Eric Estrada...Who? Me?

[ponch]

Originally Posted by JJRod

It was the KZ900P ("P" for police special obviously) for the first two series, then they went to the KZ1000P. The 1000 came out in 1978.

The 1000 came out in 1977. I had a 1978 and it was an A2, which is second year A model.

[ponch]

Originally Posted by glwilson

Does your wife still make you wear the uniform and strut around the room?

No, not anymore.

[ponch]

Originally Posted by RACNRAY

I worked at 2 different Kawi dealers from 1976 thru 1982, and worked on many of the police skoots till the city took the maintanence in house.

Those police skoots took alot of abuse and the early versions based on the KZ1000 A/B/C/D engines never lasted many miles, due to the cops keeping the engines running on the side of the road while handing out citations. Those versions would cook all of the engine's internal ruber components, especially the cam chain parts that would literally turn into solid plastic with the roller gears coming apart. Those police skoots were and still are to this day the only engines I have ever seen that turned their valve springs BLUE and PURPLE from the heat!!

In 1981 Kawi came out with the "J" model engine which had a much better cam chain system and solved the cam chain related repairs.

We had fun on our test rides!! Tho I never turned the siren or the lights on someone while test riding a cop bike, EVERYONE always pulled out of my way to make room for me!!

RACNRAY

I think the J engine had plain bearings in the low end and the heads were different in that they flowed better. In the old days, a lot of racers liked the roller bearing cranks of the older engines.

[mweaver]

Got to ride beside Eric Estrada in the Atlanta March of Dimes Ride in 2000 and 2001 . He is really a nice guy. He seemed to be the same in person as he was on the CHP show. He didn't act llike a big shot. Great guy, I really enjoyed the experience
and feel very fortunate to have met a star who was willing to give so much to such a worthy cause.