So I can’t really play dumb and pretend it was the booze like when I bought my 996s last month I’m at that age where we start feeling like old farts and start collecting all the old stuff we once had as youngsters. Latest one is a bike my dad owned from brand new in 1981 and I also had one and did around 100k on touring around South Africa on at the same time. I was scouring the usual haunts like eBay etc and last week the unicorn showed up. Smashed in a bid with 10 seconds to go and the deal was done ! what is it I hear you ask ? Behold this fine specimen of a 1981 Kawasaki KZ1100 shaft drive with full Craig Vetter luggage kit supplied and fitted at POS by Kawasaki. It has covered a mere 5000 miles from brand new and is still rocking the original Dunlop Cold Steel tyres Best bit is battery still had life in it and it barked into life on the press of the button !!!!! Carbs will need a good clean though as it’s a bit stuttery low down. I have the original title showing the gentleman bought it new in March 1981 and sold it June 2021 where it left Wyoming and headed to the UK. I have his contact number and am tempted to give him a call, he is 88 now so can’t blame him for not riding anymore. Now I warn you, she’s a bit heavy on the eyes so continue at your own peril !! Inside the fuel tank is absolutely spotless!! Not even a hint of dirt period correct Vanda-Cruise again fitted when new and have the instruction booklet Kraco KID-581H radio which again came with original box, instructions and manual ! Turned on and blasted out some Tay-Tay on the wireless . Complete original exhaust system, not rusted through and quiet as a kittens fart Even the brake lines are still bright gold zinc forks unmarked and stickers all intact Gonna need a good clean under here standard headers all clean still some ancient Dunlop Cold Steel tyres all the original documents and manuals for the various adds on’s And wedged in the garage. I have had to move wife’s Cb500 and my GS500 into the rear garden for now until I sell something or miraculously grow some space As you can see she’s a sound project to go through and sort for the odd summer ride. It will need a going over, and as much as I love the idea it still on the original tyres I will have to put some fresh rubber on. Carbs will want a good sorting as will brakes need a strip and clean. I can’t decide yet about the luggage stuff. The bike shouldn’t have it as they didn’t normally come with it, but when Craig Vetter designed the Windjammer 5 and went into administration, Kawasaki were able to supply factory kits made by Vetter. So it’s a pukka Kawasaki kit but pretty hideous. Equally though I think it’s so ugly it’s good.. I mean it’s 40 years old and looks like it . I may pull all luggage and windjammer off and put that in storage for now with the manuals etc, and then it’s there one day in 20 years time if I decide to sell. I will update this as I start working on it and getting it all sorted.
Excellent find! Pretty horrible but I can understand why you bought it considering your previous exposure in SA - you have found a perfect example to play with now! I’d be tempted to leave it with all the garish add ons on to show it as an example of “how things were” in t’old days! Nice.
I thought it was Craig Vetter? Can’t be arsed Googling it but curious. Was t one of his fairings on the cx500 maggot on Princes’ Purple Rain video? Beware thread drift
You are correct, it’s Craig not Chris ! Been a looooong day. He was the main fairing maker back then so almost certainly was on the CX500. Big massive garish things, but very period for the time along with the Rickman stuff .
The perfect ship anchor for the Royal Navy,lol Good luck for whatever route you take on this Big Daddy.
No, its too clean and original to butcher. At best I will remove the Vetter kit and revert to as they came of production line. It needs a good deep clean as under all the clothes is pretty grubby where the old chap couldn’t/didn’t keep clean.
I can 100% accept it’s not for everyone.. hell even I can’t decide if I love it or hate it. It’s so bad it’s good
Last time I had a heavy Friday night I ended up with a 996 This thing was a stone cold sober purchase that I can’t even excuse and deflect from worst of all is tomorrow is Friday, we’re having friends over in my bar again, the same ones I was drink with last time I bought a bike. I think I will lock my phone and laptop away tomorrow… running out of corners to hide bikes in
ffs so I have to buy a Black bike tomorrow ?? It’s bad enough buying them pissed, now they gotta make up names for the Friday to dictate what colour I buy now
@Slingy123, you sir have purchased the worst looking bike i have ever seen, well done to you For the sanity of man kind can you please get extremly drunk and continue with your impulse purchases which i much prefer. Many thanks, Your fellow Ducatisti
That is all sorts of 1980s wonderfulness, please don't take anything off and enjoy it as it is. And it'll be easy to find in the car park !
I love classic Kwaks but that's too merrycanized for my tastes. I do have a 1977 Z650 tho' (which ironically, came from the U.S.) Practical Sportsbikes borrowed it for a feature a few years back. Its been changed about since then, different wheels, fatter tyres, different brakes etc - otherwise similar to then
she’s a minger all right… but if you close one eye and poke yourself in the other, it’s not actually that bad I don’t think Tonight shall mostly be spent drowning away a bloody horrible manic Friday so for the sanity of my wife, I think it’s best all forms of contact with the outside world are severed until I can be trusted not to by anymore ridiculous tat
