Well what do you give a guy with a bad back, knees, Bursitis in both shoulders, and adhesive capsulitis? Yep, now I've got a fcuking cold, or the flu. I didn't get out of bed until 9am, it was so cold outside I just couldn't see the point, but my back was telling me to get up, and so was my bladder, so up I got.
I'd bought a new Pingel fuel tap for the Z1000 drag bike but on closer inspection realised that the black kwak has a later model tank with a (non functional) vacuum operated tap, that leaks, so my new tap isn't a straight fit, I may need to turn up an alloy base for it so I can adapt it to my tank. Just like CB750's, you can buy a new Z1 tank, sidecovers and ducktail painted in OEM colors for a pretty good price from a shop in Japan, so eventually I'll buy my big black girl some new clothes, but for now, until I get the frame sorted, I'll hold off spending big bucks on it.
Anyway, I drained the tank, which had a gallon of Avgas (love that smell) in it, hooked up the fuel line that Craig, the PO had disconnected and plugged on the day I bought it because of the leak, refilled the tank and after only 2 kicks (fcuk it's got some compression, I reckon those Moriwaki pistons must be at least 12:1) it fired right up. Even with the removable baffle it's loud, but what's so impressive is it's willingness to rev, I remember Craig said he had the crank welded, and I'm guessing he had a fair bit of weight taken off and balanced too, it responds to the throttle better than my RC51. I thought about taking it for a blat up the street, but chickened out, and called it good.
My poor old Sporty has been gathering dust in the patio for the last few months. I had a cover over it, but all the neighbourhood cats were using the cover for target practise, and their piss was dribbling onto the chrome rims, so I took the cover off and put it over my old Bolens mower instead, so now the cats happily wee all over the mower instead. I bought a new battery for my Hawg last Christmas and was worried that it might have beeen a bit flat, but no, it spun the engine over nice and fast, and the old girl fired right up.
Apart from only being 50 deg F, it was a bright sunny day, so I bravely braved the cold, and went for a ride. It ran out of fuel while idling in the driveway (I always steal fuel out of it for the mowers, other bikes etc) but I flipped the lever to reserve and rode to the gas station and filled it up, it took a whole 9 litres! I also pumped the tyres up, which really made a difference, both had less than 10 psi, oops......... Anyway, I had a great ride, did the old "Ton" a few times, and didn't get caught, but after an hour or so my left shoulder was killing me, I had to keep dropping my arm to take the pressure off, so I turned for home. I only did just over 60 miles, but it was a nice ride for this time of year. Tomorrow I'll do some more ZZR1100 work.
Sporty Saturday Winter Ride 4 by
terry prendergast, on Flickr
