ever b4 to this so it's going to cost ... The other bike was a Bultaco from the same era. It was wasted and I think Dougie wants to just keep it where it is as a momento... He only let me have the Zed coz he knew I'd get it done and it was sacrilege to leave it any longer ( He's a Zed Head too ). .

..Let the good times roll....

So far I've only had 1 good ride out this year. Feckin cold here.

brilliant project .from experience do not get caught up in the minor details of originality just get it tidy and running the rest can be done after its on the road

Yep. That's wot I do. They were built to ride, not sit in showrooms.

Here's some I prepared earlier.

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I found a picture of that bike a few days ago that I had had for years, someone posted on the forum years back , good on you for persevering

Respect to you... I wouldn't know where to start! I look forward to seeing it brought back to life.

Brilliant project

Already starting to look good.... good luck

Thanks for the replies. This is a slow job as other stuff keeps getting in the way.
The Frame was checked and sorted by Mark Redfern in Perth recently and Buzzard is hopefully going to rebuild the lump later this year. It was weather sized on 1 and 4 but is suprisunigly good afrer 33 years in a ery damp Scottish shed.

Looking for recommendations for someone to polish and rebuild the rear hub.

It's looking good ,,,, best of luck with the future build.