Z1OwnersClub GB

took me a while to do this cause iv been enjoying building it so much, very nearly doesnt qualify as a project anymore







been locked in the shed for past couple of weeks and the zed is nearly finished! its rainy today so i reckon ill have it ready for its mot by the end of the day but my dad wants to check the shims and cam chain first so prob another week or so.

iv fitted a new wiring loom and regulator/rectifier and had my first bash at wiring, I was pretty clueless as to what i was doing most of the time so i was amazed when the bike actually started!

also found a cool old pic of my dad and his mates bikes from about 17 years ago, these are the bikes that made me want this one so much

That's looking really good Fergus, bet your old man is chuffed that you've followed in his footsteps, or tyre tracks.... so to speak!
Good luck with the MOT, I'm sure it will sail through.

Fergus, that A4 is still looking not too bad,wonder how long it'll be till Colin (rickman crr) notices it, think he had it for 18yrs?

Fergus, thats a real stirling effort matey Great stuff..... with a superb bit of emotional encouragement to do the project

Good to see my old Zed being looked after Fergus. Good on ya. Here are some details of its history.

It's a 1976 A4 UK bike. I bought in 1978, and sold it in 1997 to buy a ZX9R, which I still have. No real regrets as I had to do the race replica fast plastic rocket thing and couldn't justify (at the time) to keep two bikes....

It was originally standard Z900 dark green but I decided in 1981 to fit Z1A tank side panels and tail piece as I liked the yellow striped paint job. Also fitted Z1 forks, bottom yolk and brake calipers. Tail light was changed to round Z1 type as was the airbox which I recall cost me £5. I kept the A4 grab rail as the longer indicator mounts help when fitting throw over panniers for rallies/hols etc. I also fitted the Lesters and had the discs drilled to assist in the wet. Paioli box swinging arm was also fitted and retained the standard adjusters. I had marzochi shocks but see they have been changed. Frame was repainted and I fitted a new set of 4-4s but they eventually fell apart and fitted a Harris 4-1. The carbs are 28 mm from a Mk2.

The engine was split to fit a new cam chain and it was rebored to the first oversize pistons. The cylinder head is from a Z1 as the original developed a crack between the spark plug thread and valve seat. Cam caps have some helicoil repairs I recall. It used to have a home made regulator which looked like something from the Tardus fitted under the seat (Z9s have a space for the std airbox silencer.)

This bike was very reliable and I used it for every thing including commuting, holidays to France, italy, germany, switzerland, belgium, holland. Its even been in a nudist camp in the South of France!!

So good luck with M*M 1*P

wow thanks!

yeah i "borrowed" the marrizochi's a year or so ago for another bike that iv since sold so i had to buy a set of shocks before i could even move the bike

i thought my dad bought the bike from you with a crazy loud kerker system on, which he gave to his mate cause everyone stared at him when he rode down the street.

I actually traded the Zed for the ZX9R (ah, but for the benefit of hindsight) with Edinburgh Kawasaki, who also had a bike shop in Uphall. I understand their mechanic acquired the bike then maybe sold it on. He was happy when I offered him all of the spares I had

nice to see some history on a bike

rickman CRR wrote:I actually traded the Zed for the ZX9R (ah, but for the benefit of hindsight) with Edinburgh Kawasaki, who also had a bike shop in Uphall. I understand their mechanic acquired the bike then maybe sold it on. He was happy when I offered him all of the spares I had

makes sense now ta