Z1OwnersClub GB

Afternoon Guys, firstly im new to the forum and have finally got my hands on the bike that always eluded me in my younger days the Z900, anyway i got my hands on a decent example that had supposedly been part restored with minor bits to finish,fully running er not quite!
The Story so far:
As per usual in these cases some work and mew parts had been done, but not to my standards.
Firstly the frame and all black was brush painted, next the engine looked like new in photos had been sprayed with silver paint, finally the tank and plastic panels had been painted mettallic green and stripes stuck on top nothing like standard.
So I've completely stripped bike every nut and bolt.
Frame and all black chassis parts, blasted then powder coated satin black, next engine fully stripped, all cases vapour blasted now they do look like new! All parts examined and replaced as needed, the camchain rollers 2 had collapsed im surprised it ran at all?
Anyway well on with that now.
Looms some wires had been getting warm, upgraded to larger mm2 modern wiring then re wrapped all harness.
Which brings me to the paint and subject of my query which hopefully someone can help.
The colour is called Diamond datk green (no paint code), which i believe is a 3 stage candy colour ( Base, translucent green, clear lacquer) there was also a dark Brown of same year as an alternative.
Ive been trying to get the colour mixed and everyone wants either a paint code or a sample to match obviously i have neither.
I have found that a company called RS paints lists the colours but according to their website the Brown is a 3 stage candy, whilst the green is a 2 stage pearl.
I cannot believe that Kawasaki mixed 2 diff shades in completely diff mixes. I followed this up with a phone call to check and yes they say its correct?
Now i dont want to have to redo it so, has anyone bought this colour from RS and can confirm its a correct match as all info from US and here is conflicting.
Many thanks Guys

Welcome Graham, never easy getting accurate info, if it was there'd be no satisfaction in the finished result.
Get your painter to order up the lechler paint codes I gave you and you'll be sorted.

well the great RS paints its one of those u pays ya wedge take a chance so to speak ? i bought 2.5 ltrs of stardust silver from them yrs ago for a z1r when parts went to hutch for painting it turned out it had too much fleck in it ?? so when looked at in different light and position it was dark and then light in colour in the end hutch mixed his own and i binned the 2.5ltrs and before any one asks hutch has now retired no longer painting zed's sorry !!!!!!

Thanks for the reply guys,
Firstly the issue with RS is not very reassuring, hopefully it was a 1 off and others have had more success (least i hope) but do please let me know in case i have to order from them?
Warren yes had posted this before we spoke, i have given the local paint supplier the Lechler codes you gave me, got a phone call back stating they dont use Lechler we stock PPG? I said surely you must have a PPG alternative, his response ill get back to you.
I seem to be going round in circles at the moment for what should be a straghtforward repaint in standard colours.
Fortunately ive got loads to be getting on with so not urgent, but want it back on road for spring.
If you have any recomendations for paint supplies or even painters that are reasonable nr Hull (east yorks) id be very interested.
Thanks

Once you settle on a painter there's nothing to stop them buying from GB refinishers setting up a trade account. GB are lechler paint suppliers and you have the lechler codes.

Thanks Warren, yes sounds simple enough, in practice the painter i was going to use will only buy from the paint supplier whos looking into the codes. In reality I'd probably have to get the correct paint myself and provide it along with the striping kit to the painter.
Thats initially what i tried to do with GB who refused to supply me stating they dont do the colour, even though we know they do.
Hence going round in circles Argh!
Least tomorrows another day, so we shall see
What its highlighted to me is how difficilt it is to get a decent paint job at a realistic price these days, on what should be a popular classic bike like the Kawasaki.

Contact Sean Dewis, tell him what you want and he will sort everything.

He’s really good and is very experienced with all things “Z”.

He’s painted quite a few for me now and the results have been great!

Thanks for Shauns recomendation, before joining Z1OC, i saw a post as guest and sent him an email, havnt had a reply back so far, assuming i got the correct details, i got it from a google search for Shaun Dewis, Ilkeston, comes up as info@motorpaint.co.uk.
Unless someone has more info or email address. Or any suggesstions closer to me.
My only concern for me it would mean 4 trips, there back to drop off and same to collect, which at todays fuel prices not cheap, darnt risk a courier for fear of loss or damage
Cheers.

I used Sean a while ago and used a courier both ways , no problem as long as you use a decent courier etc.

Sent u a PM with his number

I've used Sean a few times and both times I have had issues. (Bad pinstripe location, running, marked or blobby laquer). He is cheap and if you're after a half decent job for a daily rider his work is OK. If you want a perfect paintjob then look elsewhere and pay at least 3 times the price.
Maybe I was unlucky both times as I know others rate him highly.

Anyone wanting to paint A4 green just needs to find a Lechler paint supplier and buy some paint from them.
Lechler are a US company but supplies to the UK through GB refinishers Dartford (and probably others) who supply on to RS bike paints who then just double the price add a shit load of p&p.
Water or solvent based, your choice at time of ordering.
Note if you want solvent then legislation says you can only order 1/2lt max, but that's enough to paint tank, sides and tail.
Base Coat code Lechler coarse silver.
Green Coat code Lechler KAW 16B.
It's listed on the Lechler website along with thousands of other bike colour codes from 70's to current.

Lechler UK tel number to find a stockist near you.
01606 738600

I find sean is brilliant and have had 4 sets with him so far gpz11 below


and a gpz900 he did a while back and that was was very rough with a lot of plastice welding same fo rthe gpz11 fairing above

A Mr Dewis transformation, req lots of repairs what a painter

Richie at FX did my old A4 in the correct Diamond Dark Green.....