hi there guys

dandit1200 said:

Did u have to upgrade the front springs .I was 18 stone when I rode my mates it used to bottom out under heavy brakeing NOT AS BAD AS A STANDARD BANDIT MIGHT I AD .an no I wasnt a round bloke I was power lifting at the time and got stupidly big pmsl now im back to 14 stone due to bad health thats all sorted now mind. But yh I had to change all the internals to keep my standard forks .mod for the future is bking forks

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No, just a heavier fork oil. Lots of people upgrade the springs, but most of them don't weigh 11 stone like I do! A previous owner changed the shocks to the Ohlins from the SP model. Other bikes handle better. Other bikes are less fun!

wattfield said:

Not too much - I've changed the intakes to FJ ones, Beowulf cans, and a Predator stainless tubular collector box. All of those bits restrict power. Or at least, they did!

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Have you sent it to rolling road makes one hell of a difference for £100 healuya peaise the lord that is gospel

Now I'm pining for my bike. I haven't been able to ride it over the last couple of years due to hand surgery (courtesy of a Talbot Horizon driver in 1986!). MOT this month, Honda clutch master cylinder (lightens the clutch) and this year.....

wattfield said:

No, just a heavier fork oil. Lots of people upgrade the springs, but most of them don't weigh 11 stone like I do! A previous owner changed the shocks to the Ohlins from the SP model. Other bikes handle better. Other bikes are less fun!

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The poor bandit gets ridden hard at times holding her own against new ltr sports bikes make interesting coversation at the cafes when I pull in lol .but yh the standard bandit suffered a hell of alot under heavy brakimg to the point the supension would bottom out wack the yoke and you would have a nasty shock wave up your rists .thanks to superbike surgeon jim and jules at dmc they sorted my issues very quickly .best motorcycle mechanics alive . (My own verdict and all there customers .

This was my last baby. 30 year old Z750 with a few mods. I squished it (and nearly myself) on the A68 September before last, absolutely gutted. Had spent the day before polishing and cleaning ready for a run up to North of Scotland and had just spent a fair few quid on replacing a substantial amount of wiring loom and a replacement starter clutch. Haven't found anything I want to replace her with yet sadly. Miss it.

wattfield said:

Now I'm pining for my bike. I haven't been able to ride it over the last couple of years due to hand surgery (courtesy of a Talbot Horizon driver in 1986!). MOT this month, Honda clutch master cylinder (lightens the clutch) and this year.....

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Fair play to u least you never sold her or gave up its in our blood its like a desiese or an addiction that we have to sustain I hope all went well with your op and your eist is getting better ....an in 1986 I think I was 3 lol

Nice just to be clear that was a zepher ??? An not nice on the accident I know everybody says it at least your ok your alive it could of been worse but WHERES MY BIKE ...........Sorry had to say that if some thiefimg toe rag nikcked my bike burnt it out an dumped at the bottom of a river ......I would still rebuild it its mine an I want to keep it lol I love old skool suzukis or anythimg air cooled they have so much character. Good luck bike hunting I know it can be a nightmare ..do what I did when I crashed my 600 go test ride some new ones for free soon gets the thought process working agian

Nope, it's a 30 year old Kwaka Z750, not the Kwak Zephyr. The old Zeds at that age were built like flying bricks with a blockier tank etc., as originals. That's a Z650 tank, tailpiece and side panels on it to give it more fluid lines, Kuoni shocks, 4 into 1 etc. Kind of midnight black paint job with a slight metallic hint.

Luvverly it was, but totalled unfortunately, no chance of a rebuild. But yeah, you're right, should probably do some test rides, just don't want a 'new' bike, Prefer the old stuff that's easier to work on. Although a lot heavier I loved the balance and handling of my Z, just suited me.

RogueTrooper said:

Nope, it's a 30 year old Kwaka Z750, not the Kwak Zephyr. The old Zeds at that age were built like flying bricks with a blockier tank etc., as originals. That's a Z650 tank, tailpiece and side panels on it to give it more fluid lines, Kuoni shocks, 4 into 1 etc. Kind of midnight black paint job with a slight metallic hint.

Luvverly it was. But yeah, you're right, should probably do some test rides, just don't want a 'new' bike, Prefer the old stuff that's easier to work on. Although a lot heavier I loved the balance and handling of my Z, just suited me.

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What about an XJR, Bandit, GSX1400 or ZRX1200? Like a Zed, but with better brakes & suspension!

RogueTrooper said:

Nope, it's a 30 year old Kwaka Z750, not the Kwak Zephyr. The old Zeds at that age were built like flying
bricks with a blockier tank etc., as originals. That's a Z650 tank, tailpiece and side panels on it to give it more fluid lines, Kuoni shocks, 4 into 1 etc. Kind of midnight black paint job with a slight metallic hint.

Luvverly it was, but totalled unfortunately, no chance of a rebuild. But yeah, you're right, should probably do some test rides, just don't want a 'new' bike, Prefer the old stuff that's easier to work on. Although a lot heavier I loved the balance and handling of my Z, just suited me.

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Absolutely class!!!! Im with ya on the old side carbs are so much easier than plug an play ecu an angle sensors and abs an pussy modes I mean power modes lol real shame about your bike you done a quality job on her .my poor thing is matt black and cow poo.my workshop is on a cattle farm

wattfield said:

What about an XJR, Bandit, GSX1400 or ZRX1200? Like a Zed, but with better brakes & suspension!

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My little submariner brother pay his mate a packet of biscuits to paint his MINT gsx 1400 an I mean mint ...full white with 2blue stipes down the bike .......I didnt speak to him for ages .......
And the paint job was horrific after god nos how much rum and rattle cans .....

wattfield said:

What about an XJR, Bandit, GSX1400 or ZRX1200? Like a Zed, but with better brakes & suspension!

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Also on the bike choice front what about gpz900

Although on the gpz900 front they are now fetching 6gs

Probably really kill meself on a Bandit lol! Always said I'd not go above 750. I could pick my Zed up (weighed a fecking ton!) and figured that would be about my limit (girly see, lol). I have wandered into bike shops and the guys try to convince me I'd get the same (better) torq, better handling etc. without the weight but me and that bike just used to fly, centre of gravity seemed spot on. Better brakes and less to stop sounds good I s'pose lol - I dunno, need convincing. I was looking for another Z to do a similar job on initially but as you'll never get the same bike twice I might as well try something else. Had Z400, XL250R, XL 750, GS 750 (that one was similar to the Z after tinkering, had plenty fun on it at the TT many years ago) and even, briefly, aT110 pre unit. I quite liked the old GPZ750's as well. I'd like an old British bike but one old piece of Brit machinery at a time's enough on the pocket!

Yep, the old GPZs are expensive now, so's a Z in good nick. Z650s are still more expensive than the Z750 - they were always mooted as the better bike. I did look at a few Zephyrs as well but they seemed a bit tame compared to my old Z. Always did like Mad Max - the original, not the new muppetry

On the weight issue when I went from 600 to 1200 I was expecting massive noticable differences ....I found none the bikes are so balanced its uncany and as for power the bike only does what you tell it too as we all know lol im licky my mate had a bike shop so I rode loads of bikes but hands down all day long now I have a k8gsxr rear end im in heaven sports bike position with gilloes reae sets but with my old skool suzziy atill under there
Paddock hill motorcycles have gpzs in all the time im sure hes online

Cheers. I'll have a gander at their site then.

RogueTrooper said:

Cheers. I'll have a gander at their site then.

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His name is criss nice bloke I know the mechanic who does his work he operates from home but he is sucessfull and he has some really nice old bikes in he travells all over uk for them
Any way mr trooper really good chatting to you and wattfield but I got to get some shut eyes take care all ......oh and one last bike comment if you want old school projects you must seek out paul harker in malvern is an aladdins cave of motorcycles of all types out in middle of nowhere vill local knowledge my friend ...keep me updated how u get on an if you need any help contacting the said above message me ann ill get you his phone number .he is hard to deal with but well worth the reward