The Club For Classic Japanese Motorcycles

Kawasaki A1B

The Kawasaki A1B pictured here belongs to Mike Chesters, Mike bought it from a friend who had owned it for about fifteen years. Mike's friend bought it as a complete wreck with the intension of restoring it. He got the frame etc powder coated, stripped the engine which inadvertently got left to rot in a pool of water for a few years, (the engine screws looked like the Titanic’s rusticles) There were no wheels, mud guards, Crank shot, no pistons and the list goes on and on.

Due to having no luck at all in sourcing parts and having effectively given up on the project, Mike's friend offered it to him. Having no previous knowledge of  these bikes, Mike decided to have a phone around all the classic bike shops for advice. Incredibly after a few calls a guy at Z power gave him the number of a very helpful chap who had loads of spares and also in-depth knowledge about the A Series bikes. So Mike got the bike and after a couple of years its as you see it now, there is still the chrome and other odds and ends to do but if it is too perfect Mike fears he won’t dare ride it!

The A7B  has been on the go for about a year, it needs painting and a few more bits but its nearly there, Mike is looking forward to his first road run on that one.