Anyone know anything about kz's

[TheSmiler]

I'm looking at getting a new bike to do in the future that way I can strip mine down and change it up. Now I'm tempted by a late 70's early 80s kawasaki preferably the kz range.

Just wondered if anyone has had any experience with them in the past. Looking more at the kz650.
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CB125>CG125>GN125>ER5>K100RS>R1100RS>K100RS
A2 completed 23/07/15 Ready for the Golden Crisp Packet

[stinkwheel]

Good old busses. Getting older and harder to get parts for. Also getting collectable and so go for way more than they are worth.

If you're considering an old zed, consider a zephyr, which is to all intents and purposes, the same old air-cooled engine endlessly recycled and newer but for some reason less collectable.

Watch out for imported American models, some of the california ones have an oddball head with emissions crap that wont fit any of the UK ones so if you need gaskets, barrels etc, you're stuffed.

Get a zephyr 1100, pretend it's a zed thou.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[chickenstrip]

Had 2. kZ650B and a Z1, never needed to strip anything, all was good (can't remember if my Z650F1 was US).
Didn't put a whole heck of a lot of miles on any of them before selling on though. I'd have another 650 if I had cash sitting doing nothing, I just like 'em, prefer them to the Z1.

Even Yank examples are getting to be silly money, but they last well in most states (drier than here), and I always managed to pick them up with relatively low mileages. But I haven't looked in a while to see what kind of examples are available now.

Z Power might still be a good source for parts, but things are only getting rarer. Could be worth phoning them before buying one, to see what's difficult to get. Might be able to buy some old heaps to help with parts supply?
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[TheSmiler]

Thanks for the replies. There is another bike I'm looking at which is the shafty gs850. I'll see if I can find a zephyr not that easy as they aren't really stocked in most showrooms; for a try.

The only reason for the new change of second bike is I was after a bobber/cruiser. However tried some of the standard ones out at the famous d&k motorcycles. The only thing that was comfortable on the knee was a harley davidson soft tail. Which is way too much money.
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CB125>CG125>GN125>ER5>K100RS>R1100RS>K100RS
A2 completed 23/07/15 Ready for the Golden Crisp Packet

[redeem ouzzer]

Sammy, just buy a Versys or something else that’s dull with an upright riding position.

A Z / KZ even in shitty condition will cost lots of ponds to buy and then you have to make it work properly if you are planning to actually use it. For a guy who thought you could balance a set of carbs with kitchen scales I can’t see you getting an ancient aircooled four back in top shape.
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Be a REAL MAN!

[.Chris.]

I'm quite fond of the air cooled Kawasaki fours and own a couple of the smaller (400/550) ones. As above, particularly if you're looking at the Z650, anything that doesn't require a lot of work will not be cheap these days. Anything that does require work probably won't be either, once sorted.

You say you found a cruiser comfortable. Most Zs are not cruisers, but standard upright bikes. Cruisery versions of the Zs are available (the LTD models) but quite a few of these are US imports. If it's a cruiser you want, there are plenty of more modern cruisers available for the same price as a half decent Z650. Likewise if you just want a standard upright bike there are other options that would be much cheaper and less troublesome than something 40 years old.

As Stinky says, a Zephyr might be a good compromise. Although the engines are similar, they're 15-20 years newer than the Zs you're talking about and come with wheels that take much better tyres than the older models. 1100s are quite expensive but the 750s can be had fairly cheaply.

Finally, for the love of god do not buy a classic bike and start hacking it to bits to create a 'bobber' or whatever is à la mode with the Hoxton kids this week. Far too many have already bitten the dust that way.
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Chris
1985 Kawasaki Z550F

[chickenstrip]