For those who don't know, here's a potted history of how I came to buy a KZ1000 in Maine, USA. We're lucky enough to have family who live in a little town called Belgrade Lakes, north of Augusta, Maine and we get out there every chance we get. The Lakes region of Maine is one of those special places that represents frontier American wilderness to a soft southerner like me! Back in 2005, I figured it might be an idea to pick up a cheap KZ to run around on and take in that amazing scenery and deserted roads. I hit the internet, and it became apparent that an 'alien' like me can legally own, insure and ride a bike in the US. Whoopee. No more rip-off Harley rentals!!
After searching the local classified site - Uncle Henry's - I found myself a 77 A1 which had been stored for 18 years but was apparently running. A local mechanic guy I know out there went to check her out, bought her, and spent a day or so getting her back on the road. Cost? 1400 bucks. And that was when the dollar was 2:1 against sterling. Turned out to be the best deal I ever did! A solid bike, with what I believe was a genuine 16k on the clock and one owner from new.
In 2005 I didn't have any thoughts of restoring her. Honest I didn't. Yes I needed to replace the hideous (but hideously comfortable) king queen seat but, beyond that, it was just going to be a big old clean up and get out riding!
Back for summer 2006, I found an original seat and grabrail, cleaned her up some more, and headed for the hills again!
Fast forward again to 2010 - 4 years with no trip to Maine - sometimes life gets in the way of messing round with old bikes - it's so unfair. The KZ languished in my cousin in law's drafty, uninsulated garage. Back in 2006, I had covered her in WD40 and grease, drained the carbs and removed the battery, but I figured she would probably be a bit down-at heel when I saw her next.
Bear in mind that the Maine summer is only 10 weeks long and is frequently very humid. Put that together with a winter that delivers snow from November to April and you get the picture. It's all a bit damp out there!
Anyhow, in 2010 I hatched a plan to put together a package of parts and assemblies which I'd renovate over here then ship out to the US to bolt straight on when I got out there. I figured the calipers and master cylinders would probably be in poor shape, plus the carbs, so these were acquired and renovated over the autumn and winter of 2010.
As these things often do, that plan slowly expanded to include a complete refit back to original spec. That would mean a genuine exhaust system and airbox/silencer assy - not easy or cheap to find - but it helped that I was shopping in the States for shipment to the States. These days, it's about the only viable way of finding a decent Thou exhaust system anyhow.
Though I quite like those K&Ns and the ultra-loud shorty mufflers (if you can call them that), they did make the bike run like a pig at low revs, so I felt it would improve the riding considerably if I ditched them. Plus, you know me, I am a bit of an originality freak.
I found the airbox assy quite quickly, but had to wait about 9 months for the exhaust system. Then, one morning, a complete system showed on Ebay USA, buy it now, 600 bucks. A nanno-second later it was mine. A week later it arrived in Belgrade Lakes, where it was shoved on a shelf in that same draftly garage to await my arrival.
So, 2011 dawned and we set a date for our summer trip to Maine. Come July I packed up the stuff I had renovated over here and shipped it off. I decided it would be less hassle to ship the stuff ahead - marked as a gift - rather than face the US Customs gang and explain why I was bringing in 15 kgs of valuable parts as luggage on my vacation. I could just see how badly that could go! I also ordered a final bunch of stuff from Z1 Enterprises, which was shipped to coincide with my arrival.
Come July 30th and we landed at Augusta, picked up a rental car, and headed north towards our camp in Belgrade Lakes.
Here's the layout, camp, lakeshore, lake and..... drafty garage! It was only at this point that I discovered that the bike had not even been kept in the drafty garage. It had been relegated to a timber lean-to, nailed to the side. Disgraceful! Still you just can't complain - it's free storage and it's my wife's family - nuff said.
Anyhow there she was - and really not in as bad shape as I'd thought. Still some air in the tyres and the brakes - whilst binding badly - were not totally seized.
And back into the sunshine for the first time since august 2006 - a big moment!
Next job: set up a work station in the garage and open up the boxes of goodies - just like Christmas. The exhaust system was the biggest surprise to me, it really was in great shape and at 600 bucks, I'd say it was a steal! The seller had coated it in wax and there really was no corrosion to speak of. Quick shine up and ready to go. Result!
I should maybe pause at this point and answer the burning question: how the hell did he get his wife to let him restore another old crock on their family vacation?!? Simple: I promised it would only take a couple of days - tops - ahem - and I made the ultimate sacrifice and promised I wouldn't take on another resto back in UK this coming winter. I think she got a good deal there!
Here's a few shots of the strip down and refit - all of which went so smoothly I was constantly figuring something HAD to go wrong soon. But it didn't! Not one stripped thread or sheered bolt. Amazing. In part that's because I went for complete renovated assemblies, you know they work before you bolt'em on. No pissing round trying to get seized pistons out of calipers or freeing up sticking float valves.
I'd like to say a huge thank you to 2 members at this point: to TLC for his generosity and support and to the carbmeister Dogz who's skill amazes me. I mean how can you get carbs right when you don't even run them?!?! He can.
Oh, and this is what they eat for breakfast in Maine - or that's what I kept telling myself anyhow.....
Did I say a couple of days? Naaaa, I clearly said no more than four. And, sure enough, on the afternoon of day 5 I wheeled her out, fuel on, ignition on, choke on, hit the starter and..... nothing. PULL THE CLUTCH IN - DICK'EAD!!! Hey, I knew that. Clutch in, starter...... the beast lives!!
Don't know why I'm so surprised when things start, but I always am. Still, I'm happy to say she runs like a Swiss watch and sooo quiet - a lovely silky rustle from the motor - just the way I like it. And so well mannered at low revs, she pulls cleanly from tick-over right through with bags of torque - all in all a fantastic ride.
Here's some pics of her debut - bit of lippy on the tyres and all. I have to say I'm really proud of her:
And finally a few more pics from her maiden trip - a 200 miler up to Rangely Lake with wife on board.
The bike ran impeccably - a worthy tribute to a hugely underrated Zed, and a fitting reward for all the planning and effort that went into the refitting such a lovely old bike. I am very very fond of my Maine KZ.
