i have very fond memories of these bikes i owned a Z1b in the 70s, the second one sold in Leeds. still think they are the most beautiful bikes ever made. when they first came out nobody had seen anything like them. i had a fantastic time in the hot summer of 76 riding the B roads of Yorkshire and Lancashire
Hi Chris this brought back memories, I bought my zib in the summer of 1975 and loved it. it was my third bike and went from cb350 to zib and was amazed at the power of that engine. Unfortunately I came of it on a straight road at 120 mph and sold it thereafter. I still miss it. Thks
Great video Chris. In 76 a mate turned up on a new Z1. I was on a 70 Lightning. Amazing bike, I later got a 84 GPz 750. Love my British bikes but the Z1 was a real game changer
Had a double damping kit in the forks, reversed front calipers and S&W rear shocks on my Z900. Was about to get uprated fork springs when the bike was written off. I still have the displaced kneecap and slight limp, 45 years on. Bought back the bike from the insurers and had a Rickman CR in black and gold built. It's still going around Llanelli somewhere. Been riding a Suzuki SV1000 naked since 2005 and am 66 now, so it'll probably see me out, barring accidents !
Airbox, different battery box, different side panels/mounting, different tank and wider flatter tail piece, ‘ square ‘ tail light. 5 speed gearbox, not 6. There were loads of mods! I agree about the frame.
This is my dream bike. But as a 20 year old starting off, it may be a while before i can buy one in cold hard cash. Dammit, If only I had 8 grand to blow. Times have changed, its hard to believe that you could buy entire vehicles and motorcycles for a few thousand. Its absurd!
You said the z900 had 6 gears which it never had in the USA,the 900’s in the USA all had 5 speeds & that’s it,maybe the Uk Z1 & kz 900’s had a 6speed? Btw,I’ve been buying/selling riding wrenching & restoring (not as a biz but as a hard core Kawi enthusiast) Kawi triples & big four’s for over 51yrs & know exactly how you feel about owning,wrenching & riding these bikes. I had 2 76 kz900’s (1 new) & 2 kz1000’s one being a new std 77 model & other being a used 78 Ltd I currently have & ride today pushing 68yrs young! I still have 2 74 h1 500 triples 1 of which (candy red) is currently on the road running well & the other candy green that was also on the road & running well thats currently apart for mostly a cosmetic restoration. I also have a 2018 Vulcan 900 classic LT me & the wife cruise around on in the countryside far away from the pia dangerous traffic here in upstate NY. Happy Motoring! Scott from Ny!
So Chris I enjoyed this vid on two counts. I’ve recently moved to Tideswell from London so starting to settle into Peak District riding…second I’m about to invest in a 75 Z1B…adding to my Ducati Scrambler. Where are your fav rides/cafes in the Peaks? Do you know if there’s a Z1 Rider Group in the area? Cheers
Welcome to Derbyshire! Love Tideswell! My favourite cafés include: Eyam tea rooms, Yonderman's café (big biker place), the Old Smithy café in Monyash (biker place), Tagg Lane Dairy café, and Wetton Mill tea rooms (biker place but not open all year), also Monsal Head café is good, but can be touristy. I tend to stick to the back roads and tootle round, with the odd blast down an A road. When I first moved here I simply turned down lanes to see where they went - good fun and always the occasional diamond to be found. Good luck and hopefully we'll meet up sometime on the Zs, maybe next year?
Rocket3 or z1b I had both, fell of the Kawasaki trying to ride it like my rocket3. The z1 was a great bike but I could use the Rocket 3 a 100 percent and still feel safe. Had an interesting experience hammering down the autobahn in 76, went into a tank slapper at over 100 mph and it wove across all 4 lanes; the engine was too powerful for the frame. The Honda cb900 1980 version, was faster and handled much better, than the Z1, but the cam chain sawed through the crankcases, since then I have had about 30 bikes looking for the perfect bike ( in my eyes at least ) life would have been a lot easier and cheaper if I had kept the Rocket3. ps I now have the perfect bike a Rocket3 50 years latter.
Yes, indeed. The Z was so far ahead of its time that it has a 'brake light failure warning light'. When you apply either brake the warning light comes on with the brake light itself. If the brake light fails then the warning light comes on and stays on permanently. 👍👍👍
just bought one fantastic video 👍
i have very fond memories of these bikes i owned a Z1b in the 70s, the second one sold in Leeds. still think they are the most beautiful bikes ever made. when they first came out nobody had seen anything like them. i had a fantastic time in the hot summer of 76 riding the B roads of Yorkshire and Lancashire
Stunning bike ..was a pleasure to watch this vid.Had one when I was 18 and wish I still had it.
Hi Chris this brought back memories, I bought my zib in the summer of 1975 and loved it. it was my third bike and went from cb350 to zib and was amazed at the power of that engine. Unfortunately I came of it on a straight road at 120 mph and sold it thereafter. I still miss it. Thks
Great video Chris. In 76 a mate turned up on a new Z1. I was on a 70 Lightning. Amazing bike, I later got a 84 GPz 750. Love my British bikes but the Z1 was a real game changer
Had a double damping kit in the forks, reversed front calipers and S&W rear shocks on my Z900. Was about to get uprated fork springs when the bike was written off. I still have the displaced kneecap and slight limp, 45 years on. Bought back the bike from the insurers and had a Rickman CR in black and gold built. It's still going around Llanelli somewhere. Been riding a Suzuki SV1000 naked since 2005 and am 66 now, so it'll probably see me out, barring accidents !
Wow! Ride on! Ride safe!
@@Chris.rooke150 Thank you, you too.
My brother bought a brand new Z900 here in Australia( the brown job), and it came from the showroom floor with the twin disc front end.
Thanks, Sean, I think they supplied them with twin discs as standard to everywhere apart from America. 👍
Airbox, different battery box, different side panels/mounting, different tank and wider flatter tail piece, ‘ square ‘ tail light. 5 speed gearbox, not 6. There were loads of mods! I agree about the frame.
This is my dream bike. But as a 20 year old starting off, it may be a while before i can buy one in cold hard cash. Dammit, If only I had 8 grand to blow. Times have changed, its hard to believe that you could buy entire vehicles and motorcycles for a few thousand. Its absurd!
6 speed gearbox, that must’ve been a special? My Z1 only has 5 gears. 🙁
Oh, no! Is that what I said? A bit of a senior moment there, I'm afraid... 😒😒😒
You said the z900 had 6 gears which it never had in the USA,the 900’s in the USA all had 5 speeds & that’s it,maybe the Uk Z1 & kz 900’s had a 6speed?
Btw,I’ve been buying/selling riding wrenching & restoring (not as a biz but as a hard core Kawi enthusiast) Kawi triples & big four’s for over 51yrs & know exactly how you feel about owning,wrenching & riding these bikes.
I had 2 76 kz900’s (1 new) & 2 kz1000’s one being a new std 77 model & other being a used 78 Ltd I currently have & ride today pushing 68yrs young!
I still have 2 74 h1 500 triples 1 of which (candy red) is currently on the road running well & the other candy green that was also on the road & running well thats currently apart for mostly a cosmetic restoration.
I also have a 2018 Vulcan 900 classic LT me & the wife cruise around on in the countryside far away from the pia dangerous traffic here in upstate NY.
Happy Motoring!
Scott from Ny!
That all sounds great! As for the 6 speed gearbox reference, I've already 'fessed up to that one - a slip of the tongue. They were all 5 speed. 😁😒
So Chris I enjoyed this vid on two counts. I’ve recently moved to Tideswell from London so starting to settle into Peak District riding…second I’m about to invest in a 75 Z1B…adding to my Ducati Scrambler. Where are your fav rides/cafes in the Peaks? Do you know if there’s a Z1 Rider Group in the area? Cheers
Welcome to Derbyshire! Love Tideswell! My favourite cafés include: Eyam tea rooms, Yonderman's café (big biker place), the Old Smithy café in Monyash (biker place), Tagg Lane Dairy café, and Wetton Mill tea rooms (biker place but not open all year), also Monsal Head café is good, but can be touristy. I tend to stick to the back roads and tootle round, with the odd blast down an A road. When I first moved here I simply turned down lanes to see where they went - good fun and always the occasional diamond to be found. Good luck and hopefully we'll meet up sometime on the Zs, maybe next year?
@@Chris.rooke150 monyash this morning…with my Ducati…75 Z1 due in a few weeks!
Great stuff! I'm out in the convertible today with my better half at The Roundhouse in Hathersage. A good café for some posh nosh. 👍
Rocket3 or z1b I had both, fell of the Kawasaki trying to ride it like my rocket3. The z1 was a great bike but I could use the Rocket 3 a 100 percent and still feel safe. Had an interesting experience hammering down the autobahn in 76, went into a tank slapper at over 100 mph and it wove across all 4 lanes; the engine was too powerful for the frame. The Honda cb900 1980 version, was faster and handled much better, than the Z1, but the cam chain sawed through the crankcases, since then I have had about 30 bikes looking for the perfect bike ( in my eyes at least ) life would have been a lot easier and cheaper if I had kept the Rocket3. ps I now have the perfect bike a Rocket3 50 years latter.
Was there a red light on the dash??
Yes, indeed. The Z was so far ahead of its time that it has a 'brake light failure warning light'. When you apply either brake the warning light comes on with the brake light itself. If the brake light fails then the warning light comes on and stays on permanently. 👍👍👍