z900 A???????

[conor998]

hi guys & girls,

Just trying to figure something out.
I have a 1977 registered z900 ( american import )
Going to restore in this winter but i'm a bit confused to what model it is as the rear footpeg hangers seem to be the same as a z1000A1 and not like any 900. The engine is 903cc and is the original according to log book.
Everything else matches to A4 status, single front and rear disc,etc.

Is this a A5 or has it a 1000 frame I wonder??

Conor o'Toole
Ireland

[sweptail]

the `76 z900a4 had double disc up front and drum rear. That sounds like a thou with a 900 lump in. Tommy

[RALPHARAMA]

You could check the engine and frame numbers with Z-Powers website - that should help - https://www.z-power.co.uk/merchantmanager/view_information.php?pId=21

If nothing else it's an interesting read

[AL MARSHALL]

hi conor, i had a z900 in the late seventies that had rear disc as std. never seen another one. my reg was LCM239R not by chance the one you have

[conor998]

hi,
Thanks for your help so far,
The Frame number is: KZ100A-002523
Engine No. Z1E063586

I have owned the bike for about 15 years and don't beleive the engine or frame were changed/swaped before me.
It has on the headstock year of manufacture 08-76
Also, all the documents say kz900 and all frame and engine numbers match up.
She is diamond green with usual american spec! kz900 on side panels.
The frame number points in the direction of z1000A but why is it 900 everywhere else?
Is it A5 made up of bits from kawasaki?
Anymore info would be much appreciated.
Conor.

[Iain marshall]

Conor,i ve got an A4 with a similar problem,the frame on the bike is an Z1000 A3.The last owner told me the the A4 had been crashed around 1980 and the bike had been rebuilt by the insurance company and apparantly the dealer could only get the later frame from Kawasaki.The V5 details all tally up,reg in 76 and shows the later frame number.

[conor998]

The strange thing is the sticker on the headstock which says year of manufacture 76' & repeats the frame number that is stamped into the headstock.
Were 1000 frames made then?
I'm was going to restore this machine in the winter but I'm wondering now should i try pick up anA4 frame to keep it original or turn it into a Z1000A1. the confusion of it all.

Was there any 900's with rear disc????

[london calling]

I think the very first Z1000 were made in '76.
The American bikes have big differences between the frame and engines numbers is due to the fact that the engines and frames were shipped over and then assembled in the U.S.A.
They weren't paired up at assembly and this is why the numbers can be so far apart.
For the pukka explanation have a word with Dave "Grandad" Marsden

[eastlondon]

I have just tried to match the vin no. and engine no. against data from z sites and I think it looks as if your bike has a z1000 A1 frame (made in Japan and not USA) and the engine number indicates that it is from a Z1B.
I hope this helps.

[Mike_Hunt]

All bikes' production run starts about half way through the year prior to their model year, so a Z1000A1 would be as likely have been made in mid to late '76 as early '77. There are even quite a few UK '76 registered Z1000s kicking about as some dealers had them before the end of the A4 model ('76) year.

The A5s were, as had been said, just American assembled A4s so they should have had A4 frames with the earlier, less agricultural, rear footrest hangers.

That looks like quite an early production 1000 frame number.

[conor998]

That's great information lads,

The big question now is should i restore it original?

or should i restore it to my own spec?

Is it a kind of magpie or a weird kind of rarity?

What do you guys suggest?

What i cant get my head around is the paperwork all says KZ900.

Conor

[london calling]

Restoring a Z back to standard usually costs plenty ££££$$$$
Very often a nicely modified Z will be cheaper and individual to you

[conor998]

Jack

I've always wanted to restore the zed to my own spec, i.e. classic looks but with decent brakes and handling.
The only thing is that I'm just trying to get a grasp on wether i have a 900/1000 or ?? here.
If it has had the thousand frame fitted at some point i think i'll have to try and pick up a 900 frame to make it a true 900.
I know it sounds a bit extreme but i would never be happy with it otherwise.
Al marshall had a 900 with a rear disc standard so that puts a question mark over some theories.

Conor

[london calling]

What if the Z1000 frame is original and the motor has been swapped

[Davy Doherty]

Post a few pic's and we can see what you have more of Z1B or Z900 or Z1000 if you have more Z1B parts i would go that route..