Z650

Martin's Zed.

This is my 1979 Kawasaki z650. This is a bike that I have had for about 10 years now. I had one just like this when I was a 17 year old lad. It was my first "big" bike following on from my Yamaha RD125DX (wish I still had that one, like many others). After many years of thinking about getting another one for fun I brought the Z as a running restoration off e-bay. It was in a right old state with mismatched colours and rusty in most places. I then set about stripping it to it's major components sending each off to be refurbished and painted or chromed by specialists (amazingly there are so many out there). Once all back I then put it all back together again. I guess the whole process took around 9 months.

What's it like to ride? Well it's slower than I remember, handles less than even you would expect and the brakes work eventually....I usually just cruise around at around 50mph which is very comfortable and it is still capable of motorway speeds and keeping up with all traffic. A and B roads are its best habitat.

It's bloody brilliant...

Like most folk who ride bikes from their youth I can say it takes you back to a time where life seemed so much more simpler. It does feel nostalgic and brings back memories of time gone by whilst making new ones today.

Its easy to maintain by your average enthusiast. Brakes tyres electrics and fuel need fettling after a lay up period but that's to be expected for a bike of this era, but you don't have to have the spanners out much after that if used regularly. Carrying a small tool kit on longer journeys would probable be wise move. And a can of WD40 to keep water out of the electrics should you get caught up in torrential rain. But that's all part of the fun...I think?

What's it worth? It's bigger brother the z900 has more kudos at the café a commands 5 figure sums but the 650 is adequate if you are on a budget or you don't want to tie up huge amounts of cash in the big brother. A good z650 will cost between 3 and 5k if you can find a decent one. Mine is priceless...to...me.

I love this bike and it cost virtually nothing to keep it but every now and then I think maybe I should sell it to someone who will use it more than I do. Then I take it out for a spin an instantly regret even entertaining the the idea.

Lets not kid ourselves, the bikes of today are brilliant in every way and especially from a safety point of view but stepping back in time is great entertainment..

Long Live the zed

If anyone would like to go on an older bike ride, we are going to arrange another one soon for club member with bikes of a certain age...Drop me a note to register your interest.

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Martin Braham

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Chairman

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