newbie from New Zealand

Hi everyone.
I have just picked up my next project. A 1977 ST70. Originally from UK, but privately imported to New Zealand where she has been used and stored for the last 26 years... The idea is to get her running, and then see how much restoration she really needs. (I do like a original "used" machine. Not fussed with a concourse restoration, but they do look very nice...)
She shares the garage with my 78 Z1000, Moto Martin Z1000, GPz750 (the current runner), 97 KDX200 (the off road bike), and a Z50 K2 ( a disaster I got recently, may be too far gone to save?)
I shall post progress as I make some, but we out in the colonies don't have access to the easy parts suppliers you enjoy. Thank (deity of your choice) for the internet...

Looks pretty decent to me!
Have fun on the rebuilt, and me too, I love the patina on a +30 years old bike.
After all, these bikes are meant to be ridden!

A little bit of spit and polish and it will be lovely!! regards lee

Just been going through the bits that came with the bike. Original certificate of registration... Chassis ST 70 152148. first registered in England, then imported to New Zealand. Original service book= sold by Ryes of Fulham, London SW12. sold 02-04-77.
arrived in NZ with 3500miles on the clock.
The old fellas(?) who have owned her have kept all the documents for serviceing and repair work since new. Hard case find.
Now I'm sure I can't restore it to original (concourse condition). It'll just have to wear her age with the respect she deserves... But I took the exhaust off to inspect the header pipe, which was broken... Rotten throughout, collapsed in my hands, past any hope of repair. Oh well, new ones are available.. I wonder how many other items of neglect will come out as I sort out her issues???

I imagine if it's not been used for a while your fuel tank will be full of rust, probably worth inspecting that and getting a new one if required. It's a good idea to fit a fuel filter as well because the carburettors on these bikes are notorious for getting blocked up.
Good luck!

Thanks for the advise James. I'm slowly dismantling the bike and looking at the issues as I find them. So far the biggest problem is rust.
The exhaust is history.. but I found a chinese pit bike supplier who has a cheap exhaust I can use for testing the motor when I've gone over it. NZ$25. (thats 12.95 pound) Who cares its going to rot away in 12months, it will give me a chance to test things while I'm waiting for a new original exhaust. So its full steam ahead (slowly) Tyres? probably 20years old, I'll get new ones when I've stripped and repainted the rims and guards. Check the tank, electrics and bits / pieces. Then see if she'll run. Or do I need a full strip down... in which case it has to go on the slow burner for a while....

Too many projects, but they are so much fun.

progress is slow... have stripped and media blasted the rusty rims and guards, all now etch primed waiting for a good hot day for respray. Rims will be white, because i have some white rust killa enamal. Guards? silver? or white? or maybe blue to match the frame? decisions, decisions?
Also stripped the motor, apart from a few bodgey repairs its in near perfect order, valves, pistons, rings are all in great condition. Oil that was in it surgests motor had some work done to it, or it was serviced before it was put into storage. Clean, good oil. so I just repaired the stripped bolts (helicoil) cleaned up the carbon deposits in the head, played with the Dremel to give her a quick port clean-up and wacked it back together. I'll have to get the Dremel out again to clean, align the inlet/ carb tube. they really are a rough casting. The Carb is currently sitting in a bath of degreaser, breaking up the deposits left in there.. this motor was NEVER going to run with a carb that full of.........!Stuff!
The boys have decided it needs a practical addition so we are making a sidecar rig to fit to the bike. (Must be removable because I want to use the bike ocassionally) So far the frame, mounts are all sussed out, mounting off existing frame and footpeg mounts. It will carry a light Plywood coffin shaped chilly bin. So we can get more use of the bike down at the beach, as a drinks cabinet... Oh dear I can see this going horribly wrong.

Oh well, That was a fail... I got a rattle can of colour matched paint for the guards, Got reasonable coverage from it, but not as I wanted.. Have painted a black stripe down the length of the guards to match the strip on the frame neck, just pinstripes to go. Will look good enough for the testing/repairs. I've cured the frame rust/bash's issues. and the bike will look alright for the mean time while I sort out her mechanical/electrical issues BUT a full repaint will be required if I decide to restore her properly. (Not likely really)
In the mean time the rust damage is controlled and the bike has a "reasonable" coat of paint.

Not overly thrilled with the result but its better than it was, and the bike is coming back from her neglected state.

Got the motor running new years eve. Bit of rust and set up the timing properly, rewire a few faults, and she burbles and farts along.With a bit of fine tuning it should run fine. At least good enough that I can justify spending some money to fix the major issues and maybe tart her up a bit.🖼 first start.28-12-11.3.jpg (photo damaged in backup)

Further progress report. Bike now runs as smooth as she's likely to with that chinese (strangle) pipe on it. Found a local guy who's into c50-c70 Hondas. He has a stack of parts and thinks he has a original (NOS) pipe for an ST. Waiting for him to look...
In the mean time ' "the Boys" have made an addition for our "beach bike" ( I knew it was wrong to leave the bike at a mates workshop....)

I think I need to get some "trail wings" for this thing now.

She has now been used on a "fishing" trip. If any of the members hadn't guessed yet. Our "she'll be right" designed side car was DIABOLICAL! Tying a live pig to the side of the bike would hace made it handle better. lefthand turns it wants to lift the sidecar wheel (even with 2 doz cans in the chillibin. Righthand turns it wants to lift the rear tyre, or the front dependant on the throttle position.
Lessons learnt. 1) DON'T leave your bike 90% finished at a "mates" workshop
2) investigate "how" a sidecar is surposed to be set up. Toe-in, camber, where to position wheel.
3) stay off soft sand beachs
BUT MOST OF ALL make sure your effort can be removed, so you can enjoy your bike and have fun on your holiday.
Now debating, converting chilly bin into a one wheel trailer simular to the "uni-go" design