Hi there mate from Australia. I drove 550Km yesterday to pick one of these babies up. A lady first brought her in 76, rode for 3 years, had an 'incident' then popped the bike in her garage and that was it. 20, 000km the Clock. Thank you so much for the series on the restoration. With your talent you call it a 'makeover', you've given her the Love that not many could and brought her back. She is beautiful mate, my Dad was an engineer, beautifully done!. By watching the Video I know that the journey yesterday was well worth it. Runs like a clock, I have to contend with a broken mirror head, that's about it. A service and going over. Both your talent and your patience are amazing, When shall I ever learn?. I just subscribed and very much look forward to watching more of your work. Thanks again, loved it!.
Thanks for your kind words and your sub Robert. Really good to hear you have found one that has not been messed with, it is becoming rarer these days, at least in this part of the world. I really enjoyed working on the little Z, you will manage it no problem, they are simple enough to figure out. Sending my best
John, a real honor that you said Hello. I picked my little baby up and then saw what you did and the Labor of Love to keep her Alive. Not many floating around here either. In your travels for youtube, if you come across a Kawasaki Ninja 250 in your travels at the right Price, maybe have a look. I have a 2010, becoming a classic here in Australia. Before my factory manual arrived, I youtubed very basic servicing by Laymen, many subscribers. You have 336 now, considering your Mechanical Genius and your patient ways of explaining things, Should be many many more. Many 'Butchers' around working on these bikes, Nice to know how it Should be done. Same Company as the z200, same Spirit I believe. This Company is the Pinnacle, always a little better than Rivals. I truly believe that if you were to demonstrate a basic service, Oil, Filters, Coolant etc, your subscribers would leap. Help you along the way with other projects. To do the plugs and Coolant alone, the Fairing must come off. Just a thought, Gods Speed to You. My Dad was an Engineer, Truly gifted, No one saw this except me. It should not be that way. Thanks again for sharing the resurrection of the z200, only a handful of People could have done this these days. People get to see the glorious past. Thanks mate, Rob.
Nice series on this bike. I just finished getting a 1980 Honda CB650 back on 2 wheels. One of the biggest challenges I see with the older bikes, if you are not a mechanic or mechanically inclined, is getting someone who is not a knuckhead to work on them. With almost every bike I have bought and restored I see so many things done wrong and some things cannot be undone. Good people spending good money and not getting what they paid for. Very sad....
Aye, Roland, I come across that all the time, these old bikes need attention to detail to keep them in good form. As you say, lots of bodges done to them over the years, now that value has gone into them, some people just see the money they can make and often byers have no clue what they are in for!
Frequent oil changes are essential , if you don't want the cam to eat the journals. The cam runs on alloy bearing surface and that was the reason many ended up in breakers. I rescued mine while looking for parts for a Z250G LTD. It's basically the same engine(casings are marked Z200).it had no head , but I had 4 engines to work with. I bought it for £100. A 250 dropped straight in. . I had to give up the bikes when my daughter was born(18 years ago!) and she was sold for £500. The 250 LTD is sitting in my brothers garden, I'll rescue it and bring it back to life, one day! I got a custom stainless exhaust made for the LTD by Gazelle UK (25 years ago), its still it the wrapping paper!! One day, one day.
And a lack of depreciation on historic bikes! Parts & bikes here in Oz seem to be ridiculous right now. I just did a 6v to 12v conversion on my CT110 & new parts would have been close to AUD$2000. I bought a donor bike instead. I'd much rather ride the z200 than a modern plastic fantastic.
I love what you have done to your bike, it has insprired me to get going with mine! SAre you doing a video of the 12v conversion? Yes, parts are expensive, but as you say, much better with the old ones!
@@johndocbikerestorations831 yes I've made 2 videos of the 12v conversion, first one out next week. It has transformed the bike for me, I can run the headlight during the day without stressing over flat battery or blown globes, indicators are brighter & the whole electrics is more reliable. Wished now I did the conversion when I first got the bike, I wasted a lot of money on several batteries, stator, regulators & globes... By using a donor bike it cost me less than the price of a new stator!
Hi there mate from Australia. I drove 550Km yesterday to pick one of these babies up. A lady first brought her in 76, rode for 3 years, had an 'incident' then popped the bike in her garage and that was it. 20, 000km the Clock. Thank you so much for the series on the restoration. With your talent you call it a 'makeover', you've given her the Love that not many could and brought her back. She is beautiful mate, my Dad was an engineer, beautifully done!. By watching the Video I know that the journey yesterday was well worth it. Runs like a clock, I have to contend with a broken mirror head, that's about it. A service and going over. Both your talent and your patience are amazing, When shall I ever learn?. I just subscribed and very much look forward to watching more of your work. Thanks again, loved it!.
Thanks for your kind words and your sub Robert. Really good to hear you have found one that has not been messed with, it is becoming rarer these days, at least in this part of the world. I really enjoyed working on the little Z, you will manage it no problem, they are simple enough to figure out. Sending my best
John, a real honor that you said Hello. I picked my little baby up and then saw what you did and the Labor of Love to keep her Alive. Not many floating around here either. In your travels for youtube, if you come across a Kawasaki Ninja 250 in your travels at the right Price, maybe have a look. I have a 2010, becoming a classic here in Australia. Before my factory manual arrived, I youtubed very basic servicing by Laymen, many subscribers. You have 336 now, considering your Mechanical Genius and your patient ways of explaining things, Should be many many more. Many 'Butchers' around working on these bikes, Nice to know how it Should be done. Same Company as the z200, same Spirit I believe. This Company is the Pinnacle, always a little better than Rivals. I truly believe that if you were to demonstrate a basic service, Oil, Filters, Coolant etc, your subscribers would leap. Help you along the way with other projects. To do the plugs and Coolant alone, the Fairing must come off. Just a thought, Gods Speed to You. My Dad was an Engineer, Truly gifted, No one saw this except me. It should not be that way. Thanks again for sharing the resurrection of the z200, only a handful of People could have done this these days. People get to see the glorious past. Thanks mate, Rob.
@@robertSharp-s3s Cheers Robert, I will be doing a service video on the CBR1000F, if I get a hold of a Nija I will certainly do one on that! Take care
I enjoyed watching this one john, beautiful bike. Hopefully it will be around for another forty odd years
Thanks Brian, yes hopefully the work preserves for a few years to come!
Nice series on this bike. I just finished getting a 1980 Honda CB650 back on 2 wheels. One of the biggest challenges I see with the older bikes, if you are not a mechanic or mechanically inclined, is getting someone who is not a knuckhead to work on them. With almost every bike I have bought and restored I see so many things done wrong and some things cannot be undone. Good people spending good money and not getting what they paid for. Very sad....
Aye, Roland, I come across that all the time, these old bikes need attention to detail to keep them in good form. As you say, lots of bodges done to them over the years, now that value has gone into them, some people just see the money they can make and often byers have no clue what they are in for!
My first bike was a Z250. Bought it in the mid 80's and when it was stolen I was gutted. Would love another one.
I have a Z250A 1981, yes they are lovely bikes!
Frequent oil changes are essential , if you don't want the cam to eat the journals. The cam runs on alloy bearing surface and that was the reason many ended up in breakers. I rescued mine while looking for parts for a Z250G LTD. It's basically the same engine(casings are marked Z200).it had no head , but I had 4 engines to work with. I bought it for £100. A 250 dropped straight in. . I had to give up the bikes when my daughter was born(18 years ago!) and she was sold for £500. The 250 LTD is sitting in my brothers garden, I'll rescue it and bring it back to life, one day! I got a custom stainless exhaust made for the LTD by Gazelle UK (25 years ago), its still it the wrapping paper!! One day, one day.
Get that bike done! Step at a time, you can achieve anything
Great job! You spent less than I thought you did. It’s a beauty for sure. 🎉
Yes Greg, I was quite fortunate to get all the bits I needed without a second mortgage! Unlike some of my other projects!
And a lack of depreciation on historic bikes! Parts & bikes here in Oz seem to be ridiculous right now. I just did a 6v to 12v conversion on my CT110 & new parts would have been close to AUD$2000. I bought a donor bike instead. I'd much rather ride the z200 than a modern plastic fantastic.
I love what you have done to your bike, it has insprired me to get going with mine! SAre you doing a video of the 12v conversion? Yes, parts are expensive, but as you say, much better with the old ones!
@@johndocbikerestorations831 yes I've made 2 videos of the 12v conversion, first one out next week. It has transformed the bike for me, I can run the headlight during the day without stressing over flat battery or blown globes, indicators are brighter & the whole electrics is more reliable. Wished now I did the conversion when I first got the bike, I wasted a lot of money on several batteries, stator, regulators & globes... By using a donor bike it cost me less than the price of a new stator!
I m8 I have a question are a Secret order of bikes m8 have you got the Disease when it comes to bikes like me lol
LOL Andy, I definitely do! I am embarrassed to say how many bikes are lying about here! It keep us going eh