Kawi H1f rebuild thread

[budman]

It makes little sense to bring an old bike up to "concourse" level unless you never intend to ride it again ever. That is something I honestly cannot understand. My goal when resurrecting an old bike is to bring it up to the "safe to ride and looks good" level. Then I ride it like it was a nearly new bike that I wanted to have roll over 100,000 miles. I don't baby it, and I don't act afraid to get it dirty or show wear marks. It is not a museum piece, it is a real motorcycle.

/

Agreed... clean and ride. I am not a show dude.. and certainly want it to be cherry.

Having trouble finding some stuff.. :loco

At the same time found some other stuff.

Trouble:
* Fork tube
* Air cleaner
* Clutch lever handle bar assembly (Mirror mount is stripped).

Since I am a rookie at searching for the old stuff.. I am :laughing at myself a bit here.

I did find some nice replacement pipes from Sudco.
Partzilla has some really useful tools.. thought I had some stuff from them, but when I called parts were gone.. no more..

 

[budman]

Thanks to the wife, who is really good on EBay I found:
Air cleaner (new in box)
Clutch lever assembly ( so mirror can mount)
Petcock rebuild kit
Forks ( a prayer said here).

With the above and new brake pad already ordered I hope to have a safe runner within 2 weeks.

Total damage including purchase (minus paying Wob) $5,900

Will insure early next week and title transfer is on Thursday.

4 hours of Internet time today paid off. :cool
Thanks to Mr. Gore for inventing it. :teeth

 

[GPzPop]

so, of course you are riding this treasure to the barf bash, right? if for nothing else but for mosquito abatement?

--S

 

[budman]

Hard to carry shit on the H1.

Maybe I can roll it from my office over to the party.?? :dunno :teeth

 

[Carlo]

Don't want to make you feel bad, but you bought this three years too late.
I had a ton of parts, many NOS, my original bike, a rolling chassis, a complete spare exhaust system with few miles, and no dents....

It's all gone now to finance Royal Enfield restorations.

Ironic, because I bought that bike in 1975 so I'd have something to ride while I was waiting on Enfield parts to arrive from England.
After I got the H1, I all but forgot about the Enfields.

 

[budman]

Well :jaded Carlo!

Got the title transferred but I have to take it to the DMV for them to issue plates. Had not thought of the out of state deal.

Both my new "used" forks have more wear that is good.
Hope Rob at Evolution has a magic pill.

Otherwise all that money down the drain.

 

[Carlo]

Well :jaded Carlo!

Got the title transferred but I have to take it to the DMV for them to issue plates. Had not thought of the out of state deal.

Both my new "used" forks have more wear that is good.
Hope Rob at Evolution has a magic pill.

Otherwise all that money down the drain.

Forking By Frank will take care of you.
They used to cater to the chopper builders in the late 60's. I remember their ads in Big Bike, Easy Riders, and other chopper mags.

Even with the issues you've found, your bike is a way easier project than what mine was when I sold it. Serious corrosion from living within 100 yards of the ocean in HMB and The Avenues in SF. That's part of why I decided to concentrate on my Enfields.

And those things are spectacular when restored.
The last few years of production are the most ridable too, greatly improved steering geometry and front/rear weight distribution over the first three years production. Evolution Suspension can probably make it even better than new with modern damping.

 

[Tri750]

one if the places I gave a link to, pretty sure had repro new fork stanchions.
if not, yes forks by frank.
buying used is useless. they are a wear item.
internally, Matt Wiley the Race Tech guy can do magic. moto-services.net

 

[budman]

I called Forking Frank every day for a week. Multiple times. Message deal said full.
I finally went to EBay as sort of a last hope.

Missed the link on forks. Checking it out now.

 

[budman]

Thanks Big Al!!
http://www.z1parts.net/product/kawasaki-h2750-fork-tubes

Bought fork tubes.
And a few things I probably did not need but were nice to haves!:

* clutch lever
* brake lever
* shocks
* electrical handlebar set (blinker/ kill switch etc)
* carb booteeeeh!!!

:teeth.

Bike is maybe a week out of coming home to Papa.

:banana

 

[EastBayDave]

some great stuff on that website mon...

 

[budman]

Still working.

All parts in Wobs hands. Shit baby may come home next week.

 

[budman]

Pieces.

 

[budman]

Wrong fork seals cost us 10 days

Picked up the bike today. Went to Puccio's welding in SJ. If you know flat track you know Puccio's. He fixed my center stand so it actually works.

Walking around his shop is just a history lesson. 3rd generation in the same shop.

Then took to Wobs house. He pulled the center stand and kickstand so they can be powder coated. We are sending the tank and fender out for some touch up and clear coat.

Patience. The after picks are close. Definately riding to the trackers deal in September.

Looking forward to that.

 

[Tri750]

ok, we need to fix the "kickstand" reference.
anyone with a rip roaring triple ain't gonna call the sidestand a kickstand.
a kickstand is on a Schwinn or a HD.
there. it had to be fixed by someone who is kinda a jerk but not too jerkish.

 

[GPzPop]

I gots a grenaded H1 piston, useful as an ash tray. want me to bring it to the bash?

(running 2-up I-5 from Eugene to Portland. We did not make it to Portland)

 

[budman]

:laughing

My stand is in Question. I have been shown the door and guess I own it.

 

[Cincinnatus]

ok, we need to fix the "kickstand" reference.
anyone with a rip roaring triple ain't gonna call the sidestand a kickstand.
a kickstand is on a Schwinn or a HD.
there. it had to be fixed by someone who is kinda a jerk but not too jerkish.

I beg to differ. :x

When leaving for a group ride, the commonly used acronym is KSU, meaning KickStands Up.

Therefore, in common parlance, kickstand is equivalent to sidestand.

 

[budman]

I gots a grenaded H1 piston, useful as an ash tray. want me to bring it to the bash?

(running 2-up I-5 from Eugene to Portland. We did not make it to Portland)

If I was still a smoker yes. Since I am clean. The memory should remain your but you have my thanks.


KSU:thumbup

 

[Tri750]

Well, there you have it. A rider of a Kawi triple wouldn't say "I beg to differ" either.
Riders of Kawi triples, Z1's, any Triumph twin carb, right hand shift Sportsters, single cylinder Brit bikes 500cc and over and a few others have a different set of rules.
Some include: never wear white socks that show while your riding, if you smoke, only smoke Camels without the panties, and when you drink coffee, you just drink coffee.
Lunch is either a burger, a bowl of chili, or a chili burger.
I've said too much already.