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Black Jack Zed 900
Moderators: KeithZ1R, chrisu, paul doran, Taffus
Cheers Andy, I'll carry on with the topic...
just installed the Dyna S ignition today, with some help from Hinckley
again, cheers :-)
He had similar problems with his, the module plate had to be
set furthest anti-clockwise. Got fed up trying to locate the magnet, cut a tiny strip of yellow insulation tape to indicate where the magnet was.
Thought mine was going to be same problem with regards to module plate adjustment but we sussed it in the end: the coils the opposite way round (:lol:), BUT
whoever butchered the wiring loom in the past, wired the black and green
wires opposite
Anyway, all strobed in now and spot on. Monday I'll book it in for a Dyno run to get the carbs fine tuned.

just installed the Dyna S ignition today, with some help from Hinckley
again, cheers :-)
He had similar problems with his, the module plate had to be
set furthest anti-clockwise. Got fed up trying to locate the magnet, cut a tiny strip of yellow insulation tape to indicate where the magnet was.
Thought mine was going to be same problem with regards to module plate adjustment but we sussed it in the end: the coils the opposite way round (:lol:), BUT
whoever butchered the wiring loom in the past, wired the black and green
wires opposite

Anyway, all strobed in now and spot on. Monday I'll book it in for a Dyno run to get the carbs fine tuned.

Non standard Z900 - purchased from HIGGSPEED - http://www.higgspeed.com/ -
http://www.z1ownersclub.co.uk/forum/vie ... 6a7d5e816c
http://www.z1ownersclub.co.uk/forum/vie ... 6a7d5e816c
Hi Freddy,
I've decided to fit an old Harris Works Collection full system instead
of the Delkevic. Looking at old photos of a Z900 I owned and
modified in 1989, I prefer the aesthetics of the HWC pipes.
I've bought a JMC monoshock conversion recently from Padders, I'll also fit this to my Z900 project
during winter. I'd like my new Z900 looking similar to the
Z900 I modified in 1989. See pic below...
Not the seat though, and I don't want to build an
exact replica of my old 1989 Z900.
ZX6R wheels and USD forks might be on the winter rebuild itinery.
I've decided to fit an old Harris Works Collection full system instead
of the Delkevic. Looking at old photos of a Z900 I owned and
modified in 1989, I prefer the aesthetics of the HWC pipes.
I've bought a JMC monoshock conversion recently from Padders, I'll also fit this to my Z900 project
during winter. I'd like my new Z900 looking similar to the
Z900 I modified in 1989. See pic below...

Not the seat though, and I don't want to build an
exact replica of my old 1989 Z900.
ZX6R wheels and USD forks might be on the winter rebuild itinery.
Non standard Z900 - purchased from HIGGSPEED - http://www.higgspeed.com/ -
http://www.z1ownersclub.co.uk/forum/vie ... 6a7d5e816c
http://www.z1ownersclub.co.uk/forum/vie ... 6a7d5e816c
Progress has been very slow over the winter months, due to
personal circumstances.
The engine is ready for rebuild, but the whole build probably
won't be completed until April.
I had originally decided on Z1B blue paint for the paint set,
but looking at the old pic from 1989 since before winter,
(I posted a thread comparing the Z900 I had in 1989 before winter),
I've decided black is the answer to my nostalgic
yearning.
The theme for my Z900 is now "Black Jack Zed 900", (which relates to my number plate).
My idea at the moment is a very light background of chequered
flag, see pic below (as inspired by my Ton Up youtube channel) with the standard tank badges and z900
side panel badges.
On the tail-piece will be airbrushed a Black Jack playing card,
and other airbrush work that springs to mind when refining the
design nearer the time.
More pics and updates on progress mid-March.
~Jay.
personal circumstances.
The engine is ready for rebuild, but the whole build probably
won't be completed until April.
I had originally decided on Z1B blue paint for the paint set,
but looking at the old pic from 1989 since before winter,
(I posted a thread comparing the Z900 I had in 1989 before winter),
I've decided black is the answer to my nostalgic
yearning.
The theme for my Z900 is now "Black Jack Zed 900", (which relates to my number plate).
My idea at the moment is a very light background of chequered
flag, see pic below (as inspired by my Ton Up youtube channel) with the standard tank badges and z900
side panel badges.
On the tail-piece will be airbrushed a Black Jack playing card,
and other airbrush work that springs to mind when refining the
design nearer the time.

More pics and updates on progress mid-March.
~Jay.
Last edited by Jay1969 on Sun Mar 15, 2015 11:46 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Non standard Z900 - purchased from HIGGSPEED - http://www.higgspeed.com/ -
http://www.z1ownersclub.co.uk/forum/vie ... 6a7d5e816c
http://www.z1ownersclub.co.uk/forum/vie ... 6a7d5e816c
- mick znone
- Hardcore
- Posts: 6880
- Joined: 13th Jun 2008
- Location: Cornwall
was the monoshock idea quite a progressive thing on your part in the late 80's Jay, i dont remember seeing many converted until the last 10 years. i had a modded z900 from 89 to 92 and monoshock wasnt thought of.
I DONT CARE, IN OR OUT BUT IM ENJOYING THE DEBATE......................ARMSTRONG MT500. a pushbike, waves.....addict, no offence
mick z1a wrote:was the monoshock idea quite a progressive thing on your part in the late 80's Jay, i dont remember seeing many converted until the last 10 years. i had a modded z900 from 89 to 92 and monoshock wasnt thought of.
Indeed, the JMC monoshock underbraced swingarm with all the
bracketry to convert to monoshock, utiliising the centre stand lugs,
were available at the time I bought mine in 1989, and maybe a few
years before I bought mine, dunno, ordered mine through an ad
in one of the Bike magazines back then.
Before the Z900 I had in 1989, I had a Z650 which was built by
a Kawasaki dealership in Finedon, Northants (since changed hands to
a small m.o.t. and bike training centre).
That they built in 1987 if memory serves correct, they modified with
uni-track swingarm, no idea what Kawasaki it was off originally, I was the
2nd owner from when it was built by the Kawasaki shop in Finedon.
It was featured in MCN, bloke I bought it off gave me the MCN cutting
with it, I wasn't so sentimental back then in my early 20's and threw
loads of photos away when moving home, and subsequently, the
newspaper clipping was thrown away too.
Anyway, so as far as I know, it wasn't a new phenomenon for a
pre-factory sport bike to be modified to monoshock.
Met a guy at one of the Midz Meets last summer, he had a Z1B which
he's owned for over 30 years and he said he had monoshocked his himself
30 years ago, must be a lot more out there with photos of Zeds
monoshocked as far back as the early 80's.
My old Z650, with some form of factory uni-trak suspension,
which no doubt somebody will be able to identify -
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii23 ... 7fec44.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii23 ... x_1989.jpg
This next pic was after I rode through mud in a green lane out in the sticks,
with some mates who were on dirt bikes...
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii23 ... can035.jpg
Also, Zeds aside, the Vincent Black Shadow had monoshock rear suspension
as factory standard


~Jay.
Non standard Z900 - purchased from HIGGSPEED - http://www.higgspeed.com/ -
http://www.z1ownersclub.co.uk/forum/vie ... 6a7d5e816c
http://www.z1ownersclub.co.uk/forum/vie ... 6a7d5e816c
Jay1969 wrote:
Also, Zeds aside, the Vincent Black Shadow had monoshock rear suspension
as factory standard![]()
~Jay.
Sorry! JAY but the Vincent black shadows weren't monoshock.
They were cantilever and still used two shock absorbers.
That aside monoshock suspension on motorcycles dates back to about 1905.
Last edited by zed1015 on Sun Feb 22, 2015 2:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
zed1015 wrote:Jay1969 wrote:
Also, Zeds aside, the Vincent Black Shadow had monoshock rear suspension
as factory standard![]()
~Jay.
Sorry! JAY but the Vincent black shadows weren't monoshock.
They were cantilever and still used two shock absorbers.
That aside monoshock suspension on motorcycles dates back to about 1905.
So monoshock suspension dates back to 1905 !! Incredible!
And thanks for correcting me Rob

~Jay.
Non standard Z900 - purchased from HIGGSPEED - http://www.higgspeed.com/ -
http://www.z1ownersclub.co.uk/forum/vie ... 6a7d5e816c
http://www.z1ownersclub.co.uk/forum/vie ... 6a7d5e816c
Jay1969 wrote:Progress has been very slow over the winter months, due to
personal circumstances.
The engine is ready for rebuild, but the whole build probably
won't be completed until April.
I had originally decided on Z1B blue paint for the paint set,
but looking at the old pic from 1989 since before winter,
(I posted a thread comparing the Z900 I had in 1989 before winter),
I've decided black is the answer to my nostalgic
yearning.
The theme for my Z900 is now "Black Jack Zed 900", (which relates to my number plate).
My idea at the moment is a very light background of chequered
flag, see pic below (as inspired by my Ton Up youtube channel) with the standard tank badges and z900
side panel badges.
On the tail-piece will be airbrushed a Black Jack playing card,
and other airbrush work that springs to mind when refining the
design nearer the time.
More pics and updates on progress mid-March.
~Jay.
Well it's now mid-March, waiting for a few parts I ordered from Saisei-Europe to add to all the other parts I've bought,
I plan to lay all the parts on the floor, and photograph them.
I'll also video record as I'm building "Black Jack Zed 900".
which will be a shared task, and the person(s) who help with this will be praised.
~Jay.
Non standard Z900 - purchased from HIGGSPEED - http://www.higgspeed.com/ -
http://www.z1ownersclub.co.uk/forum/vie ... 6a7d5e816c
http://www.z1ownersclub.co.uk/forum/vie ... 6a7d5e816c
Glad to see you are getting back on track with this build jay
why have you 'edited' most of the build away? (It's entirely up to you of course, but IMO all ups and downs, comments, suggestions etc etc all adds to the flavour of the build).
I wouldn't get too wrapped up with all these new parts etc etc. It can be quite off putting when you see some of the 'creations' /'works of art' that are produced on here, but you can only build to your own financial, time and skill level.
cheerz freddy

why have you 'edited' most of the build away? (It's entirely up to you of course, but IMO all ups and downs, comments, suggestions etc etc all adds to the flavour of the build).
I wouldn't get too wrapped up with all these new parts etc etc. It can be quite off putting when you see some of the 'creations' /'works of art' that are produced on here, but you can only build to your own financial, time and skill level.
cheerz freddy

Punctuation, Spelling and Grammar will be used sparingly. Due to rising costs of inflation.
“It's not me who can't keep a secret. It's the people I tell that can't.â€Â
freddyz1r
PUM 329
“It's not me who can't keep a secret. It's the people I tell that can't.â€Â
freddyz1r
PUM 329
I edited this thread to clean it up a bit freddy, I'm a stickler for
neatness.
You're bang on the money re: financial vs. time, and to an extent
skill level, which to me a lot of it is down to confidence.
I'm sh*t scared of Mathematics, but a supervisor I used to work with who
was awesome at Mathemetics, said to me, people who are scared of
a certain subject lack the confidence of that particular subject.
So, like most people on this forum, I need plenty of help along the way,
and that includes confidence inspiring help as I'm building the engine.
~Jay.
neatness.
You're bang on the money re: financial vs. time, and to an extent
skill level, which to me a lot of it is down to confidence.
I'm sh*t scared of Mathematics, but a supervisor I used to work with who
was awesome at Mathemetics, said to me, people who are scared of
a certain subject lack the confidence of that particular subject.
So, like most people on this forum, I need plenty of help along the way,
and that includes confidence inspiring help as I'm building the engine.
~Jay.
Non standard Z900 - purchased from HIGGSPEED - http://www.higgspeed.com/ -
http://www.z1ownersclub.co.uk/forum/vie ... 6a7d5e816c
http://www.z1ownersclub.co.uk/forum/vie ... 6a7d5e816c
Pigford wrote:Jay, at least you're having a go at it..... anyone can whip their cheque book out and tart a bike out![]()
looking forward to the photo's - those CR's are LUSH
Thank you Mark. I can't imagine this one rusting out

~Jay.
Non standard Z900 - purchased from HIGGSPEED - http://www.higgspeed.com/ -
http://www.z1ownersclub.co.uk/forum/vie ... 6a7d5e816c
http://www.z1ownersclub.co.uk/forum/vie ... 6a7d5e816c
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