[LoopyLee]

Once upon a time a very young Loopy fell in love with the Kwak Z650's :inlove:, a love which for some reason has never faded over the years*.. I know it's going to be a totally different bike from the ones I have now, but I've always loved them and the way they look :O

So a couple of years ago a Z came up on ebay and I bought it....

:hmm: Well, I say a Z...

More like a rolling chassis and a pile of parts :crap: Mind you, I'm not complaining though as I only paid £60 for her..

Project Z ground to a halt before she even really got off the ground due to severe lack of funds, not having a job really didn't help!! But now I have a job and some spare cash and so project Z is a go :dance:

At the time of purchase she looked like this :crap: (poor bike :crying

Over the next year she was disassembled more and now the frame looks like this

and everything else was piled up in the corner of the garage..

While sorting through the engine parts last year I discovered that one of the pistons had been damaged at some point :crap: and unless I wanted to pay an arm and a leg (plus a kidney or 2) for a brand new piston, had to wait to see if I could find summat which wasn't going to result in me selling off body parts to fund a replacement..

This weekend whilst browsing ebay I found one, and it hasn't cost me bodily parts to buy it.. It's now winging it's way to me in the post as we speak..

I also found a stainless engine bolt kit and that's been ordered and paid for and on the way to me as well now

I got a complete gasket set last year so thats sitting here waiting for the other bits to arrive and then I can really get cracking on the engine :thumb:

Since I bought the original 'bike**' I've also purchased a replacement swingarm and rear wheel which just happened to have the rear disc brake assembly (drum brakes were ever so slightly naff at their job).. I thought I had got a good deal on the wheel and swingarm, but the seller didn't come out of it too well.. She severely under-estimated on the postage costs and so it cost her way more that she thought it would to mail it to me from Ireland....

A replacement tank was also purchased as the old one was every so slightly rusty and dented.. I've managed to get the original Kawasaki tank badges off the old one, so they will go on the replacement tank :thumb:

The frame had about 20 years of built up crud on it so I'm gonna get that cleaned up and am looking at powder coating vs painting the frame at the moment....

More to follow



*SSB thinks I'm bonkers!! "It will be slow", "It will handle like sh!te", "You won't like it after a sports bike", etc, etc......
** I use the term loosely!!

 

[project'RR']

Is this like about a 77-78? I had the 75 Z1 900 I bought in 82,83 not exactly sure now. Those were some bada** bikes, I bought it in the fall, found it laying on its side behind a barn. Think I paid 800.00 for it, tank and plastics was in good shape but it looked like crap. Over the winter I totally redone the bike and I do mean totally, and done in time for summer. Heres a pic of it that summer. I had to take a pic of the pic. lol

Believe it or not, there were a lot of readily available parts for this bike back then. No internet to scope them out 1st, but it was still fun running around looking. Amazingly popular bikes back then. Hope you have as much fun fixin er up as I did mine. Sorry about the long post, just got me going old school!

 

[LoopyLee]

Is this like about a 77-78? I had the 75 Z1 900 I bought in 82,83 not exactly sure now. Those were some bada** bikes, I bought it in the fall, found it laying on its side behind a barn. Think I paid 800.00 for it, tank and plastics was in good shape but it looked like crap. Over the winter I totally redone the bike and I do mean totally, and done in time for summer. Heres a pic of it that summer. I had to take a pic of the pic. lol

Believe it or not, there were a lot of readily available parts for this bike back then. No internet to scope them out 1st, but it was still fun running around looking. Amazingly popular bikes back then. Hope you have as much fun fixin er up as I did mine. Sorry about the long post, just got me going old school!

:inlove: I love your old bike, she looked gorgeous :thumb:
Mines a 1980 Z650 :inlove: although she doesn't look much one at the moment :crap:

A bit of time and a wad of cash and she will once again look beautiful Luckily I've found someone who lives close to us who break's Z's (sacrilege as far as I'm concerned ) who shoudl be ok for tons of parts as and when I need them :thumb:

btw, I'd almost kill for a Z1

 

[Dangerous Des]

Good luck with the project! Bikes don't have to be about massive speed and razor sharp handling, I reckon you'll enjoy the Z for different reasons.

 

[LoopyLee]

Good luck with the project! Bikes don't have to be about massive speed and razor sharp handling, I reckon you'll enjoy the Z for different reasons.

I know I will

 

[Dangerous Des]

LOL it'll be great when it's done.

I guess you know about z-power, they supply Kawasaki parts.

https://www.z-power.co.uk/merchantmanager/

I've not used them before but I used to look for parts there when I has a Kawasaki. There is another website I used to use, but I can't remember it - if it comes to me I'll post it up here.

 

[project'RR']

Thanks Loopy, My brother has managed to hold on to his 78 LTD 1000 although he switched out tanks with one of the older models, the larger one like whats on my old, they did look better. It still has low miles, I bet it has less than 15k on it!

It will take a while but Im sure iy will look great when done. BTW, While handling wasn't bad, these bikes were more about speed and looks. Good Luck with it Loopy!

 

[LoopyLee]

LOL it'll be great when it's done.

I guess you know about z-power, they supply Kawasaki parts.

https://www.z-power.co.uk/merchantmanager/

I've not used them before but I used to look for parts there when I has a Kawasaki. There is another website I used to use, but I can't remember it - if it comes to me I'll post it up here.

Cheers for that Destructo, I already have z-power saved in my favourites but would be interested in the other site as well if you remember it :thumb:

 

[LoopyLee]

BTW, While handling wasn't bad, these bikes were more about speed and looks. Good Luck with it Loopy!

For me it's more owning a bit of history... A classic bike, which for me will never date :O

My bike will be 30 years old this year and I reckon it's a good year to get her back on the road.. I think she deserves a bit of TLC and a chance to get the wind through her hair again (as it were)..

Daft I know but I have a real soft spot for these bikes :O

 

[project'RR']

For me it's more owning a bit of history... A classic bike, which for me will never date :O

:clap: :thumb:

 

[Dangerous Des]

Ah, I remembered it, but I think they have changed from a breakers to an acessories shop - Barton Motors of Bath they were called, they were Kwak specialists if I remember. They are now this:

Motorcycle Parts, Motor Bike Spares, Motorbike Accessories

There was also one called kz bitz, in Westgate Road, Newcastle but I think they are no longer with us.....

 

[Twincam]

Looking at this thread makes me miss my Z400 - Are you thinking about keeping it standard or modify as you go?

 

[macca9540]

Looking at this thread makes me miss my Z400

Same here Twin, wish I had the Zed 9 still in the shed. :crap:

 

[project'RR']

Had the 500 & 750 tripple also, thats all I ever owned for street. This is my first ever Honda, when summer comes around we'll see how it stacks up.:eyebrows: :idunno:

 

[LoopyLee]

Are you thinking about keeping it standard or modify as you go?

I've a few ideas so far but she will be staying fairly standard..

The HUGE tail light and rear mudguard will be going in the bin/ebay. I'd like a rear light which will go up under the duck tail, hopefully along with the rear indicators but that depends on how well they can be seen from behind once they are installed..

The instrument array is going to be replaced with something smaller, not exactly sure what yet though..

I've already sold the centre stand as I didn't want that going back on..

She's gonna have electronic ignition simply as it will be easier to start her and I'd like K&N type filters, although I've read that I may have to play with the carbs/jets to get her to run properly.. Will have to research more on that..

As I've already said I've got a swingarm and rear wheel which has a rear disc brake.. Might buy some nice waveys for her, I've found some and I reckon they'd look ace :thumb:

 

[Twincam]

Same here Twin, wish I had the Zed 9 still in the shed. :crap:

^^ Being a pillion on one of those is what got me into bikes!

I've a few ideas so far but she will be staying fairly standard..

The HUGE tail light and rear mudguard will be going in the bin/ebay. I'd like a rear light which will go up under the duck tail, hopefully along with the rear indicators but that depends on how well they can be seen from behind once they are installed..

The instrument array is going to be replaced with something smaller, not exactly sure what yet though..

I've already sold the centre stand as I didn't want that going back on..

She's gonna have electronic ignition simply as it will be easier to start her and I'd like K&N type filters, although I've read that I may have to play with the carbs/jets to get her to run properly.. Will have to research more on that..

As I've already said I've got a swingarm and rear wheel which has a rear disc brake.. Might buy some nice waveys for her, I've found some and I reckon they'd look ace :thumb:

I wonder if Dynojet do a kit for them? And I wonder if you could get a similar tail to the one SSB has?

 

[LoopyLee]

I wonder if Dynojet do a kit for them? And I wonder if you could get a similar tail to the one SSB has?

No idea about the dynojet..

And as for the tail on the gixxer that is my Z's tail.. He nicked it

Mind you he did promise he would buy me a replacement one when I needed it :thumb:

 

[Twincam]

No idea about the dynojet..

And as for the tail on the gixxer that is my Z's tail.. He nicked it

Mind you he did promise he would buy me a replacement one when I needed it :thumb:

I think that time is fastly approaching :eyebrows:

Or you could just steal it back from him... well until he gets another one

 

[LoopyLee]

Or you could just steal it back from him... well until he gets another one

:hmm: Now there's a thought... :hmm: It's got lights and indicators fitted already as well.. :hmm: Would save me having to sort them out...

:idea: I could say that keeping the light and indicators was 'rent' for borrowing my Z tail.. Thanks Twin, you're a genius :thumb:

 

[spina220]

Thats quite a project you have there good luck, I am sure SSB has some useful parts laying around that will help. Is that a Duc 916 wheel I see the garage?