Topic: Z1 information 1973 Z1 photos

[MauiK3]

I thought it was extremely hard to import a bike. Very interesting offer.

[Terry in Australia]

No worries mate, importing a bike is a pain, but importing motorcycle parts is way easier.

[MauiK3]

Ok, got it. Make a crate to hold the frame, engines, etc securely, a box of parts.
Hmmm

[Stev-o]

Hey Maui....not sure how you came up with $10K but I'd buy that in a min for $2K. Ask him if he's consider taking $1500 for it.   Keep in mind the extra parts can be sold on eBay, I did that with my Z1 [sold the body kit for $500 and bought a re-pop for $1200]
I dont keep spreadsheets for my projects, but I prolly have $10K into mine and value is inching towards $15K. But have never considered selling...it's part of my 401 plan!

[Kelly E]

I just found out that the Z1 we're getting is a 75' so Terry was right about the year. It's going to be a fun project.

[MauiK3]

Steve-o
You are right, I have to be honest with myself, doing the project is for the satisfaction of keeping one out of the junkyard. If I decide to sell it later, what I get is what I get. It will be a fun journey. One more detail before I plunk down some money, I have to get DMV to tell me what will be done about the last 30? years of not being registered. If they decide to make me pay it all that would be a deal killer. I'm told that here there are ways to avoid most of it.

[Terry in Australia]

Geez that would suck if you had to pay the last 30 years of registration mate, is that possible? Anyway I’ll still take it if that’s a deal killer for you, but either way, I’ll be interested to see how it pans out. How much was the other Z1 you mentioned, that didn’t need as much work?

[MauiK3]

The owner of the other one has not come back with a price yet.. I’ll bet it will be very high.

[Terry in Australia]

The owner of the other one has not come back with a price yet.. I’ll bet it will be very high.

Yeah, if it's pretty complete and in good condition it's probably worth whatever he's asking, but you need to know so you can weigh up your options, as Steve said, he's probably got $10K into his now, and it's only had a light cosmetic restoration, a full nut and bolt resto will be expensive. I've easily gone past the $10K mark on mine, and mine's not going to be factory original. Anyway, good luck with it, I'm looking forward to watching this thread evolve.

Talking about Z1R's here's a Z1R Mk2 (my favourite of the "Coffin Tank" models) going for a reasonable price here in Oz.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/254977354608?hash=item3b5dd5ab70:g:SmQAAOSwKZxgnO4c&frcectupt=true

[MauiK3]

Ok, now it gets more interesting.
The owner of the second Z1 came back with a number.
He thinks $6k is what he wants. As far as I know it likely runs and had a bit of a freshen up a several years ago. I recall I actually saw it running down my street once about 5 years ago because his brother used to be my neighbor. It has a 4-1 pipe so there is that to consider. I think I will go look at it Wednesday to see what shape it's in. I think this one is a 73 but I'll get frame and engine numbers. If it's a 73 the engine will be black.
It may be a better option to begin with, my K3 750 was running when I bought it, I took it apart to arrest the aging process and freshen it up.
I looked up the rules here for long term lapsed registration and it looks daunting to avoid paying what I calculate to be $3800 back registration on the 74 basket case. I'm not optimistic about that.

[Alan F.]

I wonder if you could register it in Vermont through the mail, then register it in HI and avoid all of that?

[MauiK3]

Not sure, would need to research.

[Kelly E]

It's just not right to hang the new owner for the last owners lack of payment. Here in Washington we can buy an old bike or car that has been off the road unregistered for 30 years and pay the sales tax and buy a new tab for the year. No penalties for the previous owners non payment. We also don't have to register a vehicle as non operational. If I don't want to drive something I don't buy a new yearly tab. When I want to drive it again I go buy a new yearly tab.

[MauiK3]

Agreed.
Here in Hawaii we have some different problems. Many folks move here with mainland plates and don't register here. They drive for years sometimes without registering. When they finally do the county asks for their shipping documents and makes them pay starting when it was shipped. We also have a group that claim to be Kingdom of Hawaii folks and some even sport Kingdom of Hawaii plates, which are not valid. Some folks just don't renew registration. All these things are enforcement problems and enforcement is uneven for a variety of reasons. These are some of the things that I think drive the "no exceptions" approach.

[MauiK3]

Dang, can’t go see it tomorrow, a work thing got in the way, going Saturday now. I’ll get photos.

[Kelly E]

Our 75' Z1-B should be here tomorrow. Good luck on Saturday.

[ekpent]

 I parked next to a BMW car yesterday in Battle Creek Mi and was surprised when I noticed it had a Hawaii license plate and some other special tag in that area. Kind of wondered what the story was behind that.

[MauiK3]

It's probably a Safety Check sticker. Once a year we go in for this, they check superficial stuff like lights and over tinted windows. It doesn't accomplish much except you can't pass without showing insurance.
Also, if your tires stick out of the wheel wells you don't pass so lots of poser boys have small pizza cutter tires they put on once a year to pass.

[Stev-o]

Dang, can’t go see it tomorrow...

We are impatiently waiting Maui!   

I suggest bringing a truck or trailer and 15 crisp C-notes! 

[Kelly E]

We picked up our Z1-B today. Production date of 9/74'

[MauiK3]

Looks like a great project!
I look at a 73 on Saturday and it may actually run, who knew here on Maui there would be any choice? I’m very impatient too, a work thing got in the way this week, rare for me now that I’m 70% retired.
I’ll post up when I get info.

[Terry in Australia]

Yep, grab those Z1's when you can, Kawasaki aren't making any more of them!

[ekpent]

 Mercy - Z1's coming out of the woodwork all of a sudden. Like Terry says grab them when you can ! The 9/74 might be a Z1A as they are called. Great score for what you paid.

[Terry in Australia]

Mercy - Z1's coming out of the woodwork all of a sudden. Like Terry says grab them when you can ! The 9/74 might be a Z1A as they are called. Great score for what you paid.

The sidecover badges are Z1-B (1975) but they're not a real indicator as they could have been changed any time over the last 40 years, but I suspect that the 9/74 build may have been Kawasaki doing what the car industry does and start building the next years model run in the last quarter of the previous year. My Z900 (KZ900 in the US) was built in 1975, but technically it's a 1976 model.

[Trevor from Warragul]

Just a note for Terry - don't buy anything from overseas with a manufacture date after 01 July 1975!  Imported bikes made after that date will need a VASS certificate (everything on the bike has to be OEM, i.e. brake lines, exhaust, etc).  I have had a few club members caught out by this...