Monthly Archives: March 2016

Perfect 1975 Kawasaki Z1B 900

Posted on by motopsyco

Before it became the Perfect 1975 Kawasaki Z1B 900

Take a good long look at the bike in this picture. This particular machine is now the most perfect 1975 Kawasaki Z1B 900 on the planet right now. But before you scroll down just take a minute to stare at this first picture and just imagine the work it took to make it that way.

Perfect 1975 Kawasaki Z1B before

This motorcycle belongs to a gentleman from North Carolina named Mike. It was a long term labor of love for him to perform the ground up restoration you are about to see below. It has taken best Kawasaki honors at several shows, and at the Destination Eustis show this year his effort was rewarded with the best of show trophy.

Now Mike has kept a notebook full of pictures detailing this restoration and displays it with the motorcycle at shows. It’s really very educational & inspiring to look at his pictures, and just get a small glimpse of the effort it took him to turn this particular sow’s ear into the most exquisite silk purse it is today.

I present to you the Perfect 1975 Kawasaki Z1B 900

Let’s start with a left front view. All of the pictures in this post are large so it may be a little slower to load but trust me it is worth it.

Perfect 1975 Kawasaki Z1B 900 left front

These were taken the Sunday morning after the show when a lot of the bikes had already left the exhibition hall. Rather than stage it somewhere else I decided to get a bunch of pictures right where it was at.

Perfect 1975 Kawasaki Z1B 900 head on

Perfect 1975 Kawasaki Z1B 900 right rear

I’d be willing to lick the bottom of this engine but for the fear that my tongue would get it dirty…

Perfect 1975 Kawasaki Z1B 900 bottom of engine

Kawasaki completely redefined the parameters of motorcycle performance when they created the DOHC 903 engine, and this one has looks to match.

Perfect 1975 Kawasaki Z1B 900 picture of engine

Here are a few more details for you to check out, enjoy!

Perfect 1975 Kawasaki Z1B 900 sidecover

Perfect 1975 Kawasaki Z1B 900 top view

Perfect 1975 Kawasaki Z1B 900 gauges

“if I could turn back time…”

Perfect 1975 Kawasaki Z1B 900 front hub

Perfect 1975 Kawasaki Z1B 900 front of engine

Perfect 1975 Kawasaki Z1B 900 front details

Perfect 1975 Kawasaki Z1B 900 left profile

This next picture is my favorite of this batch, it captures the overall beauty of this motorcycle better than any other picture in this group.

Perfect 1975 Kawasaki Z1B 900 portriat

I must confess to teasing Mike about not riding this one, but to tell the truth after all of the hard work he’s put into this one, who can really blame him for wanting to keep it perfect for as long as possible? He is a true fan of the original Kawasaki 900 and keeps another one in his stable for riding, so don’t even dare think of him as just another poser with a show boat because he’s not. If this beauty were mine & I had put so much work into it I’d be just like him.

Perfect 1975 Kawasaki Z1B 900 Best of Show

 

Destination Eustis 2016 Motorcycle Show

Posted on by motopsyco

Friday at the Destination Eustis 2016 Motorcycle Show

There wasn’t really a lot going on yet when I rolled into the Destination Eustis 2016 Motorcycle Show early on Friday March 4th. So I went ahead and set up my base camp for the weekend. To stretch my budget this year, instead of staying in a hotel I decided to sleep on an air mattress in the back of the enclosed trailer. This actually made a decent camping arrangement as a simple tent heater kept it nice and cozy on the cool early spring nights.

Motopsyco's camp @ Destination Eustis 2016 Motorcycle Show

Afterwards I went digging around the swap meet just to see what was there. I didn’t take as many pictures this year because I had an actual shopping list of parts that are needed for two very different bikes, one a 45 cubic inch Flathead Harley and the other a Honda CT70 Mini Trail. Didn’t find much for the mini but there were a couple of vendors that had some good deals on parts for the Flattie.

<harley flathead battery boxes>

<flathead & wla handlebars>

One of the absolute coolest things there was this little Model T replica for sale. The seller drove it around all over the place, and I hope some happy person took it home.

Mini Model T at Destination Eustis 2016 Motorcycle Show

Other than a little shopping I just hung around the main exhibition hall and offered my meager assistance to the really hard working folks in the VJMC who were getting everything ready for the show on Saturday. Once darkness had fallen and supper was over it was time to retire to my little campsite and knock back a brew before turning in.

Saturday at the Destination Eustis 2016 Motorcycle Show

<campfire coffee>

Fresh perked coffee early in the morning, sitting in a chair outside while cooking breakfast over a camp stove. The only way it could have gotten any better would be if my lovely partner had been there with me, but alas she had to work.

<cb450 police & qa50>

After making myself reasonably presentable it was time to head over to the main hall again and watch as the neat old bikes filed in to register for the show. Rather than trying to post them individually I put a few of them in a slideshow for you.

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There were of course a few extra special bikes that really stood out and demonstrated that even though this may be one of the smaller “Bike Week” events it attracts some really high caliber machinery.

First up is an ultra rare Flying Merkel, who doesn’t enjoy seeing an old timer like this in good running order?

Flying merkel>

There have been a lot of custom cafe racer or muscle-bike style custom Goldwings showing up on the internet and it was great to see this wild ‘Wing show up to take home 1st place in the custom class.

Custom Goldwing Destination Eustis 2016 Motorcycle Show

No vintage motorcycle show is complete without at least one classic American racer, and the stunning Indian flat tracker fits the bill perfectly.

<antique indian racer>

The Best Of Show award went to my friend Mike, who brought this absolutely immaculate 1975 Kawasaki Z1B. He restored this bike himself from a rusty derelict. Look for more pictures of this one in the next week or two.

<1975 Kawasaki Z1B>

One of the best things about going to a VJMC organized show is the fact that the judging is done by audience voting. This makes results almost completely unpredictable, and does away the bullshit & hurt feelings that result from selection by a panel of judges. I’d also like to acknowledge the hard work of the Vintage Motorcycle Alliance, they run the swap meet and set up the vendor areas and without them and the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club, this event would not be what it is.

Click here to learn more about the Vintage Motorcycle Alliance

Click here to learn more about the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club

Until next time, Peace Y’all