Installing shorter shocks
Back in the day, the 1100 Kawasaki was a muscle bike. It started for Kawasaki in 1972 with the Z1, if in fact I’m remembering the day. Built to be badass on the street, the early Zs were a force … Continued
Learning to MIG weld
Things can look so easy on YouTube or in the movies—kicking open doors, picking a lock, whistling real loud, drawing, losing weight, putting in contact lenses and so on and so on to infinity. I can add another ‘skill’ to … Continued
Assembling an exhaust system (1 of 3)
A good bit of basic or necessary work on the ZN is complete. There’s more to do but we’re closing in, slowly but surely, on fun stuff. For instance, the exhaust is ready to be constructed. Since this can be … Continued
What to do?
Maybe it’s because this is my first build and I haven’t figured out a sweet spot, but this project is in a constant state of stop and go. At least it’s not as irritating as sitting in rush-hour traffic while … Continued
Replacing gaskets and fixing oil leaks
I really don’t like to tempt fate or put a jinx on the works but…the comedy of errors involving cylinder #2 is over. Since retrieving the lost shim and fixing the broken cam cap, I’ve been busy buttoning up odds … Continued
What to do after dropping parts in the motor
We’ve all had that feeling. The feeling that something bad is about to happen, and in that split second, it does. After the mini-shock and realization of what just happened hits the brain, there’s generally a string of expletives that … Continued
How to clean CV carburetors
Buddhism teaches me that nothing is permanent; all things change. When it comes to breathing life back into old bikes that have been sitting for a length of time, there is one constant: All carburetors need to be cleaned. Alright…I’m … Continued
Adjusting valves on a Kawasaki ZN
Valve-check intervals depend on many factors like cam profile, lobe hardness, the kind of followers or buckets, valve weights, average rpm and so on. Manufacturers run tests to determine valve train wear and set inspection intervals accordingly. The first few … Continued
Fixing side covers
The ZN is actually in fair condition for being 31 years old and, for the most part, was probably taken care of. The side covers, on the other hand, haven’t aged gracefully. There are a lot of bobbed bikes (and … Continued
Getting rid of sand in the gas tank
It’s the little things that can drive me crazy. Not that I need any help in that department. Some time ago, the inside of the fuel tank was cleaned. It was, in fact, cleaned three times—once by the interim owner/seller … Continued