Jump to content
The MT-07 Forum

Dads old KZ650


jake

Recommended Posts

  • Premium Member
afeb2446c199c748657920df2b0d1c24.jpg986d6d98346f0d8e2ebb433c14378775.jpg. So I plan on getting this thing going ..... don't hold your breath on me getting it done any time soon lol

2015 FZ-07 2003 2014 GSXR 1000

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 96
  • Created
  • Last Reply
barneyfife

That looks like fun project. Those are easy to work on. I wish I still had mine.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Global Moderator

Oh I love Kawa's. I owned a couple. They have a 'Mad Max' feel to them. Please don't turned it into a bobber, café racer or whatever hipster contraption people think of next. Restore it make to stock en enjoy the time capsule.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Member

And the fun part is done ?

2015 FZ-07 2003 2014 GSXR 1000

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Global Moderator

Here is some inspiration reference:   8-)
 
z650b1_77.jpg
 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Global Moderator

Keep us updated on the project. My KZ650 was green. I wish I still had it as it would be fun to restore.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not to nitpick, Guru (well, actually I probably am... ), your picture is of the B1, Jake's bike is a B2. Or possibly B2A. Not a lot of difference, but the most obvious one is the brake caliper position.
 
 
Z650_B277_zpsu33jj1la.jpg
 
mjh, my son's also used to be green. Personally, I prefer the blue, only available as B2 among the B's.
 
 
z650b278_zpsu1lqwkqa.jpg
 
upload photo temporary
 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Member
Wow! That didn't take long !
Yeah about 3 hours not too much to it and I was geeked about getting it tore down. It sat for 40 years my dad tried to give it away but no one wanted it haha. The bike stopped charging and he never tried to fix it ended up buying a new bike instead.
There not worth much as far as I can tell but its still cool IMO.
I'm going to reuse everything I can and plan on blasting/cleaning the frame and all the pieces first off. I want to lower the head light so its more inline with the tank going to tidy the tail, pod style air filters and get lower bars. I might go with different turn signals also not sure yet.
 
I need a new seat, rear shocks and a few other things I cant think off hand. Everything came apart easy surprisingly and it only has 12,000 miles on it.
 
Starter works and looks like new and engine rolls over by hand even thought it sat for 20 years with the headers off. One of the TB was sticking and I plan on going threw it. Not sure what I should do with the motor? I was planning on tearing it down or have a shop do it but I might just put oil in it and see if she runs.

2015 FZ-07 2003 2014 GSXR 1000

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wouldn't tear the engine down now, but fitting new rubber cushions for the cam chain tensioner sprocket could be sensible. Check the valve clearances while you are in there. Also, the automatic cam chain tensioner is a bit weak - you can convert the stock one to manual by inserting a longer locking bolt. Or perhaps you are lucky enough that yours is still of the early manual tensioners. The charging issue is most likely due to a damaged R/R. The B2 had a lower-output 2-phase alternator which is marginal if you plan on converting to electronic ignition - unless you go OEM, which doesn't draw a lot of current.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

firstyammerha

My late brother had a 1978 Suzuki GS1000E that he stopped riding in the early `90's and parked it in his garage which flooded up to the bottom of the rims in any heavy rain. When he passed five years ago, I took on the partial restoration job in order to make it saleable for the estate. It was heavily corroded and rusted but putting a new battery in it along with draining the gas tank and floatbowls,refilling it with fresh gas,oil/filter change and new plugs produced a virtual one push startup and solid idle. My jaw hit the floor! I sold it to a guy for $400 and he refinished it to like new appearance and marketed it for $2000. My hats off to you guys with this kind of talent.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Global Moderator
Yep I'm going to wait on the rebuild. I ordered a seat today
http://www.motorcycleseatsdirect.com/1978-1979-kawasaki-kz650-kz-cafe-racer-complete-motorcycle-seat-4219/
 
frame is going in next week for blasting and paint
$210 for the seat.  Wow.  Did you see if a local upholsterer could make one with the stock seat pan for less?
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Member
Yep I'm going to wait on the rebuild. I ordered a seat today
http://www.motorcycleseatsdirect.com/1978-1979-kawasaki-kz650-kz-cafe-racer-complete-motorcycle-seat-4219/
 
frame is going in next week for blasting and paint
$210 for the seat.  Wow.  Did you see if a local upholsterer could make one with the stock seat pan for less?
Corbin seat for the FZ is 400 lol My stock seat is toast 

2015 FZ-07 2003 2014 GSXR 1000

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Member
c675e1c8e72da1ec106f94c9aaaa8486.jpg6878ec4e5a8f086ada3cd2cca92e308b.jpg. Polishing is turning out good but it's a lot of work

2015 FZ-07 2003 2014 GSXR 1000

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Member
bc075d4f3cd8b81f4d7e48fb35196284.jpg. things are looking promising

2015 FZ-07 2003 2014 GSXR 1000

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Global Moderator

Nice ! It is a very addictive hobby, isn't it?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

While you have it that far apart - there is only one weak spot on these engines, and that's the starter clutch. So here's your options:
 
1) Go in and replace it now, only to learn it was fine and you didn't have to.
2) Hope it is fine, only to learn when the engine is back in the frame that it is gone.
 
Because life's a biatch. And then we die :D
 
Some have managed to replace it with engine in frame, but it is not simple, and most seems to have given up and removed the engine anyway.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.