New Purchase and This Years Appeal!

[tommytool]

I've just bought me a bit of a project bike - and it's another Kawasaki. Not exactly modern and in need of a little TLC - it's a 1980 Z250 twin. I had one of these exactly 30 years ago just before I bought my 350LC.
I go to Shepton Mallett classic show every year and always get fired up about one but now I've bought one it looks like I won't have a dull weekend for a while - I estimate about 3 years!

To give you some idea I erm.... think it's metallic green but at the moment it's rather similar to my Magnesium Grey !

If anyone had one or has an old manual kicking about then I'd love to hear from you. Got some mates who are VJMC savvy but not Kawasaki specific.

Bring on the frustration!

[O.C.]

Well I am most definitely Kawasaki specific, however my taste is with 70s Triples so I'm not able to help very much I'm afraid. I did own this KZ400 which I sold as a N.O.S bike about two years ago



There's plenty manuals available on fleabay, here's a link which may help  good luck with the resto

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_odkw=&_osacat=14780&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xkawasaki+z+250+manual&_nkw=kawasaki+z+250+manual&_sacat=14780&_from=R40

[viper]

I've just bought me a bit of a project bike - and it's another Kawasaki. Not exactly modern and in need of a little TLC - it's a 1980 Z250 twin. I had one of these exactly 30 years ago just before I bought my 350LC.
I go to Shepton Mallett classic show every year and always get fired up about one but now I've bought one it looks like I won't have a dull weekend for a while - I estimate about 3 years!

To give you some idea I erm.... think it's metallic green but at the moment it's rather similar to my Magnesium Grey !

If anyone had one or has an old manual kicking about then I'd love to hear from you. Got some mates who are VJMC savvy but not Kawasaki specific.

Bring on the frustration!

cant help you but in 1981 I had a kawasaki z250a3 , known as the scorpion, a great bike and im very interested to see your progress

[tommytool]

Well O.C. You'd love to my mates H1 500 triple. He's finished restoring it ( was his old race bike). Looks absolutely brand new. Very valuable as well now.
I'm picking up the Z next weekend. Not bad for £280 but will prob need double that spending on it. I nay buy another as a donor bike - well see! I'm taking loads of pics as I go so I'll put a few up at  significant stages.

Don't bank on it being at the Belfry!

[O.C.]

Well O.C. You'd love to my mates H1 500 triple. He's finished restoring it ( was his old race bike). Looks absolutely brand new. Very valuable as well now.
I'm picking up the Z next weekend. Not bad for £280 but will prob need double that spending on it. I nay buy another as a donor bike - well see! I'm taking loads of pics as I go so I'll put a few up at  significant stages.

Don't bank on it being at the Belfry!

The H1 is a great bike and nice to ride here's mine, its a 1972 B...is your mate in the Triples club if so who is he ?



Here's my H2c

[tommytool]

Here it is! PS This is not my garden - too tidy!

[O.C.]

That looks like a great base for a restoration, good luck 

I have replied to your P.M BTW   

[zedmeister]

Love the widow maker OC

[O.C.]

Love the widow maker OC

Ta ZM I didn't get much chance to ride the bike last year and I'm hoping to do it justice this year, despite being almost 40 years old its still an absolute blast to ride, apart from having crap brakes 

[Boomer]

Upgrade it!
Fit twin Brembo disc/calipers, decent forks, a frame that doesn't flex,...... 
I can hear you muttering "Sacrilege" from here.

I suggest that rather than moaning about the brakes, you buy some Teflon underwear so the skid marks don't stick. 

[Rusty]

OC .. Once again I take my hat off to you ... Old bikes are not really my thing and as you all know I am a complete nincompoop when it comes to mechanics so to see you restoring all this stuff to its former glory is to me anyway quite brilliant and you  and all other such minded chaps here  are a very gifted bunch ... Even if you don't think so yourselves !

[tommytool]

I wouldnt go that far ! Theres quite a bit of experience on here and that counts for a lot. I use to repair/restore guitars so not much skills transfer from that - apart from tuning

I just like the challenge and its something I used to actually have so may trigger a few memories once its in my soon to be grubby mitts!
Certainly wont come close to OC's standard by the kooks of them!

[O.C.]

Upgrade it!
Fit twin Brembo disc/calipers, decent forks, a frame that doesn't flex,...... 
I can hear you muttering "Sacrilege" from here.

I suggest that rather than moaning about the brakes, you buy some Teflon underwear so the skid marks don't stick. 

That's rich coming from you George......aren't you the guy who also rides a 1980s GTR1000, a bike described as a "Touring Dinosaur"     

[zedmeister]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO  LEAVE IT STANDARD!!!!, if it was modded i wouldnt give it a second glance, but standard, the Drool factor is amazing. The strokers are always best left standard.

Some people need coffee, fruit juice, strong tea, fancy tea,in the morning, i just needed my snort of castrol R every morning, ahhhhhhhh.

[O.C.]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO  LEAVE IT STANDARD!!!!, if it was modded i wouldnt give it a second glance, but standard, the Drool factor is amazing. The strokers are always best left standard.

Some people need coffee, fruit juice, strong tea, fancy tea,in the morning, i just needed my snort of castrol R every morning, ahhhhhhhh.

The bike is totally N.O.S ZM, so it wont EVER be modded, that'd be as bad as painting specs on the Mona Lisa 

Only a complete knob would mod a bike like mine