Q: Hello, I’d appreciate your opinion on the need for coil replacement on my Z650 F1. I’ve recently fitted a Z750E1 engine into my Z650 frame, The bike is running fine but I’m wondering if I should uprate the original Z650 coils (points ignition) to new Z750 coils which are electronic ignition as standard. Would this be a good idea, or is it a case of, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it?
Good ol’ bikes, those Zeds.
A: Well, it would be a good idea to get the correct coils if you can get hold of a pair for a reasonable price. Electronic ignition was introduced for the 1981 season of both models and the coils were changed because they needed different characteristics for the new system. Although everything seems okay now, the danger is that something (either a coil or the igniter) might fail at an awkward time. The part numbers for the new coils, if you want to search for them, are 21121-1027 and 21121-1028.
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As a child Bertie (well, Robert back then… blame his sister for the nickname) was exposed to motorcycles thanks to his uncles. They would show up at his house with a lovely lady as pillion throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
After a naughty time on field bikes (it’s what we did back then) Bertie passed his test in the early 1990s and became a reporter for MCN in 1995, moving to the sports desk and covering World Superbikes in 1996.
With a change to Bike Magazine in 1997, he stayed until 2000 as news, features and road test editor. Moving into PR with Cosworth, Bert was bored with cars and returned to bikes in 2001 with Two Wheels Only, becoming editor in 2002 and leaving to be freelance at the end of 2004.
With almost a decade freelancing, Bertie joined Mortons in 2013 and became editor of Classic Motorcycle Mechanics, a post he’s desperately clung to, to this day. And no, he’s never had a pretty girl on the back of his bike.
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