Update time from RestoCycle! So on the other side of the shop we restore and build vintage and custom motorcycles, which is what led us into the vapor blasting work in the first place.
We recently finished a nut-and-bolt restoration of a 75 Kawasaki Z1-900 that was a total blast. This bike went down to itty bits, and was completely restored - including new transmission parts, bearings, clutch, honed for the high compression big-bore pistons it wears, and a brand new head with Kibblewhite valves, springs, keepers. Carbs were also rebuilt. The fork has RaceTech internals and new tubes, the rear some nice Ikon shocks and roller swingarm bearings, and everything else in between is new or was totally refurbished to as-new condition. There is fantastic reproduction parts support for these bikes, and that is where the signature 4-into-4 exhaust came from, along with the gorgeous bodywork, faithfully reproduced by craftsmen in Japan.
It was so fun to build this bike I bought another and it is awaiting its turn
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Where we started. It was a lot worse than it looked at this point.
Torn down, frame powdercoated, up on its stand and about to get reassembled.
Fork apart, waiting for parts from RaceTech, and installation of new springs and gold valves.
Wheels about to be relaced, new spokes, strips, and bearings. Hubs freshly vapor blasted.
New wiring harness, into replated brackets. All the wiring was carefully renewed, cleaned, retaped, made perfect.
Engine torn down to little bits: We found pitting and worn valve guides so the head got totally redone, cylinders honed. Also found bad transmission parts and bearings, all repaired or replaced. Oil pump rebuilt, clutch hub bearing, springs, discs replaced. Many new cam chain tensioner parts. This beast is actually a 1075 and has high-compression pistons to boot. It boogies
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My brother could not resist the urge to port it, "just a little". Ok, ok.
We replated and reused all the original fasteners.
The entire engine was of course vapor blasted and looks new.
The build - so many details!
And done. Took it out for a maiden cruise a week or so ago, and it is running great, is a total blast to ride. Will deliver this to my friend/customer in Switzerland in the spring, just as their riding season gets started. This bike will be ridden and loved.
We have more projects and news to share, coming soon. Thanks for checking in.