Investing $1400 on the body set would have been the best investment as it would have increased the value EASY twice that much. However to each their own..... I have several of these bikes so I'm just Old School and like to keep them original. Nice Work Johnny as ALWAYS....!!
My Dad managed a Kawasaki dealership in the 70's and I would help out on the weekends. This was my dream bike as a kid. You guys do awesome work, top notch craftsmen.
Hi mate, enjoy watching all these rebuilds of the kawasaki Z1's, KZ900'S and all those other beauties. Your passion and knowledge of these bikes is masterful. I live in Australia but hopefully in the next year or so i will be visiting the USA with my family. First place i will visit is your workshop in Ohio. Buying a rebuilt Kawasaki Z1 or KZ900 by your masterful hands will be a priority. Keep up the good work. Cheers.
Hey Elie, I'm based in Brisbane and also looking for that "just right" Z1A/Z1B or KZ900....would be happy to exchange some experiences with you if you want to get in touch....let me know by replying here.
I have several of these 70's KZ's and I have Lithium Ion batteries in all of them... Started buying them in 2012 and still every one of them is still good. and no problems with storage.
True! I have left mine sitting for over a year and turn the key, everything lights up and the starter spins like it was parked yesterday. I am absolutely amazed at these little batteries. Mine is a Shorai.
I had a green 1976 model as well. It was a beauty! I triangulated the frame tubes from the neck back by welding in short connecting tubes between the factory three tubes, about 12 inches back from the neck. Love that 4 into 1 header exhaust and the sound is intoxicating. Especially at red line! I eventually bought a new 1988 ZX10 which I still own and recently rebuilt fuel system by overhauling the carbs, new fuel pump, cleaned up the gas tank innards, etc. Runs like a jet but I do wish I had kept the good ol' green 76 KZ900. Beautiful restorations guys!
I have a passion for motorcycles too. Restoring them would be my dream job. I thought about buying and restoring them for resale, but I'd probably have a hard time parting with each and every one.
Fantastic rebuild , love that paint job . I even like all the bikes that are in the background :) especially that Z 650 , rebuild that one please John .
I was so looking forward to the classic green paint job but the work you did on her looks top notch as always. Congrats to Brian for his choice of classic ride and builder. That 4 into 1 is wicked! Ohh let Daddy show off a little bit. LOL
Lost interest in the Z when I saw the old cessna. '56 172 maybe. Or 182. Like flying the old ones cause the panel was lower. Hope you are restoring it too. Love the old Zs, just love old airplanes more.
That's neat. We aren't airplane experts by any means, the plane was part of an estate that I'm helping to liquidate. It was quite a project getting it moved, and we all liked the novelty of having it here at the shop. It recently sold. Here is a video of moving day. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-zZGFzG7Wck0.html
@@Johnnysvintage OMG I can just imagine what the neighbors are saying!! Hey honey look Johnnysvintagemotorcles are now restoring aircraft!!!! I am sure that the aircraft will be outstanding like all of those bikes!! I love your site!
I want this one.then that one.ive sat with a photo since 14 . now 53. A. Z 9oo then you pull a kz 900. then show z1oo Love them all still stuck. Going to get one soon in england
Love watching all your videos Johnny. I've had a couple LTD1000's and a Z1R. I was wondering if you could tell me how much it is to have a frame powder coated. I want to do my 78 GS1000.
Another Great Build, I'm sorry he didn't go with the Green ...but adding another 1500 on, would probably put it over the top in value....It's Beautiful anyway....
Super job! I had that bike in green. Put 100K miles on it my first year and had it up to 120mph down the way to Ensenada. Johnny, is it possible to put '74/'75 carbs on the KZ900 so it performs like the Z-1? I was unhappy to discover I should have purchased a '75/'74 when I took a '75 on the road and noticed even just in the parking lot it was noticeably faster than my KZ900. Thanks!
I personally think for tuning, the KZ900 carburetors are a little better than the Z1 carbs. If you want to make a good running bike out of it, I would suggest 29mm smooth-bore carburetors.
LOL, I beat a '75 Z-1 in a race, pulling ahead in 3rd gear but I assumed I was either lucky or the other rider's bike might need tuning. I was not an accomplished rider so I did not believe it was because I was a 'better' rider. Who knows...
If you say so. I did notice right away that just barely cranking the throttle on a '75 showed the bike was faster than my '76 KZ900. It had a much faster response just from a standing start.
Nice Police 1000 @14:56 - CHP...LAPD...other??? Question for Johnnysvintage; can a 76 KZ900 be mildly backdated to look like a 75 Z1b? I'm guessing the most obvious thing visually is the rear tail section and tail light (rounded vs square)
@@Johnnysvintage my motorcycle has a very bad past owners she works but I want something nice and reliable let me know what you have for sale I have a 3500 4500 budget
We are currently building a 1980 KZ1000 LTD that looks pretty good. Not exactly sure what we'll have into it but I think it would fit your budget. We can send you video if your'e interested
The purpose of reserve is to remind you that you need to fill up, and the reserve will get you there. Sorry Johnny not a good idea, and I'm speaking as a 40+ years of riding. I ride mine almost every day and I am definitely not a weekend warrior.
Always looking to learn from you, super video again. The motor covers; dud you have them rechromed or polished? Can you recommend someone to polish them if that is what you did?
William, we typically do not re-chrome. Especially if it's aluminum because it flakes off. We have the covers and other parts polished. Our polisher does fantastic work but does this as a side job and prefers not to put his name out there. Thanks for your interest!
it's not unusual for these bikes to take $5,000 in parts and $5000 in labor to get them as nice as this. This is ballpark. It all depends on the bike's condition and how far the customer wants to go with it. Our videos sometimes show where you get into surprises once you crack the case open on a bike you may not be familiar with. We see all kinds of things come into the shop. Hope this helps!
I like how you use "nice" so many times, but I think it would be amusing if you substituted these synonyms for nice. cordial ducky fair friendly good kind lovely okay superior swell welcome winning admirable amiable approved attractive becoming charming commendable considerate copacetic courteous decorous delightful favorable fine and dandy genial gentle gracious helpful ingratiating inviting kindly nifty obliging peachy pleasant pleasurable polite prepossessing seemly simpatico unpresumptuous well-mannered winsome
Paint really needs to be done. Its not attractive and plus it’s in really bad shape. Coulda been nice but its kinda a flop with the paint job and that exhaust
