Search results

Weighed the 1170 at last, with no petrol, but all other fluids, its 211kgs / 466lbs . That's 34kgs or 75lbs lighter than the dry weight of a Z1000. Happy with that, and I reckon the MK2 will be even lighter, as the R6 wheels fitted are so light, though perhaps not as cool as the one off wheels...

Been looking for a replica Z900RS fairing for a few months, as the OE fairing is ridiculously expensive. Finally found what I was looking for on a Japanese website, and it arrived today. Very pleased with the quality, and of course its carbon fibre.

Its slightly raised on the stand in the pic, once the engine is in, will sit lower.

Needed to make new upper shock mounts to get the spacing right for the Maxton shocks, next get the spacers blacked out and fit Ti bolts for the lower mounts..

Its approx 2.5 inches longer than a standard Zed swing arm, but you can reduce that by moving the wheel in the sliding wheel adjusters. A Thunderace is the same as the XJR arm, but 30mm shorter.

Have been slowly buying new and used parts to build the engine. Bought this 1015cc block, like most of on Ebay it had a broken fins, this one was one of the better blocks for sale.. So took it to a friend who filled the broken area with weld, then we carefully filed it smooth, looks good as...

Test fitted the new headlight bracket to the Mk2.. will fit fine once I space it out with some neoprene washers, along with spacers between the bracket and lower yoke. The original ZRX bracket used thick rubber grommets which need to be accounted for. Next need to make a pair of alloy 'ears', to...

Found a pair of headlight brackets I liked for the MK2, they can be fitted without dropping the stanchions in the yokes, but sadly the back of the clamps hit the tank on full lock, so they cant be used. Therefore, since I had an original ugly ZRX1200 headlight/fairing mount, I've sketched out a...

Today split the cases for the Z1000A1, and checked them very carefully for any damage or cracks, thankfully they look ok. So the cases, cam cover and sump cover can be taken to be ceramically coated in the week. While the barrel will need to be bored out by 1mm to suite the new pistons, and the...

Finished machining the caliper mount, it'll be hard anodised later. Moving to the front end, the Z1000 stem has had a threaded steel plug welded into its base, next a spacer needs to be added which will be a press fit into the Z900RS lower yoke. Bought a head for the engine, in good condition...

Collected some parts from Camcoat who ceramically anodised them, including the billet alloy engine mounts and cam cover plates for the MK2. The latter are needed as the cam cover came from the US and included an ugly anti pollution gizmo in the cover. It was machined off, and so a pair of...

2 reasons, makes it difficult to bleed, and hanging so low makes it more prone to seize up since it's closer to all the rain and dirt being flung up from the road.

The custom seat has arrived from Japan, a bargain as its pillion strap was missing, no problem, as I don't fit them anyway. The rear caliper mount is done though it needs a little more work to make it look better..

New side panels and Z1 tank.. all the way from Japan. Quite reasonable price having seen how much dented, rusted out tanks go for on Ebay.

1978 Kawasaki Z650 with 1170 engine, early Z1 bodywork. Nothing left stock.

I was planning on painting the wheels gold, but the rear wheel is new, got it for a great price, so a shame to paint it. Still on the look out for a equally good front wheel. I now have a new Z1 tank, all the way from Japan, so just need a front guard that fits the Z900RS USD forks and that's...

With the XJR1300 swing arm narrowed, it was time for a test fit in the frame. Not unexpectedly, the pillion foot peg mounts got in the way of the now wider swing arm.. they had to go. Everything went together ok, the frame still needs to be braced, and a few other lugs and brackets removed or...

Rather than wait for the engine to be completed before lifting the bare frame over the engine, I decided to reassemble the bike into a roller at last. Still lots to do, but happy with the way it looks so far.

Its on YT, though only two vids on this build so far..

The XJR1300 sing arm arrived, and its only 10mm wider than the frame, so will be easy to machine 5mm from each side of the pivot to make it fit the Z1000A1 frame. Of course the pivot spindle is a larger diameter at 20mm than the original Zed spindle at 16mm. That can be solved by either modding...