I worked at the Sudbury Ontario Kawasaki dealer in 1973 [Vic Surplus and Marine]. I had the opportunity to take out of the crate and assemble 900 Z1's, 750 H2's and many other cool Kawi's! I loved that job! At the time, I could have bought a new blue 72 H2 for $1200cdn! I still own my purple 1975 H2C "Survivor" that I bought new.
I was fortunate being a kid in the 70s, As my dad had many of the beloved classic bikes, Z1 900, a few Honda 750s, and a first year KZ 1000, and a Z1R, Not all at the same time of course, But he did have the Z1900 and a 750 Honda at the same time, I have such fond memories of him taking me for rides, And fortunately my dad is still living, and he's coherent & ambulatory.
amazing we survived all these years riding those crazy fast bikes...but the roads were safer back then...not as many aggressive A-hole drivers out there on the road like today ..Glad I grew up in the "Golden Age" of motorcycles ,Muscle cars, and Rock + Roll music of the last century..What a great time to be alive (if you didn't get drafted to Vietnam that is!) stupid war...55K guys died for nothing...now its a godam resort area! what a waste....
Bought a Z1 in '75 from original owner and rode the heck out of it for 20 years then gave it to my son. He had it for about 30 years and surprised me by giving it back to me completely restored on Father's Day 2024! I get " bugs in my teeth" every time i ride it. I wish you had given the frame and engine numbers. Mine is 00109 and 00113.
Ride one I own one. ‘75 Z1b. I stumbled on it quite by accident. Wasn’t even looking for a bike. But a friend asked if I had any interest in a bike for sale while out looking at a car. I asked what it was. He said a Kawasaki 900. My ears perked up I told him to finish his lunch we’re going go look at this bike. Sure enough a Z1. It was all there except the exhaust was altered. The seat rotted and the paint scorched from the sun while leaning against a fence for some time. Replaced the tires, chain and sprockets, Re-upholstered the seat and spray the paint. Over the years I touched and clean every part on the bike. It by no means perfect but I’d say 90% there. Best of all I paid $50. Could of got it for less but I insisted on giving her everything I had in my pocket.
I thought this is interesting, comparing old with new. The Big Bad Z1 made 83 HP and 54 TQ to compare a newer bike the Suzuki GSX8r makes 83 HP and 57.5 TQ but 100 lbs. lighter. I remember riding a Z1 back in the early 80's and thought it was a rocket ship.
I've had them all over the years...73-75Z1/74 Z2/76KZ900/77-79KZ1000's/76-82LTD's/78Z1R and Z1r turbo/75-78 RICKMAN Z1's and 1000cc engines/the fabulous MK2 1000cc chain drive and shaft drive/and also had turbocharged Rickman Z1's...I was going 175 mph back in 1977 WAY before the modern sportbikes of today caught up...I also had a mint 1 owner 73 Z1with 4k original miles(owned by a World champion Shelby Cobra driver) which foolishly I traded for a Suzuki RG500 GAMMA 4 cyl. 2-stroke...funny thing is...I can't afford any of these bikes today! Back then they were just bikes...today there all rare collectables Even my Email has 903cc in it...(engine displacement of the Z1) cheers, Mike the Bike!
I owned a ‘73 Z1 back in 1978, if I remember correctly. I foolishly sold it to buy a 1983 Honda V45 Interceptor. Huge mistake, the Interceptor was a lot less fun to ride than my Z1.
@@lancenorton1117 Agree, i own a 1995 GPZ 1100 and i had to change some rubber and plastic parts because theire broken or "crumbled". And this 900 is 20 yrs older.
Can’t argue with your numbers but Difference is a GSX8 twin will put you to sleep. This will put a smile on your face particularly if you are of a certain age.
OK, in my opinion the Z 1 900 from hat time is the most beautyful bike of all time, but opposite to this one here i prefer the complete silver engine and in original green color. But its my own choice. Its great for me that my garage/repair (original Kawasaki dealer and repair) sometimes has one of these legends there for repair and service so i can see these bikes for real. But when i see this 900 here in the vid i think about the factor of time. Less than 200 miles, OK. No restore parts, OK, all original from the time, great. But: Whats about the seat, the plastik, the rubberparts? Its normal that this parts will fade or break even if its not used. Example: You can put a new tyre on your bike, but its unsafe and dangerous to ride that bike/tyres in 20 years, even you never use it in that years. The tyres are demolished. So whats about all these parts on an original bike? All rubber and plastics is 50 yrs old. So its a great bike for a museum but for riding, hm, i dont know. Fun fact: This Z 900 are Top bikers magnet at every gathering, no matter what other bikes are there. In my hometown we have weekly a big gathering with up to 2000 bikes every week but Z 900 are really rare there. Really really rare.
That's a parts bike it's probably NOS parts but not right you say it's 73 but has ribless 72 carbs with a 74 choke leaver and the airbox clamps were never silver has been overdone with the yellow paint dabs rocker cover gasket was black for the factory I have an original 73 Z1 with 11,000 miles on it never riden in the rain and stored well how about you disclose the frame and engine number fake original for sure.
I had a 1980 Z1Classic 1000 with Bosh AFC fuel injection , one year only bike, a neighbor bought it new , it now belongs to my son , sadly it isn't in stock form anymore fuel injection went bad it's now carbureted still runs and gets riden
I still have my mostly original 77-KZ-1000A that has 7k original miles and vin numbers putting it as one of the first 300 produced in 76. Yeah it's a keeper. ua-cam.com/video/KOTtmribSJg/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared
I worked at the Sudbury Ontario Kawasaki dealer in 1973 [Vic Surplus and Marine]. I had the opportunity to take out of the crate and assemble 900 Z1's, 750 H2's and many other cool Kawi's! I loved that job! At the time, I could have bought a new blue 72 H2 for $1200cdn! I still own my purple 1975 H2C "Survivor" that I bought new.
Have a 76 KZ900. Bought in 76 at 26 years old. Showing some age but I will never sell. Puts a smile on me every time I swing my leg over it.
I was fortunate being a kid in the 70s, As my dad had many of the beloved classic bikes, Z1 900, a few Honda 750s, and a first year KZ 1000, and a Z1R, Not all at the same time of course, But he did have the Z1900 and a 750 Honda at the same time, I have such fond memories of him taking me for rides, And fortunately my dad is still living, and he's coherent & ambulatory.
amazing we survived all these years riding those crazy fast bikes...but the roads were safer back then...not as many aggressive A-hole drivers out there on the road like today ..Glad I grew up in the "Golden Age" of motorcycles ,Muscle cars, and Rock + Roll music of the last century..What a great time to be alive (if you didn't get drafted to Vietnam that is!) stupid war...55K guys died for nothing...now its a godam resort area! what a waste....
Bought a Z1 in '75 from original owner and rode the heck out of it for 20 years then gave it to my son. He had it for about 30 years and surprised me by giving it back to me completely restored on Father's Day 2024! I get " bugs in my teeth" every time i ride it. I wish you had given the frame and engine numbers. Mine is 00109 and 00113.
I just ran your numbers, I supplied some parts for your bike - what a GREAT son!
I don't understand how a bike like this can stay in this condition for so many years. Amazing piece of motorcycle history. Very cool story
Awesome!
The bike had an all steel clutch hub that was indestructible and straight cut crankshaft gears.. also indestructible
Great video. Covered all the Z1 history and beauty of this specific bike
Ride one I own one. ‘75 Z1b. I stumbled on it quite by accident. Wasn’t even looking for a bike. But a friend asked if I had any interest in a bike for sale while out looking at a car. I asked what it was. He said a Kawasaki 900. My ears perked up I told him to finish his lunch we’re going go look at this bike. Sure enough a Z1. It was all there except the exhaust was altered. The seat rotted and the paint scorched from the sun while leaning against a fence for some time. Replaced the tires, chain and sprockets, Re-upholstered the seat and spray the paint. Over the years I touched and clean every part on the bike. It by no means perfect but I’d say 90% there. Best of all I paid $50. Could of got it for less but I insisted on giving her everything I had in my pocket.
@@chrismoody1342 sometimes those fifty dollar projects are the best
AWESOME BULLET PROOF ENGINE THAT CAN BE MODIFIED ALOT .
I thought this is interesting, comparing old with new. The Big Bad Z1 made 83 HP and 54 TQ to compare a newer bike the Suzuki GSX8r makes 83 HP and 57.5 TQ but 100 lbs. lighter. I remember riding a Z1 back in the early 80's and thought it was a rocket ship.
Amazing bike, just beautiful!
What a great, and rare find😮😮😮
I've had them all over the years...73-75Z1/74 Z2/76KZ900/77-79KZ1000's/76-82LTD's/78Z1R and Z1r turbo/75-78 RICKMAN Z1's and 1000cc engines/the fabulous MK2 1000cc chain drive and shaft drive/and also had turbocharged Rickman Z1's...I was going 175 mph back in 1977 WAY before the modern sportbikes of today caught up...I also had a mint 1 owner 73 Z1with 4k original miles(owned by a World champion Shelby Cobra driver) which foolishly I traded for a Suzuki RG500 GAMMA 4 cyl. 2-stroke...funny thing is...I can't afford any of these bikes today! Back then they were just bikes...today there all rare collectables Even my Email has 903cc in it...(engine displacement of the Z1) cheers, Mike the Bike!
I owned a ‘73 Z1 back in 1978, if I remember correctly. I foolishly sold it to buy a 1983 Honda V45 Interceptor. Huge mistake, the Interceptor was a lot less fun to ride than my Z1.
We LOVE havin you Jack! Come by anytime!!! Jack X Brady, name a better collab!
Have a 1976 KZ 900 I bought new and still have it.
😮
Carburetors with real brass floats..ah yes the good ole days
We have one and they didn’t come with a blacked out engine. You interviewed us at Laconia New Hampshire last year.
I think it is a shame to have low mileage bikes. I’ve got a Z1B, ridden not hidden!
I owned 2 Kawasaki's Z1000 from the 70's in the Netherlands , still miss them. Both had 4 in 1 Laser exhaust what sounded real sweet.
Approach 100mph and massive front wheel shimmy wobble shake. Should've been illegal to sell this shaker without a warning label.
Never had the high speed wobble on mine but if I pushed it hard in curves it would "wallow". Kinda squirm under me.
I found them a little bit - front wheel heavy.
They were out of balance.
Never noticed a high speed wobble.
Hope he's kept it warm and dry so the rubber is still good
After this many years any rubber is toast. Brittle and likely to break if you move, touch it.
@@lancenorton1117 Agree, i own a 1995 GPZ 1100 and i had to change some rubber and plastic parts because theire broken or "crumbled". And this 900 is 20 yrs older.
@@lancenorton1117 carb boots for sure would be toast
Can’t argue with your numbers but Difference is a GSX8 twin will put you to sleep. This will put a smile on your face particularly if you are of a certain age.
OK, in my opinion the Z 1 900 from hat time is the most beautyful bike of all time, but opposite to this one here i prefer the complete silver engine and in original green color. But its my own choice.
Its great for me that my garage/repair (original Kawasaki dealer and repair) sometimes has one of these legends there for repair and service so i can see these bikes for real.
But when i see this 900 here in the vid i think about the factor of time.
Less than 200 miles, OK. No restore parts, OK, all original from the time, great.
But: Whats about the seat, the plastik, the rubberparts? Its normal that this parts will fade or break even if its not used. Example: You can put a new tyre on your bike, but its unsafe and dangerous to ride that bike/tyres in 20 years, even you never use it in that years. The tyres are demolished.
So whats about all these parts on an original bike? All rubber and plastics is 50 yrs old. So its a great bike for a museum but for riding, hm, i dont know.
Fun fact: This Z 900 are Top bikers magnet at every gathering, no matter what other bikes are there.
In my hometown we have weekly a big gathering with up to 2000 bikes every week but Z 900 are really rare there. Really really rare.
Green cam cover gasket ? Surely black?
That's a parts bike it's probably NOS parts but not right you say it's 73 but has ribless 72 carbs with a 74 choke leaver and the airbox clamps were never silver has been overdone with the yellow paint dabs rocker cover gasket was black for the factory I have an original 73 Z1 with 11,000 miles on it never riden in the rain and stored well how about you disclose the frame and engine number fake original for sure.
My 75 H2C low mile survivor that I bought new also has those yellow paint dabs on some bolts.
Between this and the Purple 750 triple 👍
And it has incorrect footrest rubbers also, nice bike but I would say restored, probably making it out to be original before it goes to Mecum….
Good spot the footrest rubber is Mk11 1000 also the exhaust is stamped 76 Z900 A4 pipes Z1 had no stamping
@@pauldarderi3560 yes I thought that too
I had a 1980 Z1Classic 1000 with Bosh AFC fuel injection , one year only bike, a neighbor bought it new , it now belongs to my son , sadly it isn't in stock form anymore fuel injection went bad it's now carbureted still runs and gets riden
That's a $50k bike but I doubt he'd sell it
I sold one for $200 20 years ago 😢
Not to me, so you will come to bikers hell after death...
I still have my mostly original 77-KZ-1000A that has 7k original miles and vin numbers putting it as one of the first 300 produced in 76. Yeah it's a keeper.
ua-cam.com/video/KOTtmribSJg/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared
My 75 street bike around 79-80 - ua-cam.com/video/BBLEa2wcjUk/v-deo.html
Those things were rocket ships back in the day. I saw the tail lights of many of them lol.
What a Gem! 💎
Check out the Nov/2024 AMA Magazine article. Frame 00109/Engine 00113