side panel interchangability + aftermarket tanks

[baldrick]

hello zed heads.
ive just got myself a lovely z, and was wondering if the side panels are interchangable between the z1A z1B style (with the slight bulbous part to the front) and the later smoother z1000 ones.

Also any opinions on the quality and fit of the aftermarket tanks from france etc , (as seen on the bay) any good?

mine isnt a standard bike so it doesnt have to be an exact replica so its more of a are they fit for purpose question? is there any better option.

thanks in advance

[Ultim8pc]

Z1 panels don't fit the later z900 and Z1000.
Tanks will fit.
The repro tanks are dimensionally slightly smaller, but you can't tell by eye.

Which model of Zed do you have as I have lots a tanks and sidepanels?

[baldrick]

its a bit of a mish mash. the frame is z1000j but its got z1000 later side panels on it and an early z1A tank.(i think)
its the one without the key lock
i just preffer the look of the bulbous side panels, but given that the frame has just been coated i dont really fancy moving the mounting points.
i also dont want a second hand tank thanks.

[Hard Road]

ive just bought a new after market tank for my LTD. got to say its good quality and for a few extra quid its got to be better than a used one that will be rusty and dinted. im not going for originality just the look.

[Hard Road]

by the way, i did fit a Z1 tank to my last project that had a Z1000J frame but had to mod it for the tank mounts.

[baldrick]

yeah, thats the one im on about Tony....
did you have to make mounts for the side panels to fit also or did they fit into the J mounts??

[Hard Road]

yeah, thats the one im on about Tony....
did you have to make mounts for the side panels to fit also or did they fit into the J mounts??

bloody hell didn't realize it was you Allen must read better !!!!
yeah the bottom brackets i made and bolted on, I should of had better ones welded on before the powder coat have you had chance to ride it ?

[baldrick]

not yet its been pissing it down all day. biblical floods up here today

i decided to get it insured from the 1st of next month, quotes seem a bit high considering im an old git.

ive been to bikesure £235, peter james £248 and footman james are £366. still waiting for a quote from carol nash who wanted photos of it.
any recommendations for insurance?

i didnt realise you had made bolt on mounts for the sidepanels. that might make it easier to fit the earlier ones.

[Hard Road]

not yet its been pissing it down all day. biblical floods up here today

i decided to get it insured from the 1st of next month, quotes seem a bit high considering im an old git.

ive been to bikesure £235, peter james £248 and footman james are £366. still waiting for a quote from carol nash who wanted photos of it.
any recommendations for insurance?

i didnt realise you had made bolt on mounts for the sidepanels. that might make it easier to fit the earlier ones.

i had both bikes insured with bikesure, i didn't think Carolnash insured modified bikes ?

[baldrick]

ok cheers mate.
did you get stung import duty on your new tank out of interest?

[Hard Road]

ok cheers mate.
did you get stung import duty on your new tank out of interest?

no mate, got it off ebay, "classic bike shop" £450 delivered.

[DeadZedDave]

Hi Baldrick , if its a J frame with an early Z1 tank, then the underside / tunnel area of the tank will have a bit of "modification" to fit over the top tubes of the J frame. Its not unknown - and the only way to put an early tank on a late frame - but it means you have to modify any replacement tank in a similar manner - assuming you don't just go back to a J type late tank. If you get time, it'd be good yo see a couple of pics. of the tank underside ! It was at one time, something people did but in modern times with so many owners going the restoration route, examples of these modifications are few and far between - it would be good to see how it was done.
As for the side panels, if you remove the airbox and run individual filters (and "standard" is no longer aa concern) 3 or 4 carefully drilled / small holes drilled at carefully judged positions on the edges of a side panel will see anything fit anything just about with 3 or 4 cable ties to secure the panel to the frame - you see this in old pictures of modified Zeds sometimes especially race bikes. Works every time !
Good luck with the old Zed, whatever you do !
Dave

[DeadZedDave]

Hello again Baldrick, I should probably have mentioned in the previous post and before I have a crowd of angry Zed restorers heading for my front door - drilling holes in vintage side panels is probably something that many will frown upon these days - especially hard to find original items - and thats before you mention "price" - if you drill holes in them you'll half the value.....
As I always say though, its your bike - you can do what you want with it !
Dave