Z1OwnersClub GB

Hi there
This is my first post .I just started a US spec Z1B rebuild.I pulled it down on Sunday and all the bits have gone off for powder coating today.Kind of scary really .I had a bike on Sunday now I have an engine and a box of bolts and stuff.Oh yes my question .Have any of you guys used the replica fork tubes that Z-Power sell for £100 a pair are they any good or should I go for re chroming of my original tubes.
Ta
Roger Hill

Got a pair on my A2 roger for about 2 years no problem worth the money in my opinion.

And if it wasnt for the fact i got a set of cheap 2nd hand forks for my MK2 i would have bought another set for for that bike as well.

Or would it be cheaper to get your old fork legs rehard chromed

How about some pics of your rebuild

To get the old stanchions ground and hard chromed by someone reputable like Philpotts costs £130 inc. pick up and delivery, and they do a very good job, it,s a bit dearer so it all depends on whether you want to keep them genuine or not.

Roger Hill wrote:... the replica fork tubes that Z-Power sell for £100 a pair ...
Ta
Roger Hill

a little expensive... I know somewhere that sells them for less than that...

Hi Jeff
I just checked theZ1 Enterprises site and they are $100 a pair but the shipping to the UK is $57.I just used the Ebay currency converter and due to the state of £ to $ rate they come out around the same price .There is also the risk of getting hit for tax/duty .I had some Ebay stuff from Australia two years ago and it cost me £26 in tax and charges on top of the shipping cost.
Thanks for the info .
Roger Hill

It looks like the fork tubes are made by Emgo.Does any one know who imports Emgo stuff in the UK.I work in the bike trade and can't find who the importers are .I want some pattern indicators and stems for the bike but dont want the ones made by Velo sport as there stuff did not look to good .I still have some good Stanley lenses and seals from the original indicators on the bike that I will use with the pattern body's .I have thought really hard about how far to go with the bike and have decided to go for a clean usable bike that looks rightish depending on how hard you want to look.I worked on Kawasakis in the 70s and the favourite Z1 spec was H4 headlamp ,US short rear fender, British tyres ,decent plug caps also quite a few with low handle bars or those adjustable Jota bars.It breaks my heart to think how many UK long rear fenders I had staked up in the workshop after fitting US short ones .I would think about three grands worth by today's prices .So I take this opportunity to apologise for the part I played in making UK long rear fenders so hard to find.
Roger Hill

Check out Disco Volante.Same tubes cheaper.
He also offered better price on 10 pairs,any bike/bikes.

Welcome Roger, hope you find the forum helpful.
Good luck with the re-build, let's see some pics.
Be nice to hear some of you experiences from your life in the bike trade.

Roger - Emgo doesn't make any parts, they contract with manufacturers to make the parts. They are usually sold under private label names to major motorcycle distributors.

The Emgo fork tubes are made by the same manufacturer Triumph uses (and also used on some of the H**** models). The Emgo Z1 & H2 fork tubes we sell were manufactured for us to our specification.

Exchange rates are playing havoc with pricing all around the world. You are going to see a fairly massive shift in prices if the exchange rates stay where they are. If you look at the exchange rate history, you will see a very recent swing in GB Pound to Yen rates with the GB Pound falling from 210 to just 145 Yen to the GB Pound (30% drop) - these rate changes have not hit the retail prices at places like Z-Power yet. The GBP to YEN changes are more extreme than the USD to Yen (12% drop), so it's likely Z-Power's prices will rise much more than our prices. Assuming todays exchange rates, I would expect a 25%-30% increase in Z-Power prices over the next few months, and a 10% increase in our prices.

Having said that, it's also likely the Japanese Yen drops in value against both currencies once the new year comes around - so it's really difficult to forecast where the exchange rates (and consequently the prices) will end up.

Ive had loads off stuff from jeff at z1enterprises and never yet had to pay import tax,
Think i was lucky with the rebuild of my z1a, its almost finished so i beat the exchange rate change. Think if i buy the same parts now it would cost me £300+ more. all i need now is a set off front wheel spokes in stainless.

I think I will order a set of tubes in the morning .I do not have a lot to show as yet as my frame etc is off at the powder coaters. It should be back next week so will let you know what kind of a job it is when it returns.I am going to fit needle roller head and swing arm bearings .If any one out there has any tips or recommendations that I should try/carry out while putting it back together I would be most grateful for the input .It has been 30 odd years since I worked on Z1s .I worked at a place called Davick in Long Eaton so if any one remembers going there in the early to mid 70s let me know. When I was taking the zedder to bits on Sunday It reminded me of working late one night a Davick taking the engine out of a Z1 .I was there on my own and decided I could manage to lift the engine complete with head and cylinders off of the bike lift and on to the floor (wonder what health and safety would make of that now days)All was going fine until the exhaust stud hung up in my jeans pocket and started to dig a hole in my upper leg as my arms started to weaken.I finally wrestled it to the floor and was stood there with the front tore out of my Wranglers and blood running down my front.Yer had to be tough in them days especially when the bikes were delivered .They some times came on a lorry with no lift and we had to manhandle a Zedder in its crate off the back and on to the road.Its no wonder my back is knackered ! I have worked for over 35 years on those strange German machines with the sticky out cylinders mentioning no names for fear of offending you guys.But if any of you are closet B*W riders feel free to ask for any info.

Ordered a set of tubes on Sat evening from Z power . They are doing them for £90 +£10 post on e bay at the moment.They turned up today (Tuesday ).really nice bit of kit very well finished and well packed.Going to pick up the frame and stuff from the powder coaters in the morning .Can't wait to get started.I will post some pics when it starts to go back together.

Roger,paid up Z1 club members get discount at Z-POWER