KAWASAKI Z550
CMM reader John Vassallo couldn’t turn down the chance for a cheap, rough, late 1980s Kawasaki as a project… but first, let’s hear some background.
Reader John Vassallo bags a bargain.
I’ve never been a fan of football, or any sports: just bikes. My first holiday abroad was Malta in 1974. I still have the photo of me stood with a Honda police bike. I was five. Sure enough, the first bike I owned was a 1964 Honda C50, when I was 11. Then a Casal 50 at 14. Now that was a very quick moped! I’d love another Honda step-thru, but look at the prices! If we fast-forward to the end of 1984, I turned 16 and had my first bike on the road, a 1979 Yamaha DT50.
Of course, the initial thrill of that first road bike was great, but it soon wore off when it began jumping out of gear. I sold this and bought a 1979 FS1-E (BKP 995T) from someone in a Kent village near me called Charing. I wonder what happened to it? The Fizzy, not the village, as I believe it’s still there! The man selling it said it wasn’t standard, and it didn’t feel
standard on the test ride, and leaving my friends behind on newer Y and A reg machines was such fun! Surely this was £150 well spent? But, of course, the thought of owning a car at 17 was the next thing so the Fizzy went.
The year 1990 saw a brief return to bikes when I owned a 1982 Suzuki TS100ER, in red. Quite a good-looking bike I thought. I also had a blue one which I used for spares. This was also good for a bit of green lane action. I took my full test in 1996, but didn’t own another bike till 2010 when I bought a 1996 Yamaha RXS100. This thing was great, and brought back memories of the old Fizzy; same colour too, blue. I put 2000 miles on that bike, before moving to an RD200. It was a 1982 model on an X-reg, in an LC colour scheme. I always wonder why Yamaha continued these longer than the 400? This thing had Microns so, of course, sounded great. After this came a Kawasaki KLR250. It was green with a purple frame. Mark Baker, a friend, said it looked like a David Icke track suit, but this thing was ultra-reliable. Another friend, Gary, had a KTM450 and was a keen off-roader, and was pleased he had someone to join him. If any of you have never tried this, I’d say give it a go. I found it more fun than road riding, even if I did fall off a few times. An afternoon off-roading feels like you’ve been in the gym all day.
Then came a 1990 GSX-R750, which was stood for years in a friend’s shed. I didn’t enjoy riding this and soon swapped it for a GPZ900, which I kept on my drive and used to rev it up, hoping to ride it one day, but never did for some reason. Eventually it wouldn’t start and I ended up selling it. A 1986 Yamaha TZR250 project then came into my possession; very rough, but a runner. Wow! This was a sporty two-stroke and yet this sat around for a few months until a tired 350LC came my way. We’re almost up-to-date. So, two years ago now, I bought that LC from a workmate, which was last used in 1990. The restoration took me two years. Another two LC owners – Brian Perkins and Steve Ryle – helped with info. On completion, CMM Editor Bertie featured it in ‘Show Us Yours’. The previous owner was keen for picture updates of his old 350, which I happily sent on. I then asked him what he did with his old Z550? He replied that he’d done nothing with it, and should really sell it on. I’ve always been a fan of the Kawasaki Z-series. Who wouldn’t be?
This 1987 model looks more like a courier bike I’d say, but it’s not completely ugly. It still has the lovely looking four-cylinder DOHC engine, which was enough to make me want it and it is air-cooled, too.
I made him an offer to which he agreed. On top of this, he even delivered it to my house! The bike wheeled out of the van on two flat tyres, one of which pumped up and stayed up. It was obvious the bike had been stood outside for years.
The whole thing was filthy and the seat torn, which was a shame, but it was all there though, with original indicators and mirrors, side-panels all good and 17,000 miles showing. The front brake lever was full of play, and the rear brake was seized in the off (up) position. Stuart, the previous owner, had assured me the engine wasn’t seized, but I needed to check! Plugs out, first gear selected, on the centre-stand, I began to rotate the rear wheel. It was free. A friend, Dave Sims, set up the dummy fuel tank I’d purchased for this project. With fresh fuel and much engine spinning it started up. What a result. Now for the cleaning up. My first thought was how much stuff do I have in the shed? WD-40, Muck Off, etc. The bike clearly was going to need plenty. I bought a can of PMA multi-lube for that seized brake pedal. The Muck Off spray is good for pretty much an entire bike, even seats. Then there was the spider webs around the clocks, headlight and switch gear. Engine too. Shame the chrome headlight trim has rusted. WD-40 was good on the wheels, bringing them up clean, then there was plenty of spraying and gentle scrubbing with a kitchen sponge. With a new battery, I found all the lights were working.
So far so good then! Next it’s time for the strip down and a check on what parts I may require.