I guess the Z650 is a 'keeper' then

I hoicked it out at the wekend to go to Kempton Park autojumble, and
revelled in it. It drew some admiring glances in the KP car park, as
well.

I tried to find some shocks for it there, and of all things, Andrew (a
friend who I was strolling round with, who has a distressing lust for
things Kawasaki and green[1]) said: "Oh, I've got a brand new pair of
Hagons that'll fit. Bought them for a GT550 and never used them...."

So that's sorted.

I've bought the new head races, and those will go in some time this
month. Probably courtesy of my dealer - it's getting too cold to faff
about in an unheated garage. And a new front tyre is waiting, ready to
be fitted.

I bought a load of shims on Ebay, too. Something like 15 different shims
for about £20 - they cost £4 each from a dealer. I've got to check the
clearances soon, but that can wait until spring.

And I've just won this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320043976241&ssPage
Name=ADME:B:EOIBSA:UK:31

It's a hell of a price, but these things are unobtainable, and since
I've replaced the exhaust, and the rear guard, the slightly corroded
front guard was sticking out like a turd on a billiard table. I've been
pipped at the post on two others, so this time I just coughed.

Rather serendipitously, I've been asked by CB to do a large feature on
Z650s for a winter issue. Does anybody out there have any brochures,
memorabilia, old photos of themselves avec flares and tie-die shirts,
astride one? I've alrteady asked Champ.

Anyway, if you have, or know someone, get in touch.

I'm doing something on this Z that I've always sworn not to do: throw
money at a classic bike with no hope of getting it back, purely because
it makes it look good and makes me feel good. It is now looking, and
forgive this sin of pride, really, really good.

[1] Say "Z1100 Eddie Lawson Rep" and he goes into spasms.

 

On reflection, I think I still have a genuine Kawasaki factory workshop
manual in the garage for a Z650. The cover's a bit tatty but it's all there.
I'll dig it out if I can find it and drop it in next time I'm in Sutton
(next week probably).

cheers,
JB

 

http://www.gwynfryn.co.uk/images/pastbikes/z650b.jpg

 

I've already got one, but thanks for the offer anyway.

 

The Older Gentleman says...

Somewhere there's a classic photo of my mate Andy Chapman astride his
green Z650B1 minus rear mudguard and with tiny plate, in black Bell
helmet with black visor. Taken in 1982 I do believe. I was going to buy
the same bike, but settled for a GS550 that was 250 quid cheaper
instead.

I'll go see Andy and get it copied for you.

--
Lozzo
Triumph Daytona 955i SE (Black with added black bits)
GSF600SW (broked)
'I do not object to people looking at their watches when I am speaking.
But I strongly object when they start shaking them to make certain they
are still going.' William Norman Birkett, 1st Baron Birkett, Oct 1960.

 

Cheers. If you can get a high-res (300dpi) scan, that'd be great.

 

The Older Gentleman says...

I can do 1200dpi if you want

--
Lozzo
Triumph Daytona 955i SE (Black with added black bits)
GSF600SW (broked)
'I do not object to people looking at their watches when I am speaking.
But I strongly object when they start shaking them to make certain they
are still going.' William Norman Birkett, 1st Baron Birkett, Oct 1960.

 

Nice, but 300dpi is fine.

 

The Older Gentleman says...

<kicks unnecessarily extravagent all-in-one
printer/scanner/copier/fax/mp3player/toaster/coffeemaker/whorehouse/webc
am/hoover sitting under desk>

--
Lozzo
Triumph Daytona 955i SE (Black with added black bits)
GSF600SW (broked)
'I do not object to people looking at their watches when I am speaking.
But I strongly object when they start shaking them to make certain they
are still going.' William Norman Birkett, 1st Baron Birkett, Oct 1960.

 

Mark Olson says...

Nice to see your tax-dollars are being spent wisely on ammunition for
target practice. Considering the amount of rounds he put into that
thing, there was still too much of it left recognisable at the end.
Maybe he was taught to shoot by the A-Team.

--
Lozzo
Triumph Daytona 955i SE (Black with added black bits)
GSF600SW (broked)
'I do not object to people looking at their watches when I am speaking.
But I strongly object when they start shaking them to make certain they
are still going.' William Norman Birkett, 1st Baron Birkett, Oct 1960.

 

no probs.

JB

 

neat things the all-in one jobbies.

wehn we needed a new fax machine, I got a HP one (6210) which does
everything and anything. comes with fax drivers so you can fax direct from
the PC without printing, too, which is nice.

it's also quite a credible colour copier.

 

Our (soon to be ex-) professor just lashed out on a Xerox all-in-one
work-centre (which actually has a Tektronix Phaser solid-ink print-engine).
Sadly he must have misread the model number when ordering, as there is no
FAX included, so we have to still keep our old steam-driven one.

Unfortunately we don't seem to have the offer that Tektronix gave
us on the Phaser at UCL -- you can have all the black ink you want for
free, you just have to pay for the yellow, cyan and magenta ink-sticks.

--
Ivan Reid, Electronic & Computer Engineering, ___ CMS Collaboration,
Brunel University. Ivan.Reid@[brunel.ac.uk|cern.ch] Room 40-1-B12, CERN
GSX600F, RG250WD "You Porsche. Me pass!" DoD #484 JKLO#003, 005
WP7# 3000 LC Unit #2368 (tinlc) UKMC#00009 BOTAFOT#16 UKRMMA#7 (Hon)
KotPT -- "for stupidity above and beyond the call of duty".