Z1 900 engine rebuild - First Start - Episode 8 

Allen Millyard is like the Bob Ross of motorcycles. So calm and skilled while explaining it well.

Forget blueprinting, Millyarding is a whole other level! So happy I was there to see these iconic Z1s when they were first released. Such a beautiful machine, from any angle. The plastic fantastic, preying mantis bikes of today are not my cup of tea....

Fantastic! That bike looks so clean it could have just come from the factory.

Looks like the Z900 never left the showroom floor🏆Amazing work Al

I still can remember the day my local Kawasaki dealer got their first 900, the 'orangeish' colored bike. We're talking a tiny dealership. They pulled it out of their 'maintenance area', put it on the center stand and there, amongst all the triples and single cylinder two strokes, they fired it up. The floor shook with the energy the bike was producing. The stock exhaust system sounded superb, just superb. Quite the motorcycle. Thanks for bringing those memories alive again, Allen.

These videos, like the finished Z1, are absolute works of art! Fantastic from start to finish. A big thank-you to you and your lovely lady!

That has to be the best Z1 in existence. Full stop. Well done Allen and a very Merry Christmas to all!

I managed two Kawasaki retail branches in 1972 and I had a Z1 in 1973. Listening to Allan ride his one brought back a vivid flood of memories, just as, hearing a much-loved song "of the day" does. I had forgotten what mine sounded like. Thank you Allen for the memory.

Hedgehogs 🦔 are such lovely little creatures, glad you two are looking after them.

Watch this later. Busy cooking! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

I think Charlie was right pleased with the way that needle valve was handled. Just perfect.

The Z1 is just such a beautiful bike. It’s one of those you could just sit and look at for hours, lovely and even better with the Millyard touch!!

Another remarkable restoration. Arise Sir Allen Millyard into the annals of motordom!

Great work Alan. I enjoyed your journey rebuilding the engine. Wish yourself and Tracy Happy Christmas best wishes for 2024.

We have hedgehogs visit to eat food we leave out for them. They don't mess where the food bowls are; they run up to the other end of the outside veranda and do their business in the Italian shower we have installed there1

You must be slipping mate? No extra cylinder banks tucked away somewhere? No gigantic pistons and cylinders? Are you ok? Not sick or anything haha Greetings from Australia. Merry Christmas

Remember uncrating these when new, drove many of them for the first time.

Mr. Millyard's videos are infinitely satisfying to watch.

One of the best rated bikes back in the days, my kind of ride.

Brilliant! Christmas just got a little bit better!

Merry Christmas, Allen! Thank you for all of your wonderful videos!

Christmas just got better 🎉

Cant wait to get my Z1A -74 back on the road. This series will really help me on the way there.👍 Happy Xmas everyone.🎁🎄

Beautiful bike.

It looks better and sounds better than new, all credit to you

It makes me cry to watch this. Such a beautiful restoration, inside and out. I cry because I had one of these from 1978-1985 and I MISS IT.

Merry Christmas to everyone ❤.. Looking forward to watching this

Nice one Allen, the perfect Christmas present for us all ! Thank you as always.

Always wonderful to hear a bike with proper mufflers!

My older brother bought one of these new when I was 17. I took it out for a quick run and the power really scared me. This build has brought back memories. Thank you Allen and Merry Christmas to you and Tracy. Watching those cakes being made had me scrounging the kitchen for a tea and biscuit.

This is my dream bike. I have always wanted one. 😎👍

Wow. Just listening to this engine on start up shows the difference between Mr. Millyard and regular folks. She runs JUST PERFECT😊

This bike not only sounds great but looks a work of art another masterpiece Allan 😊

When I bought mine 41 years ago there were head shakers making awful predictions about my ability to handle it. I still ride it today 40,000k on the clock 😊❤

I could smell that cake baking from California. Merry Xmas.

Best wishes for 2024 Allen. Dean .

Not To Sound Too Dramatic But You Are THE K-Master! I've Seen Your Other Videos Where You Saw Them In Half! My Wife Enjoyed The Segment Of Your Wife's Baking Expertise. Thank You.

The Z1 has a very unique sounding exhaust note. Music to the ears.

That Sir has turned out wonderfully. Bikes of that era are so much better visually than most modern bikes. Bet the Christmas cake was just as good 🎅👍

Beautiful bike, beautiful people, AND a kick-start hedgehog - Here's to all of them making the UK New Year Honors list! : )x

Now this is a welcome distraction 😉

Allen's videos has everything motorcycles wildlife and cooking 🤗

I said it before allen, but I am going to say it again the shots of the chrome pipes from the front .....stunning, merry Christmas.

Love these Zeds. Merry Christmas guys! ✨🌟✨ 🥂

Thanks for all your videos. Have a merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas Allen to you and yours. Thank you for posting this, today, as your channel is the only one worth watching on Christmas day.

So much more work goes into these restoration than seen here,awesome work

Brilliant, Christmas Day with a new video from Allen 🎉🎉. Merry Christmas Allen, all the best for you and your family.

Brilliant, Allen, what a beautiful example of workmanship. Hope they use it in the trade schools. Loved the cake too!

wow that is so clean nice job. keep up the gr8 work

Wonderful Allen - So enjoyable to watch (and learn!).

Went to tool shops for JIS screwdrivers, sales staff just gave me a dumb look.

Thanks for the surprise on Christmas day . Enjoy your day also .🌲🌲🦔🦔🧁🧁

Best Christmas present ever seeing a new Allen Millyard video. Engine looks and sounds brilliant.

Youre amazing Allen. People who know me think I know alot about motorcycles. I always say I know of this guy that really does... His name is Allen Millyard. May I offer one unsolicited bit of advice? Ok. Place a small cotter pin through the rubber nipples of the side covers on any Z bike. This thwarts any chance of them flipping off at speed. They will do that as they catch air easily.

It’s late afternoon on Christmas day, all the kids and grandkids are gone, the house Is quiet again. Time to watch Mr. Millyard. Aaaaaa happiness in my little place in the world.

Waves of nostalgia for me. I rode and raced a very tatty Z1 in the seventies. Usually first arriving at the first corner then dropping back because it didn't want to go round any corners, especially high speed ones which could be terrifying. I did do a bit of tuning but without any of your skill or patience! I doubt that you will want to ride this beauty in the rain, but if you do be prepared for a front brake which doesn't like water - but I'm sure you know that already.

Beautiful bike ❤

Allen Millyard is prof if you want to get ahead in life there is nothing better than good old fashioned hard work.

A fresh Millyard video. A Christmas miracle!❤

Perfect job. Well down and merry Christmas🧑‍🎄🇨🇵

Merry Christmas Alan, wow what a restoration that bike looks like it’s just rolled out of the factory and that Avo 8 reminds me of my electronic apprentice days at Ferranti in the 70’s.

Great job ! The 900 looks like it just came out of the showroom........even shinier ! The sound of the 900/1000 starter and engine firing up, is unique in the motorcycle world. For me, this is what a motorcycle should be. Love the underside view of the passing asphalt and the exhaust pipes working their butts off to keep the engine breathing ! Trinidad & Tobago. West Indies.

You do very nice work, and put together looks beautiful.

Always love your simple, informative and no-nonsense approach to motorcycling. Riding that beautuful Z900 was simply 'the icing on the cake' (if you excuse the pun😂). I wish you, your wife and family a very Happy Christmas and New Year and look forward your next uploads in '24. Take care for now.

Looks better than new. Fantastic job.

Hi dude always happy to see your videos never a dull moment engineering / cooking & finish off with a bit of garden watching. Top show , I have a machine shop & hedgehogs visiting keep the videos coming dude.

That's a thing of engineering beauty Allen - such a lovely job.

Another just perfect video series, well done. Best wishes for 2024 to you and Tracey. Looking forward to seeing the next video.

Another stunning piece of work Alan ,loving the hedgehogs top work on both

Beautiful bike. I love kawasaki from this period. Merry Christmas 🎅 🎄 🎁

She's just perfect!

Beautiful work and a wonderful motorcycle, what a machine, they don't make jewelry like that anymore. Merry Christmas mate.

Breath and relax watching Allen Millyard. It's a piece of art every time

Wonderful job Allen. Happy Baking and Building.

I was well pleased to find this video on Christmas day! Excellent in every way. I really enjoy the "accessories" - Tracy's baking, the hedgehogs, Charley Weaver's bar.

Happy Christmas Allen

The motorcycle was great fun to watch, but darn, I would surely like a piece of that cake.

An Allen Millyard Z1 and a Tracey Christmas cake, surely a video from heaven.

This marvellous series has shown close up what an tremendous 'bike the Kawasaki Z1 was for its time. A 'bike we British would have been proud to have produced ourselves.

That's got to be the cleanest, nicest bike I've ever seen. Amazing work

Better than the Day She left the Factory, good job Allen. Merry Christmas to yourself & Tracy.

All ways enjoy your videos,keep them coming 👍

What a fantastic looking and sounding bike.

Revs so quickly and sounds fantastic!

one of the many things i love about an Allen Millyard video .. he almost never uses power tools , very soothing

I’d give up my Christmas pudding to watch Alan’s rebuilds. Simply enthralling and the hedgehog finished things off to perfection. Encore Alan.

Thanks Allen, I loved this series.

Just beautiful Allen, what a joy to watch your video on Xmas Morning. Seasons greetings to you 😀

I know how Charlie Weaver feels as he and I are the same age. Happy New Year to you all, keep sampling those cakes and thanks for the videos.

Beautiful machine that Allen - this restoration as always is a credit to your skills!

thank you so much for creating these videos and sharing your work! that bike is immaculate I'd love to see another custom engine build on a gasser, on the off chance you were looking for ideas 😀 thank you Mr. Millyard!

Love the way the pumps turn into boots then back into pumps and the now you see it, now you don't rucksack makes a guest appearance every now and then. Fantastic videos and reminds me of all the many fun hours I've had working on bikes. Great to see how basic and easy the old Z1 was to work on, much like any engine of that era. I've lost count of how many engines I've rebuilt but the joy of that first test ride never diminishes. 50 years is a lot of motors. Thanks Allen.

Merry Christmas, Allen Master job!

You are an expert! I certainly wish you were here in Indianapolis to help me fix up this old H-1 500!

I owned one.....a 73 Z1 900. Different colour tank(tomato orange) and engine(matte black) but identical. Purchased it in 78 and sold it in 1983. I put a Gerex electronic ignition in it and Koni shocks. It was fast but very stable. My wife said to me," Blair....you should hold on to it". I thought I'd be the responsible new husband and sell it. I wish I had listened to her. Too bad the comments section doesn't allow for pictures to be posted. I enjoyed your engine rebuild clips Mr. Millyard. Mr. Phillips Canada Retired

Great to see that lovely bike up and running,thankyou for the videos as always,Merry Christmas to you,Tracy,Charley Weaver and the hedgehogs.Enjoy the cake,it will be just perfect!! Kimbo

Beautiful bike exactly the same as my own i only wish i hadn't sold it when the children came along but i had no choice we needed a car ,but one day maybe ,thanks for great videoes Allen you ars the man ,cheers.

Anyone else come for the bikes but also really look forward to the Hedgehogs at the end ? 🦔 Brilliant stuff Mr Millyard

It must be nice to have the confidence the re assembled engine will run just as well as it did when it left the factory.