G'Day David, yep, even when I was broke I was always optimistic, so while the PO of the original KZ1000 ruined it (I had to weld back on frame sections that he'd cut off and thrown away and both the original engine cases and crank were toast) there were still some great parts, like the GPZ1100 head and cams, and the Moriwaki 1100cc single compression ring race pistons. Ebay USA was a great source for cheap Zed ("Zee") parts, so I was able to find several NOS Eagle race cranks, good used crankcases etc. I bought a lot of parts from "Oink Johnson" and he looked after me, price wise.
Today was a stinker. I found out last night that another old friend of mine had died suddenly the day before, which led to a troubled night's sleep, and the weather ramped up into the 90's today. On top of that I managed to trip over some of my sons exercise equipment in my back yard and took a tumble. It was only a skun knee then, but now my leg, hip, back and neck are stiff, old age sucks. Oh well, life is like fire and movement, you just need to keep moving forward. I drove over to the tyre place around 12.30 and Ari, the manager said I'd have to wait around an hour, as the boys had gone to lunch. Hmmnnn. OK, I said I'll come back, so dropped the wheels and drove off. What to do for an hour? I know, go to the pub!
The "Pub" is a big poker machine venue. I haven't done any "Slot Jockeying" for the best part of a year, so I bought a drink then shoved $20 in a machine, and after a couple of pushes of the button, won the "Major" jackpot of $584! Woohoo! I buy another drink and play my win up and down, and walk out $550 richer. Sweet. I drive back to the tyre place and my wheels are done, so I pay the $295 ($200 USD) for 2 new tyres, 2 new Michelin tubes and 1 new rim band and fitting/balancing, which I reckon is a bargain. Gotta love Stinko tyres!
Z1 Thursday 30 December 2021 by
Terry Prendergast, on Flickr
I dropped into Spotty's place to see all the work he's doing on his "new to him" Triumph Rocket III. He showered me with gifts of nuts and bolts, which are always handy. I drove home and took another look at the frame after I washed it, and I think I'll actually make a rolling bike to put the engine into.
The story with the Z1 frame (not the drag bike frame, there are two different bikes) was that the PO had a Z1-B frame and a Z1-A engine, so he had the frame powdercoated and installed the Z1-A engine, to build a "Bitsa" Z1. He then changed his mind and sold the engine and frame separately. When he pulled the engine out he chipped the powdercoat in several places, so as I don't need to worry about ruining the powdercoat, I'll just build a roller, and shove the engine in. This isn't a resto, it's a restification....... More tomorrow.
