Marks 13
Here is a brief history of my 13; I hope it makes some sense to you. I'm looking forward to seeing this on your site. I bought my Z1300 in 1992; it was standard apart from a jama exhaust system and paint job. I rode it around like this for 5 years then I started to modify things. The first mod was an air box and an unknown filter that didn’t upset the engine I’m on the third air box now (I couldn’t get the first two to look right) Every nut and bolt has been changed to stainless Allen’s. Then the modifying bug really bit and I waded in with this lot; Fork brace, Radiator grill, Idiot light cover, Bar ends, Headlight brackets, Horn cover, Reservoir cover, Swinging arm adjuster covers, mirrors, and loads more, all hand made from ally.
Then I decided to upgrade the brakes and fitted four pot callipers, braided steel lines and full floating discs, which is brill. The old ones were getting badly worn. I then resprayed the bike red but didn’t like the pin stripe, did it again in green, liked the pin stripe but not the green, did it again in red with the better pin stripe!
Every thing that is made in ally and is painted as standard is now polished; Indicators, Switchgear, Master cylinders, engine, etc.
By now the jama exhaust system was getting scruffy so a new system was bunged on, and a pair of Hagon fat boy shocks to replace a pair of Sebacs that are too hard.
A new seat cover was made and fitted by a local chap and looks good.
All these mods took me 5 years to do as I’m disabled (chronic asthmatic), and can only do a bit at a time but it doesn’t stop me from riding.
I have been using continental tyres in standard sizes, which seems to suit the bike.
I am thinking of making a mechanical anti-dive to the bike but I am still trying to figure it out.
I’ve spent loads of money on the bike but it was worth it and I have won a few trophies at a couple of shows. Hopefully I’ll win some more soon.
Words by Mark himself. The pictures say it all, what a bike.
The next section was added 29/04/03.
Mark has had his 13 repainted, lord only knows why coz it was fine anyway. Guess some of us are never satisfied.
It looks even better know, must remember not to park mine next to this one at any of the events.
