I just scored a Z200

[lb99]

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g148/allnamesgone/IMG_2516.jpg
I found it behind a shed
Isnt she a beauty?
a bit of petrol and jumper battery AND IT GOES :cool:cool:

who knows about these?

[Oakie]

I had it's bigger brother ... a Z250C for a while in the early 80s. Nice bike.

[Clivoris]

What a classic. My old man has an XL 250 Motorsport in similar nick that I'm allowed to score. I feel a project coming on.

[lb99]

was that a single too? that would have been cool.

I like old Kawasakis, they're very industrial, like a locomotive:scooter:

with a new battery, a seat cover, new tyres, and a bit of a polish it should sail though a vin.

Does anyone have any old kawasaki keys, I dont want to use a Honda one forever.

[paturoa]

beauty is in the eye of the beholder....

now if you'd said it wa a classic, I'd agree.

[James Deuce]

Lovely bikes those. Had a CSR250 (the "cruiser" version of the Z250) as my first road bike. Only dodgy thing about it was the drum front brake, but then brakes that work only slow you down.

http://www.umgweb.com/89umg06x.htm

http://hometown.aol.de/z200ig/index.html

Lots of people are very fond of these bikes. Perfect commuter/beginner's bike I reckon.

[The Pastor]

Nice bike mate!

[lb99]

but who else would agree?
its a late 70's 200 single, but it does have electric start, which is neat, and the write up I found on google said 18hp and 138kph, thats not bad for a 200, So I am looking forward to a ride, I'd like to get hold of a late 60's Kawasaki twin, they were supposed to be grunters, I like old jappas, they were so out there at the time, and they are usually soooo cheap, sometimes people just give them away!

[Bonez]

I like old jappas, they were so out there at the time, and they are usually soooo cheap, sometimes people just give them away!Welcome to my world :yes:

[T.W.R]

Good old workhorse :yes: mates had them as learner bikes, christ they took some abuse but just kept on going.

These might help you :blip:

[nudemetalz]

Trust Bill to have info on one of these !!!
;)

[T.W.R]

Trust Bill to have info on one of these !!!
;)

Oi! you'd be supprised what gems i have stashed :nya:

[paturoa]

Oi! you'd be supprised what gems i have stashed :nya:


can u beat 700000 beer cans?

[lb99]

Good old workhorse :yes: mates had them as learner bikes, christ they took some abuse but just kept on going.

These might help you :blip:


cheers dude, I've spent time trawling the net for those pages

I got brave enough to take it for a spin, and it goes suprisingly well, it even idles ok, all it needed was a good battery and it was sweet, now I only need to do tyres, brakes, paint,and a seat cover, then I can vin it:yes:

so whats the right tyres to put on this?

[T.W.R]

cheers dude, I've spent time trawling the net for those pages

I got brave enough to take it for a spin, and it goes suprisingly well, it even idles ok, all it needed was a good battery and it was sweet, now I only need to do tyres, brakes, paint,and a seat cover, then I can vin it:yes:

so whats the right tyres to put on this?

No worries :niceone: when i saw the thread I remembered I had that info in a mag (Motorcycle mechanics UK, got a pretty good collection of the old stuff :yes: )
You'd probably be hard-pressed to find anything on the web.

This doco (Daily Mail 1980 motorcycle review) says the tyres are 2.75x18 front & 3.25x17 rear so I suppose thats 90/90x18 front & 110/90x17 rear ?

Ha Paturoa :shutup: :bleh:

[Ixion]

,,This doco (Daily Mail 1980 motorcycle review) says the tyres are 2.75x18 front & 3.25x17 rear so I suppose thats 90/90x18 front & 110/90x17 rear ?


No, they are tubed tyres. Tubed tyres (cross ply) are sized in inches , as here. The 90/90 etc sizings are tubeless.

Tubed crossply tyres are (almost) never low profile, - so it would be 2.75/2.75, but never quoted thus.

2.75x18 and 3.25x17 tyres are still available - eg Bridgestone G511 (front) and RS10 (rear).

Crossply tyres generally run lower pressured than radials becuase the walls are stronger. Original spec pressures for the Z200 were 1.75 bar (about 26psi) front , 2 bar (8psi) rear. Depends a lot on your weight too on such a light bike.

[lb99]

so could I use tubless tyres with a tube in, or should I try to find some tubed ones? The front brakes are shit, the cable disk is crap. would the vin guys notice (or care) if I did a hydraulic conversion?, other than that I was very impressed, it goes hard for a single, I was going to ride it to work today, but I can't afford to get busted, way too much$$$

[T.W.R]

No, they are tubed tyres. Tubed tyres (cross ply) are sized in inches , as here. The 90/90 etc sizings are tubeless.

Tubed crossply tyres are (almost) never low profile, - so it would be 2.75/2.75, but never quoted thus.


.


Wrong Ixion :wait: sorry

The difference between the two is conventional or Metric description not whether they are tube or tubeless. The descriptions of tyre section width, speed rating, aspect ratio, rim diameter, speed rating, & load index contribute nothing to whether the tyre is tubed or not.

The metric description of aspect ratio is mainly found on radials and the term 'low profile tyre' is just that a 'term', as the measurement is only a % of the tyre width

The tyre construction whether it be crossply, bias or radial doesn't contribute either. The only factor that goes against using tubes in radial tyres is heat build-up, particularly in larger/heavier roadbikes.

Of course the tyres on the Z200 will be tubed, and thats only fact the rims aren't tubeless tyre applicable.

[Bonez]

so could I use tubless tyres with a tube YES you can. I do it all the time on the old style spoked rims on the CB550 and Gb400. Theorically it "shouldn't" be done because of the ribbing and less than smooth inside of tubeless tyres is ment to chaff the tubes, but experiance has shown absolutely no problems what so ever in normally day to day usage as, well as some serious touring kms and the odd thrash. The tyres wear out well before damage is done to the tubes, which normally get fitted to 2 or 3 tyres before I replace them. Not because I "need" to I just feel more comfortable doing so.

With the Z200 being so easy on tires I'd suggest changing the tube with every tyre change though.

[lb99]

Well after a whole lot of scrubbing and polishing, Here it is, all ready to go.
It took about 50hrs, I have a very accomodating boss, so I managed to do a lot at work, but I spent many hours in the shed too!, I haven't been to bed before midnight all week:gob: the missus calls the bike "your whore":confused:

Anyway, new tyres, battery, brakes, and oil and filter and now I have no money for petrol, so I have to syphon Her cage:shifty:

I like it a lot, it goes, handles and stops really well for such a little bike, I got it up to 135, which is faster than any XR200, and it should return 70+MPG too!

[Kickaha]

Theorically it "shouldn't" be done because of the ribbing and less than smooth inside of tubeless tyres is ment to chaff the tubes

Thats why you should always use tyre talc when fitting them with tubes

[lb99]

Well, It passed the VIN inspection this morning, so its all legal now.
The inspector raved on about what a great little bike it was,:2thumbsup: I nearly had to push him off to get it back.
so, now that I'm legal, I'm gonna sell the cage and save up for a fire breathing monster like you guys ride:not:

[Bonez]

Well, It passed the VIN inspection this morning, so its all legal now.
The inspector raved on about what a great little bike it was,:2thumbsup: I nearly had to push him off to get it back.
so, now that I'm legal, I'm gonna sell the cage and save up for a fire breathing monster like you guys ride:not:Well done!

Wouldn't call a CX500 or GB400 fire breathing monsters though :gob:

[lb99]

Well done!

Wouldn't call a CX500 or GB400 fire breathing monsters though :gob:


I had a lot of fun on a GB400, they go like a grunty trailbike, and are light so they handle pretty well, not much good for going over traffic islands and up and down stairs tho:innocent:

[Bonez]

I had a lot of fun on a GB400, they go like a grunty trailbike, and are light so they handle pretty well, not much good for going over traffic islands and up and down stairs tho:innocent:Great for leaping of Bailey Bridges though ;) Well was, the saddle road is never going to be the same.................

[James Deuce]

Dead right Bonez. Tired of the "upgrade NZ" project.

Give us our Bailey Bridges back! With Traffic Lights!