Z1OwnersClub GB

As I have had the bike since March I thought I may as well start a thread up.
This is my KZ900C c as this was a California police bike. Imported into the UK in 95 and registered then.
It came to me in March this year, not sure what it has been up to in the intervening years but I don’t believe it has been on the road. Looks better in pictures than in real life with many pieces missing or not usable. Just like to say thanks to Phillipe for his advice and answers to my many daft questions
I have been utilising the forum to start building up some of the more stranger missing bits, seat hinges fork leg bottoms to name just 2 and also buying bits for future use.



I have completed a few jobs starting with the front end, callipers mainly as this is what it came with


Found a broken lug on the fork bottoms so a replacement has been sourced from here and I am currently looking to rebuild the forks with new stanchions seals etc and finish the callipers.


This the current state of play as the stripping continues.


These are the new seat brackets all marked and ready to be welded on when I find someone who can do this for me, I also have a side stand bracket ready to be welded on at some point also. This is because the original came with footboards and sidestand attached to those and the seat did not have lift up bracket




I never expected it to be a quick fix (just as well) and I know some of the purists would not be happy that I am taking this to be a a4 but what the hey.
I don’t know what has been complete on the bike before I got it, I have had it running and the carbs are spotless inside no rattles from the engine and the frame has been painted but could do with a refresh. Now its replacing the missing bits and looking for nearby platers I was dropped note on here but those guys have closed down unfortunately so I may have to look further afield.

Looks good mate - good luck with the resto

Hi Derek

you're on the correct way! I'm pleased to see some pics, keep them coming!
Thanks for the mentioning , I'm happy to help you. If you need advice don't hesitate!
Go for it, keep up the good work!
GrtZ
Philippe

Hi, I’ve just joined the z1 club because I also have bought a Kz900c,mine is slightly newer than yours 1976 number 253.
I was going to restore it to Kz900 spec but am tempted to go down the police bike route as there are so few left. I’ve got the foot plates on mine, as well as the headlight and red police light headset.
Like yours mine is going to be a long job, good luck

Nice one nick I thought about a police spec but all of those bits were well gone. Good luck with the build

Nick.s wrote:Hi, I’ve just joined the z1 club because I also have bought a Kz900c,mine is slightly newer than yours 1976 number 253.
I was going to restore it to Kz900 spec but am tempted to go down the police bike route as there are so few left. I’ve got the foot plates on mine, as well as the headlight and red police light headset.
Like yours mine is going to be a long job, good luck

I’d think long & hard before doing a CHIPS bike - mainly due to value of Bike!
I know it’s a personal thing, but they are Marmite & it won’t be worth half the standard Z900.
Good luck whatever.

Thanks pigford, I think you’ve just given me the direction I needed, looks like kz900 it is.

I'm with pigford, nick.. it was a z900 before the u.s.police department tore the arse out of its original design. I'd say try to go period z900 route. good luck. mark

Agree with the others on this and am already going down that route, they were standard bikes that were sent from the factory to a racing shop in the states to be modified and fitted with all the CHiPS bits and pieces, looking at the frame rails some one has already attempted to retrofit the standard seat brackets and they would be a nightmare to line up... i know as i have someone coming to do the welding for me and it hinges (pun intended) on me getting the brackets lines up correctly

I guess I’ll have to re fit the hinges, does anyone know the exact position or do you have to get the seat lined up and tack weld them in position ?

i have the rough position, going to have them tac welded tomorrow and try the seat in position before the final weld, once it is done i can send some photos and some dimensions of where to tac, you really need a seat hinge bracket also which you can see resting on the frame on the opposite side to the hinges before i have that also tac ed into place

For me, standard is best. Its hard work but very rewarding when the end result comes around.
Good luck with build.!!!!!!!

I’ll keep an eye out for those dimensions, where did you find the hinges and the side stand bracket? Mine just has the foot plates with the stand built into that

Nick.s wrote:I’ll keep an eye out for those dimensions, where did you find the hinges and the side stand bracket? Mine just has the foot plates with the stand built into that

I managed to source them from the guys on the site, side stand brackets are availiable from saisei pricey mind

after many hours welding, not by me i hasten to add, the brackets are attached for the seat including the seat catch and lo and behold some rear footrest brackets that i can use at somepoint also (not that i intend to carry a passanger.. the quality of his work is outstanding if there is a and end of the world event they will survive