Rare Find

[TK4]

Kawasaki UK-
RARE Z1 Frame Hinge Found: It’s commonly held that pre-production Z1’s experimented with various frame configurations, some with more flex than others. Final production models were optimized for chassis feedback but a handful of Press Evaluation units – so called X Bikes – were rumoured to have a degree of adjust-ability. We have uncovered what we think might be one of a possible pair of Z1 Chassis Hinges in a spare parts warehouse move in France. Avril Haux who manages the warehouse said: “There is only one so we do not know where the other is or indeed if it is a genuine item. We must say it’s quite a special morning to reveal it.”

 

[bitzz]

Not to worry, we've been able to transplant the Honda hinge into the Kawi frame.
No shortage of Honda hinges... if you need one I have a few in stock

A friend of mine used to wrench for Lang Hindle when Lang first started out in the '80s. It was decided the KZ frame had too much trail, and needed the steering head angle changed... no problem... take a hack saw and cut some slots into the mounting of the steering head, then drop the thing on the concrete floor a couple of times then weld her up... DONE... lets go racing!

When the KZ cop bike came out, Toronto police got a couple to try. The frames couldn't keep up to the load, the shocks were WAY over stressed and the forks would sack. McBrides got the bikes and Juan and John modified the bikes with gusset plates, shocks and spring off a Harley and new forks.
The next series of Kawi cop bikes had all those modifications... and CHiPs was born

 

[TK4]

A friend of mine used to wrench for Lang Hindle when Lang first started out in the '80s. It was decided the KZ frame had too much trail, and needed the steering head angle changed... no problem... take a hack saw and cut some slots into the mounting of the steering head, then drop the thing on the concrete floor a couple of times then weld her up... DONE... lets go racing!

Lang also purposely left out one of the lower motor mount bolts for handling improvement. Controlled flex is the answer !

 

[TK4]

When the KZ cop bike came out, Toronto police got a couple to try. The frames couldn't keep up to the load, the shocks were WAY over stressed and the forks would sack. McBrides got the bikes and Juan and John modified the bikes with gusset plates, shocks and spring off a Harley and new forks.
The next series of Kawi cop bikes had all those modifications... and CHiPs was born

I remember the KZ900/1000Ps, the CB750Ps and even a few CB750 Automatics that Metro Police had to try out.
The motor officers hated them because they weren't Harleys and proceeded to do everything they could to trash them - including running them into things. The mechanics hated them because they were different to what they normally worked on.
Bear in mind they were just coming off hand shifters, foot clutches and side cars in the winter, old habits die hard.

 

[bitzz]

My brother rode the last hand shift Harley in the Toronto fleet. he was the head of the Blue Helmet team, so he had some pull. The problem was, 2 traffic refused to work on the bike, as it was TOO old ( a '62 or 63 IIRC)... so the bike went to Pools for service... ALL service, even oil changes.
That came to an end quickly. (the actual end of that bike was when a guy in a van pulled out right in front of my brother when he was doing funeral escort on Bathurst and it was handed down the bike was to be written off NO MATTER WHAT. That was Apr. or May '89).
There was a time 2 traffic had Hondas, BMWs, Kawis and Harleys. EVERYBODY rode the Harleys... till someone HAD to ride something else, so he grabbed a Beemer. By the end of the week there was a lineup to ride the Beemers. IIRC they were K75s.
My idiot brother used to LIKE riding a sidecar Harley in the snow... he was always a little strange.

 

[TK4]

My brother rode the last hand shift Harley in the Toronto fleet. he was the head of the Blue Helmet team, so he had some pull. The problem was, 2 traffic refused to work on the bike, as it was TOO old ( a '62 or 63 IIRC)... so the bike went to Pools for service... ALL service, even oil changes.
That came to an end quickly. (the actual end of that bike was when a guy in a van pulled out right in front of my brother when he was doing funeral escort on Bathurst and it was handed down the bike was to be written off NO MATTER WHAT. That was Apr. or May '89).
There was a time 2 traffic had Hondas, BMWs, Kawis and Harleys. EVERYBODY rode the Harleys... till someone HAD to ride something else, so he grabbed a Beemer. By the end of the week there was a lineup to ride the Beemers. IIRC they were K75s.
My idiot brother used to LIKE riding a sidecar Harley in the snow... he was always a little strange.

2 Traffic was in the horse barns at the CNE ? I had a buddy that was an MC mechanic there, the stories he would tell...