Dean’s Z1B hardtail

I’ve called it Dean’s Z1B but really this is a memorial bike, which Dean is getting operational again to salute the life of his friend (and the bike’s late owner) Derrick. It was all pretty shipshape when it arrived, but the electrics were ropy. In preparation for a new loom Dean had fitted new coils and HT leads, a Koso dash, a new regulator rectifier, and some very impressive replica switchgear from Z Power.

The twin headlights run 60/55W bulbs. I wasn’t sure that the original spec headlight switch would appreciate a continuous 10 amps, so I added relays, which is anyway what Kawasaki do with their twin headlight bikes. They fitted in the ideal place – just behind the headstock, on the horn bracket.

Dean had worked out everything the bike needed: he even added little tabs under the rear mudguard for the tail light cables, and made a very solid mount for the reg rec and fuses. All very worthwhile. The only extra prep work was renewing most of the ancient alternator cables, repairing the starter cable, and rebuilding the rear light. Normally I renew all three big battery cables, using 110 amp hi-flex. However, on these early Kawasakis replacing the cable from the solenoid to the motor is a huge job. We agreed to leave it in place and patch the cracked insulation with adhesive heat shrink.

The motor fired up instantly and charged at a max 14.4 volts, which is spot on. Ready for summer.