Topic: Maui Z1 1973

[RAFster122s]

Soda blasting is not aggressive, doubt you will phase the paint of it is adhered with grip. Bead blasting and vapor blasting are going to be your best bet unless you are going to do it with paint strippers (aircraft remover) and scotch brite pads or rotoloc scotchbrite pads (lots of them).
My $0.02

[Jeff.Saunders]

The fork lowers are correct.  You will notice the raised 'blister' look where the fender mount is cast into them.
The chain adjusters look to be later KZ1000 chain adjusters.  Functionally the same, but 10mm thread rather than 8mm thread.
The gauges do look correct.

[Jeff.Saunders]

The mechanical advancer is correct - but they are awful.  Notice the TDC and Fire mark are very close together?  These advanced went from 5 degrees BTDC to 40 degrees making for a VERY rough idle.  Keep the advancer, but replace with a 20/40 advancer.

The carb holders are later versions, and you'll be hard pressed to find original early Z1 carb holders - incredibly rare and if you found any, you'd break the bank buying them....  Some simple modifications to the current sets is easy - and if installed with the plugged holes on the inside, not really noticeable.

[MauiK3]

Jeff
Where can I get a 20/40 advancer, Z1?
Thank you

[MauiK3]

Found the advancer on Z1 Enterprises.
Learning curve: I ordered two spare bowl drain plugs with the 17 mm hex. They came but the thread is smaller. I guess there are more than one flavor. I’m going to use one for a clear tube float check, I can make it work with Teflon tape. Oh well.
Sadly the fenders are not original and the PO did not save the old ones. I won’t bother re chroming the re pops. I’ll have to get new ones.
Waiting on carb parts, I want to hear this thing run before I tear it down.

[MauiK3]

Steve-o
Can you look at the rear fender rubber damper bracket and tell me if it’s plated or painted? Mine is painted silver, I’m thinking it should be plated but I’m not sure.
Thank you
Steve

[hawaiikid]

Nice bike the Z1 is a classic.

[ken65]

Sounds like Mr Saunders is the the z1 guru.
Just like Rick  Brett is to kwaka triples guru.
Ive a mate who soon will start a 73 jaffa resto. This thread is gold.
Well done boys.

[ken65]

Almost forgot our own Hondaman who is our cb guru. What a trio. I'd pay to sit at the same table as the 3 of them and share some beers or 12.

[ekpent]

Sounds like Mr Saunders is the the z1 guru.
Just like Rick  Brett is to kwaka triples guru.
Ive a mate who soon will start a 73 jaffa resto. This thread is gold.
Well done boys.

Quick story you might get a kick out of Ken. My son and I would take a couple of CB750's up north around Traverse City to ride the great roads up there while camping/fishing. We were cruising the countryside one day and a pick-up truck with 3 guys got right up on our ass and then passed us. I gave them a major scowl and dirty look. We came into the next town which was Cedar and the truck was right in front. All of a sudden it stopped in the middle of the road and a couple of guys jumped out. Oh crap did I flip a bird or something. Well instead of being accosted a fellow with a thick english accent asked us if "we would like to see some Japanese bikes". It turned out it was Rick Brett and he took us to his new 'depot' warehouse which was stuffed with triples,Z1's etc. and then to his home to check out his stash.It really made our day and kept in touch a little off and on since. Unfortunately he has liquidated a lot of his museum and was using the funds to build a nice home and lighten the burden on his wife if trouble were to befall him.
  Here's a nice pic of him in 2018 when he stopped by my shop in Kalamazoo one spring day on his way back up north from Florida to check out some triples I was thinking about selling. He love those sandals !! 
  As they say "You meet the nicest people on a Honda" 

[Stev-o]

Steve-o
Can you look at the rear fender rubber damper bracket and tell me if it’s plated or painted?

Hey Maui...mine is painted black.

[RAFster122s]

Keen makes good quality shoes and swapping out the quick cinch cord lace for real laces improves them. I have several pair.

[MauiK3]

Interesting, black seems like a logical treatment as it is just like any other random bracket on the bike, most of which are black. I think I'll go black on that one.
I'm at a holding point waiting for parts, I think I'll make a little stand to hold the rack so I can do my clear tube check off the bike. Thank you

[Stev-o]

Thank you

Happy to help.   

BTW -  As a little motivation for you, I am posting this pic of my Z1B when I bought it 8 years ago.  It was not pretty but was mechanically sound. 

Then...




Now...




It was a long expensive road but I have no regrets.

[MauiK3]

Beautiful bike, I DO have a long road ahead.
Did you get it painted or buy a re pop tank set?
Glad you changed the rear rim, I’ve never understood the rear rim thing unless it’s a dragster.

[Stev-o]

Beautiful bike, I DO have a long road ahead.
Did you get it painted or buy a re pop tank set?
Glad you changed the rear rim, I’ve never understood the rear rim thing unless it’s a dragster.

Bought the re-pop body kit, the Japanese painters that Doremi uses are flawless!
Also bought the Doremi exhaust, fitment was easy and perfect.

Jeff's company offers these at a very good price but looks like it is out of stock...

https://www.z1enterprises.com/bodywork-z1-painted-1973-brown-orange.html?fits-motorcycle=Kawasaki%2FZ1%2Fall-models%2F1973

https://www.z1enterprises.com/z1-kz900-replica-4-4-exhaust-system.html?fits-motorcycle=Kawasaki%2FZ1%2Fall-models%2F1973

Back in the late 70's/early 80's, a lot of guys wanted cruiser bikes with a lowered rear end, hence the popular 16" wheel.   

[MauiK3]

While poking around the headlight I found both turn signal backing plates broken and the turn signal grounds hand twisted to a non stock ground wire that was held together with packing tape and the ground went to one of the brake hose connector block bolts.
Interesting wiring, I’ll need to get all that back to stock, looks like some careful wiring inspection is in order.
My Z1 Enterprises list is growing.
I hope the exhaust systems get back in stock as well as the tanks and side covers, I may need them.

[MauiK3]

I took off the chain guard and found it had been getting rubbed on the inside by the chain, then I noticed the chain is a 630 o ring chain and looks pretty fat.
I don’t imagine it had such a chain back then, I’m going back to plain 630 chain to avoid a repeat, the chain guard is toast.

[Terry in Australia]

Don’t throw the chainguard (or any other OEM parts) away mate, even if you don’t think they’re repairable, whoever you eventually sell it to will thank you for it. Repop parts like Steve and I use on our Z1B’s are fine for Z1B’s, not so much for a 1972 “Holy Grail” Z1.

[MauiK3]

I’m really struggling to use as much of what looks original as I can, I’m finding a lot of less than desirable work so it forces me to make some changes. It will never be all original again since the PO was already there and didn’t save the old stuff in a lot of cases.
I’ll do the best I can..Terry, I’m sending a PM to you.

[Kelly E]

We just sold our 75' Z1-B to a collector for really good money. It took 10 minutes. The parts bill was going to be bigger than we wanted to spend. We still have to go through the 80' GS1100E which in my opinion is a much better riding bike. I am still waiting for my uncle's 78' KZ1000 LTD which is a family bike and is a keeper. we don't have room for 11 bikes but we'll make space for the KZ1000 somehow.

[Terry in Australia]

Ha ha, I’ve just bought bike #28, a CB750A, and #29 (Kawasaki KZ750 twin) is gonna arrive any day now, so I hear you, but with the way prices are going I’m prepared to trip over them for another 3.6 years, because once I turn 65 all but 4 or 5, plus all my parts hoard will be sold off to help fund my retirement.

I’ve currently got the 20 bikes that are insured covered for around $200K (150K USD) and that’s what I’m aiming to get when I sell them all off in the first year or so, of my retirement. It’s incredible to think that I once bought a shiny new CB750 for $1700 or a minty 10 year old Z900 for $1600!

[ekpent]

We just sold our 75' Z1-B to a collector for really good money. It took 10 minutes. The parts bill was going to be bigger than we wanted to spend. We still have to go through the 80' GS1100E which in my opinion is a much better riding bike. I am still waiting for my uncle's 78' KZ1000 LTD which is a family bike and is a keeper. we don't have room for 11 bikes but we'll make space for the KZ1000 somehow.

Is it going back to Japan ? Lots are eventually headed that way when they hit the market or get in the hands of flippers..

[Kelly E]

We just sold our 75' Z1-B to a collector for really good money. It took 10 minutes. The parts bill was going to be bigger than we wanted to spend. We still have to go through the 80' GS1100E which in my opinion is a much better riding bike. I am still waiting for my uncle's 78' KZ1000 LTD which is a family bike and is a keeper. we don't have room for 11 bikes but we'll make space for the KZ1000 somehow.

Is it going back to Japan ? Lots are eventually headed that way when they hit the market or get in the hands of flippers..

Nope, Indiana. My buddy said that he just wasn't feeling it so I went with his gut feeling and we sold it. It's time to focus more on riding the bikes that we have finished.

[MauiK3]

Terry
funny you should reduce your fleet at 65. I'm 70 and I never thought I'd increase it at this age!! At only 3 bikes its a small fleet but oh well, I just wanted to save another vintage UJM from the scrap heap.