1976 Kawasaki KZ900A "Warehouse Project"

Due to the shortage of nice affordable quality bikes out there, we decided to put a great everyday rider together for the right person. The bike could be an easy prospect for a close-to-perfect motorcycle with the addition of the stock air box, exhaust pipes and a few minor changes. We believe this bike is soon to be very collectible. This bike is for sale. Please contact us if there is interest. 330-335-7365 NOW LISTED ON EBAY: www.ebay.com/i...

[@aryaamit]

Not for living room. Need to open a museum It's an inspiration to own a timeless classic like this.

[@kawythowy867]

I love KZ’s! CLASSIC. Incredible sound. EVERYONE knows what I mean. You can be 1/2 mike away and you will here the MUUUAAAAAAA...and be hooked for LIFE! I have a 77 1000a1. Had it since ‘11. Been slowly fixing it. But this winter she’s going under the knife for the big one.

[@jeffrey3498]

Wow, the work you guys do is just stunning. Fantastic! 😎👍

[@kennethhowell1272]

Really cool. From a basketcase to back near original. Love those old Kawasaki KZ's especially when they still had kick starters. Great job

[@bobstevens9040]

Kawasaki Z900 . One of the best looking bikes ever made. I guess the KZ900a designation was for the American market.Here in the UK it was Z900. You've made a lovely job of bringing this beauty back from the dead. Well done.

[@JohnSmith-xx5ou]

No, the best looking bike ever made is the yamaha rd 350 lc

[@mariodesmo]

I owned that exact model/year/color back in the day. Man that bike was fun, fast, and a treat to ride around on. I triangulated the frame about 10-12 inches back from the neck. Cured a lot of the wobbles when racing around on the mountain twisties. lol But it still shook its head pretty good at speed. i've had many bikes since, including my 1988 ZX10 that I bought new. Much improved over the old KZ, but I do wish I had kept my KZ900! Your bike looks great!

[@FearToNothing]

This really should be the standard of what people so called "restoration". Nice work sir, really appriciated that!

[@mcbraveheart13]

My first big bike was a 76 KZ900a . Wow, what a huge bike it was! I came off Yamaha RD400's. It was, had been, the 73 Z1900, 3rd year when they began to tune it down as it had been the fastest production motorcycle on earth. The Kawi H2 750 was the quickest that same year (I drag raced those later). I was in college, rode it to college & it was 1977.

[@spaceshuttle1]

Johnny that bike came out awesome. Keep these videos coming.

[@vmaxmuscle5612]

Love your videos your the last of the great bike shops left , I would love to come work there it would be a dream for me .

[@BucketWheat]

My Brother had a Gorgeous 76 KZ900, in the Root Beer Brown, with Gold and red-orange pinstripes... And Immediately orderred a New Z900RS ... and picked it up from the Dealership on January 7 !! He regretted selling his original...and LOVES the new one! You did a Wonderful job of building up this 're-generation' of what has to be a Landmark Bike from the 70's.

[@shartne]

That one seems to run the best of all the bikes I heard that I watched you rebuild. It sounded really smooth. Great job it looks fantastic.

[@kikiaguilar2604]

What a kool project bike made out of a bunch of parts that fell together. Its sweet

[@ptolemyelrington2491]

Nice work. Pretty bike too. I'm impressed how polite you are when responding to some of the comments...

[@scottyharrington164]

I have been viewing your builds for month's now and I agree with some of the comments from other viewers about some of the things that you go to great distances to upgrade certain components on your bike's. Although as a business man myself I understand that alot of the upgrades that you do are necessary and by filming them you not only improve the bike but you also are very ingenious on how you use your marketing skills. Example: Installing multiple fasteners that are readily available for purchase at your shop. Also I appreciate that you try to keep the bike as close to original as possible. But I do agree with some of the points that other people have made on your page. Like changing parts and then leaving other things like scratches intact. Although some of your practices I don't get, but all in all im impressed with the attention to detail you do take. So I am interested in using your company to build my dreambike. We will just change a few things that you do, like installing a rippled seat cover instead of a custom leather seat. And a plastic chain guard instead of a quality aftermarket chrome one that would dress up the bike even more. Well that being said I guess the next step is to put my money where my mouth is and get in touch with you and finding me a kz 1000, preferably a 75 to 77 model. And using your expertice and experience, and my creativity and knowledge. So together we will build the nicest bike yet that we can. And I can't wait to see the finished product! Then all the people that have something to comment on it as we go can give their oppinions and input for us to use to better the build. Thank you for your time and I can't wait to meet you and get this project started!!! I will contact you with a retainer and my contact information. Thanks again: Scott Harrington. West Jefferson, Ohio.

[@thespiritof76.]

Did you ever get the build started?

[@davidmccall4776]

I had the other of two colors offered in 1976, a brown one. Bought new for $2609.00! Loved that bike! ☮✌

[@ericheine2414]

My friend Joe bought one home. He said take it for a ride. We thought it was the best motorcycle ever built. I still think it's the best motorcycle ever built. Bulletproof. 82 GPZ 1100, EFI

[@zrkn1]

The bike is a beauty and love the color. You and your men are an inspiration. All I can say is GREAT WORK MEN!!!

[@jeffreymarchant4020]

Very close...Just never had the chrome gauge bottoms...they were all black in76...I had one bought in California...But it is performing the same as the original...And I can see that it is...You did a good job. Boy do I miss riding that model...sold it in 1978 with 78,000 original miles... and saw the guy who bought it in 1987 it still had all the same equipment as I sold it...However they all sound the same with the Kerker and the Vance and Hines 4-1 chrome right side pipes...I replaced my originals and they were resold by the bike shop...Good video detail...

[@gspiggity]

Very informative, love your work and attention to detail! Good to see you keeping these old girls alive.Subscribed

[@openhighwayproductions]

A lot of value here, great to see someone is saving them. My first bike was a 82 KZ750.

[@MBIKES21]

You guys do a great job.

[@artdelossantos1512]

i love the sound of the exhaust..

[@garybarfoot9856]

Takes me back to the good old days, I had a 77 z nine with twin discs I'm from UK so it was a z 900 no k.

[@123kiddilex]

Love your work Johnny !! Greetings from Iceland :)

[@kikiaguilar2604]

That bike turned out sweet I would totally ride it

[@pedroc6823]

Brings back memories. My first was a GPZ 550. I love all those bikes.

[@dustynbustos5983]

About that battery box... I just found out on my '76, it is a shorter battery than the typical 14-LA-2 batteries most of them took. The more common battery didn't quite fit under that upper bracket. I found that to be interesting. It's kind of fun learning about those little details and small changes they made along the way.

[@andythemason3578]

Amazing awesome build 🏍🏍🏍

[@wisecampmotorcycles8258]

Hey Johnny, you are the coolest man. I do a similar thing in Australia, but on a much smaller scale. Love those KZ's. In Australia, it was just a Z. I've owned and ridden three 650's, still have a 78 model.

[@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne]

I don't even own a screwdriver, yet I find your video's compelling viewing....

[@zulu59blue27]

Awesome job , beautiful bike and fantastic skills ☺👍👍👍 ride safe 😊

[@northof-62]

Kawasaki should honor you with a medal or something.

[@dadyroos2942]

Great Job. My favoured bikes ever the 1976 KZ 900

[@pablocespedes9585]

You just made a HEART out of rotten guts... that bike looks wonderful!

[@cecilwilson5442]

Another great video I liked my 900 a4 better than the z1 because I used to be able to get the cylinder block and polish it with the side casings as my z1 I'd have to be careful in cleaning not to damage the painted block pain in the winter months lots of autosol alloy polish worn finger tips 😢👍🍀Joy's of youth cheers from Belfast 🍀

[@justinbradfield6499]

Sir I love ur channel where is ur shop located ?????

[@Johnnysvintage]

WADSWORTH, Ohio

[@chrisriddiford6216]

Facebook

[@jltrack]

Absolutely gorgeous job. I'm surprised you used pods rather than an air-box.

[@jamesplumb5296]

Lovely job...a thing of beauty..great video.

[@richie9777]

I can only dream of owning one of those

[@johnbelcher7164]

The 900 z1B is the fastest Bike i ever rode Awesome

[@yokehuatgoh]

wow, beautiful bike!

[@RP-lh5ih]

Did anyone notice that the frame used was z900 1976 A4 frame but it had been braced in several places.

[@shahrinabubakar9999]

Very..Very..Very..nice bike

[@aeror115]

Big Kawasaki fan here! love your work and this bike!💚 Try to get a minimalistic and retro cafe racer from Kawa

[@Johnnysvintage]

Thanks for watching, AeroR. Many of our semi-restores are great candidates to do just that.

[@kikiaguilar2604]

That does sound good

[@ChristopherHayniedd980]

Man that is a nice bike.

[@charlesthomas76]

Like butter 🧈

[@AdvandesAlmeida]

Good Job 👊👊👊👊👏👏👏✅✅🇨🇦🇧🇷

[@jimrowe4177]

He had 6800 good reasons to do what he did. It's a business and he's doing it right.

[@destarruction]

Love it

[@Donvonn71]

Another beautiful bike done buy you Johnny ... Bring it for a blast redline it.... It's the police keep driving .... Something we did in our twenty's....🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️😎😎😎😎😎😎💯💯💯💯💯💯🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️

[@kalaharimine]

Very nice, at appears that your American versions have higher rise bars.

[@kawythowy867]

Bee Cee not me. I use superbike bars. A step above drag but still low and mean looking.

[@klempnersanitar7936]

All these shiny new parts. But this rusty cold start lever doesn't fit to this cool bike, also the rusty screw on the other side of the carburetor. All in all a good lookin' masterpiece.

[@tg8150]

You either stripe the side covers also or nothing at all. They stand out like a sore thumb. To be picky your seat cover needs pulled tighter also as I see a little looseness.

[@mreaw8544]

LOve the bikes you do , do you have anything for a 78 CB750A

[@bwxmoto]

Very cool

[@tysoncott7402]

Is that a dent in that new V&H exhaust?

[@kikiaguilar2604]

What was the final cost as far as man hours and parts

[@dustynbustos5983]

... And what are you running for replacement points? I like the old Japanese points, but not so much the Chinese ones.

[@Johnnysvintage]

we are lucky to still have some good stuff laying around or we can always switch to a dyna

[@dustynbustos5983]

@@Johnnysvintage was just talking to my local supplier about that! 😳 You know Kawasaki is putting out new Z1 heads?

[@robertbrandywine]

Did these bikes come with a silver painted engine block or just a blasted satin finish?

[@Johnnysvintage]

The 73 engine was black, but the rest of the Z1s and KZ900s were a raw aluminum finish.

[@oldcoinchaser8723]

Do you work on other bikes or just Kawasaki?

[@smartypantznumber2840]

Z1r 78 my favorite.

[@kikiaguilar2604]

How many times does he say replanted

[@brianw338]

Why do you like to run them on reserve ?

[@Johnnysvintage]

just in case there is a problem with the valve and I like to send as much fuel as I can through both pipes

[@brianw338]

Johnnysvintagemotorcycle Gotcha. That makes sense

[@norbertpecheq3427]

This choke lever needs desperately some attention as well!!

[@llewvirtue861]

Painted parts, some people have no idea

[@tahirusman5929]

Could you inbox me on how much a Z900 will cost me fully restored if II order one from you?Thanks(sorry if this is an inappropriate post)

[@Johnnysvintage]

Tahir Usman can you email [e-mail] with this inquiry and let us know what you’re looking for? Year, model, etc. we don’t ship ourselves, but we have links to recommended shipping companies at the bottom of our web page www.johnnysvintagemotorcycle.com

[@tahirusman5929]

@@Johnnysvintage Roger will do thanks.

[@Oldcoinsandstuff1]

How much would this bike be when it’s done

[@Johnnysvintage]

It sold for 6500

[@Oldcoinsandstuff1]

I've owned 7 bikes but my favorite was Kawasaki LTD 550. ???

[@johnisenberg6259]

Do you work on Suzuki motorcycles to?

[@Johnnysvintage]

We concentrate heavily on vintage Kawasaki. We're pretty backed up, some 2 years for restoration.

[@lochzoch8987]

38:02 lmao the light turned off?

[@tigerward88]

1976 A4

[@SteveHacker]

Great video, but instead of showing us what you DID (past-tense), how about showing us WHILE YOU’RE DOING IT. This is barely only better than a glorified slide show, which is not very educational. I’d (and I’m sure many others) MUCH rather see longer videos, or more videos in a SERIES for any given project. “SHOW, don’t tell!”...

[@davidanderson4500]

well said.

[@angelsoriani3469]

Quiero que me regalen una Kawa por favor soy de argentina los quiero

[@sbcranemn5260]

How much

[@Johnnysvintage]

I'd like to sell it for $7,500

[@ANDRIANFEMIXOBOY]

Kz 200cc Bobber style : kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXzKm2Z-Z9CmsNE

[@lr937]

Not a good rebuild bike based on t fact that this guys can build anything from t ground up ....

[@Hoggdoc1946]

I don't get where they are going with this build. He is going to details on fasteners and leaving the engine looking like crap. The frame should have been stripped and power coated, but no. However he put a replated fender bracket on it. I just don't get it. It's not a survival bike, the engine numbers don't match. It just seems to me to be a half ass restoration job on a bike that has little or no appeal on the market.

[@Johnnysvintage]

Thank you first of all for your interest and sharing your opinion. This was a winter project and I wanted to keep my boys working. We had a lot of good parts that I wanted to use up as well as many new parts that you see on the bike. I wanted to make an affordable, classic, everyday rider that looked nice. A showbike was not my end goal. If you look in the early part of the video, you saw lots of things that were painted that should have been CAD or chromed. We have a huge stock of re-plated parts in our bins. We now have the bike up on ebay at a very modest reserve, and I think someone will have a lot of fun on it. Please stay in touch.

[@Hoggdoc1946]

Got it makes sense now...

[@marvingross8151]

No airbox available ?

[@Johnnysvintage]

We could put an airbox on it, but we didn't have the extension that goes on it. Those are very hard to find.

[@cletendre9368]

Does Johnny even work on anything Or does he just talk into the camera And have his name on the building

[@cletendre9368]

You don't make them you buy them cheap and sell them for more OK you don't make them get it straight