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
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
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.
Today's work:
Ran the engine to get this small clip.
http://s77.photobucket.com/user/mj_skinner83/media...
Then had it stripped in time for lunch and dropped off at powder coaters.
Unfortunately the exhaust is needing replaced.
Ran the engine to get this small clip.
http://s77.photobucket.com/user/mj_skinner83/media...
Then had it stripped in time for lunch and dropped off at powder coaters.
Unfortunately the exhaust is needing replaced.
Just a small update. Been waiting 6 weeks now for the chroming to come back, and still waiting so that has held it up somewhat. Got the loom fixed and re-wrapped, and done a lot of zinc plating of fixings. It doesn't seem like much but the zinc plating and alloy polishing takes an age.
evil len said:
Looking good chap. Yeah, polishing is a ballache isn't it ... don't you find you're absolutely black afterwards ?
All the black crap up my nose is the worst part. I keep forgetting to wear a mask. Pretty new at polishing so learning as i go. Finding that working my way through wet and dry paper from 600 up to 1400 then course compound on a sisal wheel up to "super shine" on the loose flappy wheel works ok, but its still not perfect. Think i might be using too much compound as i end up with stuck on residue that then needs scrubbed off. A bit more last night. Taken the clutch cover and front sprocket cover off to start polishing, then i painted the engine case in alumimium paint. Looks ok so far but will be nicer once it is built back up as its a bit bright just now. Kawasaki left these areas bare alloy but the finish was too far gone to make it look fresh without paint.
Got all my chrome back and built the wheels back up. Then taken the wheels to a bike shop to be "trued". This is where i made a stupid mistake and didnt take not of the dish before i cut out the hubs. So they are going on centre then measured then adjusted again. Feel like a prize plum.
Biker's Nemesis said:
swear by ACF50 for protecting polished and plated parts. It can be sprayed on everything apart from tyres and disc's.
Cost is about £18 for a 750ml can which will do your bike a dozen times at least.
Is it invisible once it dries? I take it I wouldn't be able to wax/polish over the top?Cost is about £18 for a 750ml can which will do your bike a dozen times at least.
Surely this isn't right:
https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/family/kawasaki_z200
4 on the road and 21 SORN'd.
https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/family/kawasaki_z200
4 on the road and 21 SORN'd.
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