Kawasaki Z200 with a twist.... would you?
Discussion
Got chatting to an old school friend of my fathers about bikes and how him and my old man done the usual stuff back in the day, euro rides, amateur racing....
Anyways, this friend has had a stroke and has gradually sold off what bikes he had to keep afloat, and all he has left is a grubby Z200 which i was welcome to for free. Initially i wasn't bothered but then he mentioned it was my grandfathers and this made me smile. I only remember my grandfather being this careful slow character that sucked on hard boil sweets by his fireplace. I just couldn't imagine him being a biker.
So would you take on a project bike just because it used to belong to your family 40 years ago?
This is how it should look if i were to take it on and restore it:
Anyways, this friend has had a stroke and has gradually sold off what bikes he had to keep afloat, and all he has left is a grubby Z200 which i was welcome to for free. Initially i wasn't bothered but then he mentioned it was my grandfathers and this made me smile. I only remember my grandfather being this careful slow character that sucked on hard boil sweets by his fireplace. I just couldn't imagine him being a biker.
So would you take on a project bike just because it used to belong to your family 40 years ago?
This is how it should look if i were to take it on and restore it:
Edited by BuzzBravado on Monday 23 November 11:29
BuzzBravado said:
So would you take on a project bike just because it used to belong to your family 40 years ago?
Maybe, depending on how bad a condition it was in, but don't be fooled into thinking this will have anything but an emotional value. They were never a good bike in their day nor sought out as collectable now.I guess it depends on how much time you have
I'd do it. However much it might mean to you now, it will mean more in the years to come and if you don't, I'd say 10 years from now you'll really regret it.
The passage of time plays funny tricks. On one hand I'm also thinking 'but it's only 40 years old...hardly a classic'. But I'd pay a small fortune to get back my Z900 I bought new in '76, but it's long since dropped off the register.
My Grandfather bought an Arial Model F new in about 1930, and so in '76 (when I had my new Z900) when he was talking about it, it was all about a 40-odd year old bike and my interest at that time in 40-year old bikes was frankly zero. Now, with the passage of time I've been on the lookout for a 1930s Ariel Model F (that needs a bit of work, but at a reasonable price!) for ages. Not his bike of course - long gone - but just one of the same model as I'd value just the 'connection'.
You've got the chance for the actual bike. Even if you don't plan to anything with it now, stick it in a cocoon or something, and then I guarantee in another 30 years or so you've have a hankering to restore it, and then go to the places he went on it etc.
The passage of time plays funny tricks. On one hand I'm also thinking 'but it's only 40 years old...hardly a classic'. But I'd pay a small fortune to get back my Z900 I bought new in '76, but it's long since dropped off the register.
My Grandfather bought an Arial Model F new in about 1930, and so in '76 (when I had my new Z900) when he was talking about it, it was all about a 40-odd year old bike and my interest at that time in 40-year old bikes was frankly zero. Now, with the passage of time I've been on the lookout for a 1930s Ariel Model F (that needs a bit of work, but at a reasonable price!) for ages. Not his bike of course - long gone - but just one of the same model as I'd value just the 'connection'.
You've got the chance for the actual bike. Even if you don't plan to anything with it now, stick it in a cocoon or something, and then I guarantee in another 30 years or so you've have a hankering to restore it, and then go to the places he went on it etc.
I'm under no illusion that it has no financial worth or even an exciting bike, but i do have time, i share a large garage with my dad equipped with blast cabinets, dip tanks and a paint booth, so the biggest cost will be re-chroming and getting perished and worn out parts replaced from USA.
Once it is all done it can sit and just be a nice reminder/ornament. Surprisingly my Dad knew about the bike but never mentioned it because it was "just a s
te old 200".
Once it is all done it can sit and just be a nice reminder/ornament. Surprisingly my Dad knew about the bike but never mentioned it because it was "just a s
te old 200". Edited by BuzzBravado on Friday 21st August 11:06
Absolutely!
I still have a 1976 Honda CB500T sitting in my garage that I sold in 1996 and bought back 5 years ago.
It was st then, it's just as st now, but it means something to me.
I had it started last month for the first time since I bought it back and it still hasn't been on the road.
I'll probably get it finished when I retire...
I still have a 1976 Honda CB500T sitting in my garage that I sold in 1996 and bought back 5 years ago.
It was s
t then, it's just as st now, but it means something to me.I had it started last month for the first time since I bought it back and it still hasn't been on the road.
I'll probably get it finished when I retire...
UPDATE: I have the bike back at my garage and it's in better condition than expected. I even have invoices and an old v5 with my grandads details on it. Looks it's a 1978 bike which my grandad bought in 83, the year I was born. I have no recollection though. All the chrome needs done and I can't get a decent spark out it so that needs done to make.sure it still runs ok.
The previous owner before me changed it to blue to a really good standard and it looks flawless so I'm in two minds about putting it back to black. We will see..... Here are some shots
Next weekend it's getting striped down. As a bonus it came with some new old stock like sprockets and chain.
The previous owner before me changed it to blue to a really good standard and it looks flawless so I'm in two minds about putting it back to black. We will see..... Here are some shots
Next weekend it's getting striped down. As a bonus it came with some new old stock like sprockets and chain.
black-k1 said:
gareth_r said:
If all else fails, Avon still make the SM Mk II in that size (old tread pattern, new compound).
Given what the old compound was like to ride on 
I assume that they've eased back on the cement dust and iron filings ratio in the new one! 
).I had one of these as a stopgap bike - glad you've picked it up. They're fun round town but really benefit from modern rubber. The old tyres run out of grip quickly (but as they're so small you can correct them with the application of boot to floor...)
Glad to see that someone has replaced the crankcase bolts with Allen headed ones - changing the oil filter on mine (which needs a new crankcase gasket btw) necessitated an Impact driver.
Enjoy (especially cornering 'boot out' at maximum attack)!
Cheers,
Tom
Glad to see that someone has replaced the crankcase bolts with Allen headed ones - changing the oil filter on mine (which needs a new crankcase gasket btw) necessitated an Impact driver.
Enjoy (especially cornering 'boot out' at maximum attack)!
Cheers,
Tom
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