A Hello and help needed

[kawa1190rc]

Started riding late 70s First bike a S1 didnt kill me, went to a 77 Z650 then 2 1980 Z750 thru to early 90s. Stop riding due to becoming single parent.
Then 99 bought ZX6R stop riding in early 2000 due to car having a go at me now in wheelchair. In late 07 bought a 1980/81 Bimota Kb1 sereis2 at action in UK to rebuild.I cannt ride so have former NZ b grader who rides my 08 KTM 1190RC8 and Kb1 when finished. The problem I have is need a complete outer clutch assemble including the basket for kb1. The engine used in the kb1 was 1980 z1000 H1 [EFI] which basically is a Z1000a4 mk2 only a few came to Australia for testing of the EFI. So any help I can getting a clutch assemble or about fitting a different one will be very welcome Regards Bomber

[MadKaw]

Wellcome abooard.
I'm sure our local ealy Kwaka anorac, Gos, will be able to help you out..

Sounds like a nice bit of kit.. Any pics.??

[waynemorgan]

Welcome aboard

[Nelso]

Can't help you with your problem but welcome.

[seiko1]

Welcome

[red_dave]

Welcome aboard...

[swearbear9r]

Hi and welcome mate.............

[smithy5]

G'day and welcome

[Gosling1]

.....I'm sure our local early Kwaka anorac, Gos, will be able to help you out.. ....Sounds like a nice bit of kit.. Any pics.??

Yes, thanks for that.....Anorac eh ?

........The problem I have is need a complete outer clutch assemble including the basket for kb1. The engine used in the kb1 was 1980 z1000 H1 [EFI] which basically is a Z1000a4 mk2 only a few came to Australia for testing of the EFI. So any help I can getting a clutch assemble or about fitting a different one will be very welcome Regards Bomber....

Hi Bomber, welcome to the forum mate. A short history of the Z1000H1 may be in order.....

I have 2 of the EFI Z1000H1 models. One was bought back in 1981, with 18,000km on the clock. This one is known to the forum here as The Black Pearl. It is a great bike, and has a build date of April/80. I purchased the 2nd about 9 years ago from a seller in Ballarat. It has a build date of March/80, engine # 000039, and frame # 000065. One of the first 50 mass-produced fuel-injected motorcycles ever made.....I missed a 3rd in Sydney back in the mid-90's, and have dibs on a 4th up in Qld at a mates place.

There were a total of 33 Z1000H's bought into Australia in 1980, out of a total of about 1000 worldwide. They were released here as a model in their own right, not just for testing the EFI - although that was the basic premise of the model on a global scale, as a 'test-bed' for the GPz1100B1, which was released at Cologne in about October 1980.

Anyway - enough about the mighty H - and onwards to your KB1. Here is some info about the motor used in the KB1.....

"......The power plant was taken from the Kawasaki Z1000. Maximum output of 84 hp at 7,950 rpm. Maximum torque of 8.1 kg at 6,500 rpm. Effective engine displacement of 1015 cc. Compression ration of 8.7:1. 28 mm Mikuki carburettors, air cooled, double overhead camshaft, wet clutch and five-speed gearbox. The 900 cc engine can be installed, in place of the 1015 cc one....."

That quote is straight from the Bimota Enthusiasts website.

The motor generally used in the KB1 when built as a kit-bike, was normally a standard Z1000Mk2 motor, which can either be the 1979 or 1980 model. The specifications above refer to standard 28mm Mikuni carbies being used, which is exactly what I recall being fitted to this model Bimota from back in the early 80's - I doubt very much that the EFI head would be suitable, as it has a large air-flow meter situated directly behind the standard air-box, and right above the battery in a standard frame, and the KB1 frame was really tight for room in this area - also, the H model used a large ECU which was normally located in the tailpiece of the standard bike. Not sure how much room there would be for an ECU in a KB1 frame.

Its entirely possible of course to fit a complete Z1000H1 motor, with a Mk2 head and carbies, or even a Z1000H1 head with the injector holes blanked off and carbies fitted - this may be what was fitted to the UK model you got ?? Earlier Z1000 motors could also be used, and also the z900 series fitted straight in. There were only 827 KB1's made by Bimota, with only 16 being built at the factory as complete bikes.

In any case - the clutch assembly from any Z1000Mk2, Z1R Mk2, or the previous Z1000A1-A4 should be fine in your motor, as the clutch assemblies are all basically identical. If you can find a Z1000H1 motor, the clutch out of this could also be used, although these motors are basically as rare as rocking horse shit - you should be able to locate a stock Z1000 clutch at just about any early-model wreckers (Penrith M/C Wreckers would be a good place to start)....

Essentially - in engine terms - the Z1000H1 was identical in almost all respects to the standard Z1000Mk2 of 79/80, with the exception of the additional ECU, ECU harness, fuel pump and injectors etc....and the injector holes cast into the head. There were a couple of additional sensors on the motor......but basically, everything under the cylinder head gasket is the same between these models.

Hope this helps out mate - I can probably dig up some info/pictures etc of the KB1, from the library.....if you need them let me know.