Yes, the bike is a US import. If I was doing this again I would probably start with a UK registered bike but it seemed a shame to cut up a good bike. The bike I started with was a bit of a mess cosmetically (see page 1 of my blog!) but it had a completely straight rust-free frame which was what I was after.
I'll tell you who supplied the dating letter if it all works out. It wasn't the VJMC who seem to regard a dating letter as akin to a certificate of authenticity.
Experience....the name we give to our mistakes.
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new member with Z900 project
Moderators: KeithZ1R, chrisu, paul doran, Taffus
The bike sailed through its MOT this afternoon. So, I went to the local DVLA office with 1) dating letter, 2) customs from 389 showing that duty had been paid, 3) MOT, 4) insurance certificate, 5) passport, 6) council tax bill and completed form V55/5. The man behind the counter (who was very helpful) said the paperwork was OK, charged me £133 and said I should get a certificate for a number plate in 5 working days, with the V5 following in a month or so.
I'm not going to celebrate until the number plate certificate arrives but I think that the risk of a disaster at this stage is now low. I don't imagine that Swansea spend time double-checking paperwork from local offices when it's all been signed off. The Ace Cafe is looking feasible.
The MOT garage also fitted the chain for me. Harris reckoned that an O ring might be too wide but in the event it cleared the frame with plenty of clearance. Harris had somehow put a small flat in the frame where the chain passes, which helped. The bike's still at the garage to bleed the brakes properly; the lever's a bit spongy. This was my first attempt at bleeding brakes and it didn't go quite as well as I had hoped.
So, assuming that I get the registration back, I need to fit a number plate, wider front tank spacers/mounts, put some anti-corrosion goop in the electrical connections and ride it! There are also some other very small things I need to sort but the goal is in sight. I am going to feel a bit stressed though until the reg stuff arrives.
I'm not going to celebrate until the number plate certificate arrives but I think that the risk of a disaster at this stage is now low. I don't imagine that Swansea spend time double-checking paperwork from local offices when it's all been signed off. The Ace Cafe is looking feasible.
The MOT garage also fitted the chain for me. Harris reckoned that an O ring might be too wide but in the event it cleared the frame with plenty of clearance. Harris had somehow put a small flat in the frame where the chain passes, which helped. The bike's still at the garage to bleed the brakes properly; the lever's a bit spongy. This was my first attempt at bleeding brakes and it didn't go quite as well as I had hoped.
So, assuming that I get the registration back, I need to fit a number plate, wider front tank spacers/mounts, put some anti-corrosion goop in the electrical connections and ride it! There are also some other very small things I need to sort but the goal is in sight. I am going to feel a bit stressed though until the reg stuff arrives.
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Darren Williams
- 100Club
- Posts: 116
- Joined: 23rd Sep 2008
- Location: BANGOR
Look forward to seeing it at the ACE 
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Ginger Bear
- Hardcore
- Posts: 6850
- Joined: 16th Dec 2008
- Location: In the Dark.
- Contact:
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z1000puddin
- Custard Cream
- Posts: 918
- Joined: 23rd Jul 2011
- Location: Aberdeen,Dyce
I got the bike back from the garage today. They have fitted an O ring chain (there was ample clearance despite the 180 rear tyre) and bled the brakes and clutch. The clutch release point is bit close to the bar for my liking, which makes finding neutral a bit clunky, but not sure whether this can be cured by more bleeding and/or using a longer pushrod. The big news is that the bike now moves under its own power. I rode it for at least 2, maybe 3 yards as it's not yet road legal but it still felt good to have a functioning bike after 15 months of effort.
DVLA say they take 5 working days to turn round a V55/5 so I should get the tax disc by the end of the week. Halfords make number plates while you wait and it's just about possible that the bike will be on the road at the weekend. I need to finish the plate hanger and work out where the tax disc goes. There is a chance that DVLA will throw a wobbly and/or require an inspection but the odds look favourable. I commute every day on a bike and the plan is to commute on the Zed next week to sort out any niggles before the Ace trip. It seems to run fine despite the lack of proper set-up. It really needs some skilled attention to set up the carbs and timing but I would like to put some miles on it before subjecting it to a dyno.
I don't live far from the Ace - less than 10 miles - so I'll aim to get there nice and early.
DVLA say they take 5 working days to turn round a V55/5 so I should get the tax disc by the end of the week. Halfords make number plates while you wait and it's just about possible that the bike will be on the road at the weekend. I need to finish the plate hanger and work out where the tax disc goes. There is a chance that DVLA will throw a wobbly and/or require an inspection but the odds look favourable. I commute every day on a bike and the plan is to commute on the Zed next week to sort out any niggles before the Ace trip. It seems to run fine despite the lack of proper set-up. It really needs some skilled attention to set up the carbs and timing but I would like to put some miles on it before subjecting it to a dyno.
I don't live far from the Ace - less than 10 miles - so I'll aim to get there nice and early.
Wa-hey! I have a registration number with P suffix for 1976! I got the dating letter from:
http://dvladatingletters.co.uk/
The guy there was super-helpful and I got the certificate in the post the next day. All for £20. Many thanks to the member who suggested it. I was mentally preparing for a Plan B scenario with either a Q plate (yuk) or buying another Z900 frame with a V5 (very expensive). Relief is too small a word.
So, if I get my act together tonight, I can ride the bike to work tomorrow. Ace Cafe here we come.
http://dvladatingletters.co.uk/
The guy there was super-helpful and I got the certificate in the post the next day. All for £20. Many thanks to the member who suggested it. I was mentally preparing for a Plan B scenario with either a Q plate (yuk) or buying another Z900 frame with a V5 (very expensive). Relief is too small a word.
So, if I get my act together tonight, I can ride the bike to work tomorrow. Ace Cafe here we come.
LondonZ1 wrote:Wa-hey! I have a registration number with P suffix for 1976! I got the dating letter from:
http://dvladatingletters.co.uk/
The guy there was super-helpful and I got the certificate in the post the next day. All for £20. Many thanks to the member who suggested it. I was mentally preparing for a Plan B scenario with either a Q plate (yuk) or buying another Z900 frame with a V5 (very expensive). Relief is too small a word.
So, if I get my act together tonight, I can ride the bike to work tomorrow. Ace Cafe here we come.
good result. i too have used the same company for a H**** st 70 i am restoring for my brother- in-law paid with pay pal was sent a copy to my email address + received the dating certifficate next day
I got home from work early, finished off the number plate bracket and installed some wider spacers for the tank mounts. The sensible thing to do was to wait for daylight before taking it for a spin but riding bikes has never been a sensible activity. With considerable nervousness, I checked the tyre pressures, started the bike and rode off to the nearest petrol station to fill it up. It felt really weird to be finally riding it but also really good. The engine idles and pulls OK, the gearchange is quite clunky and it handles very nicely at the slow speeds I was doing. I only rode for about 4 miles as I want to give it a good look over and make sure nothing is falling off. The steering is very neutral; I went round the local roundabout and it just went where I wanted it to, no need for correction. Fitting 17" wheels and modern suspension to an old bike is a bit of a risk but based on the very limited test ride, it's probably going to be OK.
There's oil weeping from the head but I think it's just the cam cover, so tighter bolts should sort it. I was nervous about over tightening the cam cover bolts and I think I have underdone it. Plus the speedo reads in kmh, the tacho seems to be under-reading, the headlight is too low but there are no disasters so far. This is the first bike I have built/restored so I am sure I am going to find other problems
To prove that it is actually on the road, here are some low quality pics. I might ride it to work tomorrow if the weather looks good. When I was filling it up, two blokes with a Pan European came over and asked what it was. I explained that it was a 1976 bike with modern suspension etc and they said they loved the style. Very nice start to what I hope will be a long relationship (with the bike, not the blokes on the Pan).
There's oil weeping from the head but I think it's just the cam cover, so tighter bolts should sort it. I was nervous about over tightening the cam cover bolts and I think I have underdone it. Plus the speedo reads in kmh, the tacho seems to be under-reading, the headlight is too low but there are no disasters so far. This is the first bike I have built/restored so I am sure I am going to find other problems
To prove that it is actually on the road, here are some low quality pics. I might ride it to work tomorrow if the weather looks good. When I was filling it up, two blokes with a Pan European came over and asked what it was. I explained that it was a 1976 bike with modern suspension etc and they said they loved the style. Very nice start to what I hope will be a long relationship (with the bike, not the blokes on the Pan).
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z1000puddin
- Custard Cream
- Posts: 918
- Joined: 23rd Jul 2011
- Location: Aberdeen,Dyce
I am inclined to agree about the plate but the only way to get a plate while you wait is Halfords, who won't do undersized plates. The spacing is wrong as well with the upper and lower rows too far apart. But there was no way I was going to delay a test ride to wait for a neater plate.
The exhaust is also too quiet but PMC sell a variety of baffles. I'll probably get the medium-noisy one.
The exhaust is also too quiet but PMC sell a variety of baffles. I'll probably get the medium-noisy one.
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z1000puddin
- Custard Cream
- Posts: 918
- Joined: 23rd Jul 2011
- Location: Aberdeen,Dyce
London,
I hope to see your bike in the flesh at the ACE next week.
I am travelling down via Birmingham - a bit of work & pleasure combined.
I wont be riding as I will have my 11 year old son.(Too far for him )
My 1075 is only a single seat, so I will need to take my black Z in the trailer.
I am booked in to a hotel 4 miles from the ACE.
Do they have a run out on the Sunday ??
Stu
I hope to see your bike in the flesh at the ACE next week.
I am travelling down via Birmingham - a bit of work & pleasure combined.
I wont be riding as I will have my 11 year old son.(Too far for him )
My 1075 is only a single seat, so I will need to take my black Z in the trailer.
I am booked in to a hotel 4 miles from the ACE.
Do they have a run out on the Sunday ??
Stu
Zed til Dead
z1000puddin wrote:London,
I hope to see your bike in the flesh at the ACE next week.
I am travelling down via Birmingham - a bit of work & pleasure combined.
I wont be riding as I will have my 11 year old son.(Too far for him )
My 1075 is only a single seat, so I will need to take my black Z in the trailer.
I am booked in to a hotel 4 miles from the ACE.
Do they have a run out on the Sunday ??
Stu
Stu,
Be good to catch up and buy you a tea for that valve you sent me.
Regards.............Chris
PS - sorry for the hijack
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