1986 ZL900 Registry

[jd2ndzl]

JD2NDZL 86 zl900 5118 Dyer IN. stock 10500 miles black.
Just picked up 12/29/18
Runs good fuel issues Harley petcock 1/4 fuel line little lawn mower fuel filter .

 

[Niek]

Greetings to all international members from New Zealand.This is my very first msg.I have an A2(1 of only 9 ZL's ever imported new into NZ by Kawasaki NZ) that i've owned for over 2 years now and only now nearing quite a comprehensive restoration. It's Luminous Red manufacture date on headstock is 2/86 and last 4 digits of serial no are 2320.

According to Kawasaki, A2's were only ever produced in Ebony Black. Luminous Red was only used on A1's. An easy check: is the brake line mounted above or below the rear brake caliper? Above is A1, below is A2. Another check would be the owner's manual that came with the bike; this should say either ZL900-A1 or ZL900-A2 on the back.

 

[Harriminator]

I have the A1, but my brake line is orig. below...hmmm? Another distinctive feature is the ducktail: A1 has in plastic w/ that pattern 'out of the form', A2 is painted black glossy.

 

[Niek]

I have the A1, but my brake line is orig. below...hmmm? Another distinctive feature is the ducktail: A1 has in plastic w/ that pattern 'out of the form', A2 is painted black glossy.
View attachment 41374

I should rephrase what I wrote. (my bad)
Your brake caliper is an A1 item, the brake line is connected at the top of the caliper. When I said 'mounted', I meant 'connected'. This is what you get when a Dutchman tries to speak English.

 

[Niek]

This is an A2 rear brake caliper. Note the position of the banjo bolt. (this actually is a GTR1000/Concours caliper but never mind)

 

[Harriminator]

Good to have now two pics for comparison.

 

[v-max31]

According to Kawasaki, A2's were only ever produced in Ebony Black. Luminous Red was only used on A1's. An easy check: is the brake line mounted above or below the rear brake caliper? Above is A1, below is A2. Another check would be the owner's manual that came with the bike; this should say either ZL900-A1 or ZL900-A2 on the back.

That's an interesting comment Kawasaki only made A2 in Ebony Black.As already mentioned in my first post i'm sure my Luminous Red is definately an A2.Proof of this is it has the later rear caliper and the ducktail is smooth moulded plastic painted LR colour.This was cracked when i got the bike so was replaced using an A1 with original semi-satin black textured finish.I've also seen pics of other red A2's but most common are red A1's.I'm sure the manufacture date and frame/engine stamp on the headstock i supplied in that first post should identify technically which model.

 

[slug]

According to Kawasaki, A2's were only ever produced in Ebony Black. Luminous Red was only used on A1's.

Where did you read that? Definitely not true - my ’86 A2 was originally factory red (I repainted it black), and it was also half year model with wing decal on the tank.

 

[slug]

That's an interesting comment Kawasaki only made A2 in Ebony Black.As already mentioned in my first post i'm sure my Luminous Red is definately an A2.Proof of this is it has the later rear caliper and the ducktail is smooth moulded plastic painted LR colour.This was cracked when i got the bike so was replaced using an A1 with original semi-satin black textured finish.I've also seen pics of other red A2's but most common are red A1's.I'm sure the manufacture date and frame/engine stamp on the headstock i supplied in that first post should identify technically which model.

Ahh it’s your bike up on TradeMe, I just did a post here on it! It’s astonishing that it has less than 20,000 kilometres on it, I put 50,000 kilometres on mine and sold it at 136,000 - I think I recall you commented favourably on my auction!

 

[Niek]

Where did you read that? Definitely not true - my ’86 A2 was originally factory red (I repainted it black), and it was also half year model with wing decal on the tank.

This is what the 'part 2' states. This is a document which contains the part numbers of the decals, like the wing on the tank for example.

Without wanting to sound daft, do I understand that your bike was red AND had the wing decal on the tank from new?

 

[slug]

This is what the 'part 2' states. This is a document which contains the part numbers of the decals, like the wing on the tank for example.

Without wanting to sound daft, do I understand that your bike was red AND had the wing decal on the tank from new?

Yes that’s right, and of course also the bottom fed rear caliper.

However I am loathe to trust the wing decal on its own, mine was high mileage when I got it and showed evidence of a crash with a scrape on the sissy bar, so who knows, maybe my tank wasn’t original, but was factory red.

Interesingly my VIN/serial is only 18 lower than the other New Zealand bike that V-Max31 here is also showing as a red A2 (2302/2320), but just 10 lower engine number (8002/8012).

 

[Raf900]

show a pic of a zl9 tank in red with a wing please.

 

[markus56]

I've never seen a red ZL900 with a red wing decal on it.......never.......and I've seen alot of Eliminators!

 

[Fern]

Found this on the net. I have seen a few throughout the years.

 

[slug]

I recall it being discussed on ZL-OA back in the past - it was a legitimate option to buy as a replacement part as well:

 

[R. J.]

So it definitely came stock on the 86 ZL 900. I wonder if any wings are floating around out in the lost part number world. .

 

[Raf900]

It had no part number for the decal only. That option was only buying the entire tank and it was black.

 

[R. J.]

OK: Thanks. Does anyone have an 86 ZL 9 with the wing on the fuel tank. I'd like a close up pic and measurements width x height. Thanks.

 

[slug]

I certainly don’t recall anyone else doing a repro of that decal before.

 

[R. J.]

Yes I figured so. . I just thought by chance that the wing just might of had it's own part #.