73 kaw z1 $50k

The "more money than brains" club that Jay Leno purports to belong to must have been out in force that day. My riding partner was offered and turned down $7K for his '76 KZ 900, which I shamed him in to pulling out of his garage long enough for me to paint it and get it running.
73 kaw z1 $50k
 
Mechanicals only, no trailer/garage queens in my life, (for now)
73 kaw z1 $50k
 
I rode a Z1 Kawasaki, It was quick and to me, it felt like a 350cc British bike. My brother raced H1 and H2 Kawasakis in sidecars on speedway using methanol. The H1 was fast enough to win all races. The H2 was just insanely dangerous. Getting the jetting right in the two-strokes was extremely difficult and could become very expensive.
 
The Kwaka 9 was the first really clever Japanese big bike.
The Honda, despite claims of its technical superiority over its British and Continental rivals, had a major flaw.
At least our primary chains are (relatively) easy to change.
Honda put their primary chain (Hyvo toothed type) between cylinders 2 & 3, meaning the entire engine needs to be disassembled to change a primary chain. Really, Mr Honda?
Now you know why so many of those SOHC Hondas have that familiar "chunka-chunka-chunka" at idle. Someone's trying to avoid the chain change-out.
The Kwaka was the first to have the transfer of power from the crank to the gearbox via gears - problem fixed. Suzuki, Yamaha and eventually Honda followed suit.
Hats off to Kawasaki!
 
The Kwaka 9 was the first really clever Japanese big bike.
The Honda, despite claims of its technical superiority over its British and Continental rivals, had a major flaw.
At least our primary chains are (relatively) easy to change.
Honda put their primary chain (Hyvo toothed type) between cylinders 2 & 3, meaning the entire engine needs to be disassembled to change a primary chain. Really, Mr Honda?
Now you know why so many of those SOHC Hondas have that familiar "chunka-chunka-chunka" at idle. Someone's trying to avoid the chain change-out.
The Kwaka was the first to have the transfer of power from the crank to the gearbox via gears - problem fixed. Suzuki, Yamaha and eventually Honda followed suit.
Hats off to Kawasaki!
My XS1100 went chunka chunka after 30,000 miles.
Then I ripped it apart, took the opportunity to install a 1196cc big bore kit, balanced by Lindskog, and Yoshimura cams.
 
Sold mine for $15K a couple of years ago and thought I did well. Who knew….
73 kaw z1 $50k
 
A friend bought a 1974 Z1a recently, I think he paid ~ÂŁ17000 for it. Which is at the 'cheaper' end of the price range, other sellers were asking upwards of ÂŁ20000.
 
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