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Author Topic: '77 KZ650 B--should I get it?  (Read 2131 times)

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Offline starsnbars89

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'77 KZ650 B--should I get it?
« on: January 10, 2013, 08:32:55 AM »
Hulloa, all. I'm looking at trading my 1981 KZ440LTD for a 1977 KZ650 B (Std). 650 has no title, but he said he can hook me up with the previous owner (uh-huh ::) ). I'm probably going to just part it out, but if I got a title, I would see what she does. Guys says she runs. I'll let the pics do the talking.


Taillight and turn signals are missing too. Exhaust is custom though! (I think).


Seat's crap. No airbox or side covers either.


Only 12,649 miles!

Here is my 440--she may look nice, but she has wiring gremlins in the worse way!


What do you guys think?
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"He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed." ~Proverbs 13:20
"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life." ~Proverbs 13:12
“All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost." ~J. R. R. Tolkein

'80 Honda CB650 "Cassandra"--SOLD
'81 Kawasaki KZ440LTD "Sylvia"--SOLD
'80 Suzuki GS550L "Joyce aka 'The Sunset Bike'"--SOLD
'78 Suzuki GS750E "Jolene"

Offline Tews19

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Re: '77 KZ650 B--should I get it?
« Reply #1 on: January 10, 2013, 09:26:49 AM »
I had a KZ 650 and I liked it at first but after driving a 550K I lost all interest. Mine handled like #$%* on the highway. When you would turn lanes it flopped around. I had the fork seals and brand new tires put on.. hated the bike..
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Offline starsnbars89

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Re: '77 KZ650 B--should I get it?
« Reply #2 on: January 10, 2013, 10:06:30 AM »
Hm, yeah. I hear Kawas handle like pigs. My 440 is pretty good in a straight line, but in the turns she feels like she's gonna go out at any moment! Does it seem like an OK business deal though if I parted her out?
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"He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed." ~Proverbs 13:20
"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life." ~Proverbs 13:12
“All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost." ~J. R. R. Tolkein

'80 Honda CB650 "Cassandra"--SOLD
'81 Kawasaki KZ440LTD "Sylvia"--SOLD
'80 Suzuki GS550L "Joyce aka 'The Sunset Bike'"--SOLD
'78 Suzuki GS750E "Jolene"

Offline Tews19

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Re: '77 KZ650 B--should I get it?
« Reply #3 on: January 10, 2013, 11:17:12 AM »
Part out the 650? There is a kz site I was part of. I sold carbs there. Then a few months later I sold the parts bike for 200 bucks. That was complete. Pretty hard to part out in my experience. When you state go from underneath you. Do you mean like it was going in two different directions? That's how mine felt. Scared the #$%* out of me.
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Offline hoodellyhoo

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Re: '77 KZ650 B--should I get it?
« Reply #4 on: January 11, 2013, 03:08:48 PM »
I rode one up and down the street once and was surprised how well it moved around. Didn't feel anywhere near as pigish as a cb750. The engine was also extremely smooth. Wish I could  have taken it for a longer ride.
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Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: '77 KZ650 B--should I get it?
« Reply #5 on: January 11, 2013, 03:21:23 PM »
Generally, a good 650 Kwaka will out handle a stock 750/4 Honda, they are good bikes when in good condition. They handled better than their bigger 900 brother...
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Offline starsnbars89

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Re: '77 KZ650 B--should I get it?
« Reply #6 on: January 11, 2013, 07:30:15 PM »
Quote from: Tews19 on January 10, 2013, 11:17:12 AM
Part out the 650? There is a kz site I was part of. I sold carbs there. Then a few months later I sold the parts bike for 200 bucks. That was complete. Pretty hard to part out in my experience. When you state go from underneath you. Do you mean like it was going in two different directions? That's how mine felt. Scared the #$%* out of me.

Really? I've parted things out before and make an OK chunk of change for all the more time put in. My experience has only been parting-out cars though and some parts I've taken off my cb650, which is why I ask about the KZ. And with the handling, it was more like anytime I would dip in to the corner, barely even banking at all, she felt like the tires were going to break loose and send me flying! Like a top-heavy feeling.

Quote from: hoodellyhoo on January 11, 2013, 03:08:48 PM
I rode one up and down the street once and was surprised how well it moved around. Didn't feel anywhere near as pigish as a cb750. The engine was also extremely smooth. Wish I could  have taken it for a longer ride.

Quote from: Retro Rocket on January 11, 2013, 03:21:23 PM
Generally, a good 650 Kwaka will out handle a stock 750/4 Honda, they are good bikes when in good condition. They handled better than their bigger 900 brother...

Having never ridden a cb750 or a KZ650 I am rather limited in my experience. However, I can say that my cb650 will out-perform my kz440 anyday! Much easier bike to handle--and I think my cb is pretty weak in the corners. Tells you how much that 440 scares me! The geometry of the bike just doesn't feel right when banking a turn.
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"He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed." ~Proverbs 13:20
"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life." ~Proverbs 13:12
“All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost." ~J. R. R. Tolkein

'80 Honda CB650 "Cassandra"--SOLD
'81 Kawasaki KZ440LTD "Sylvia"--SOLD
'80 Suzuki GS550L "Joyce aka 'The Sunset Bike'"--SOLD
'78 Suzuki GS750E "Jolene"

Offline starsnbars89

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Re: '77 KZ650 B--should I get it?
« Reply #7 on: January 12, 2013, 01:53:55 PM »
Bah! The guy is kinda flaking on me. He was going to bring it to me here up north (he's on the other side of Pitt.) but his rear end supposedly is "going" in his truck. I can't run down there and get it so I'm thinking this is a no deal. Oh, well. Thanks everyone for your input! 8)
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"He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed." ~Proverbs 13:20
"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life." ~Proverbs 13:12
“All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost." ~J. R. R. Tolkein

'80 Honda CB650 "Cassandra"--SOLD
'81 Kawasaki KZ440LTD "Sylvia"--SOLD
'80 Suzuki GS550L "Joyce aka 'The Sunset Bike'"--SOLD
'78 Suzuki GS750E "Jolene"

Offline Tews19

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Re: '77 KZ650 B--should I get it?
« Reply #8 on: January 12, 2013, 03:16:48 PM »
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Offline Stev-o

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Re: '77 KZ650 B--should I get it?
« Reply #9 on: January 12, 2013, 03:24:57 PM »
Those pics above that are posted are telling me to stay away. 

Now that Kaw in the link that Tews posted is a different story.
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Offline starsnbars89

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Re: '77 KZ650 B--should I get it?
« Reply #10 on: January 12, 2013, 03:31:44 PM »
Hey, I was never interested in that '77 'cause it was a looker! Business endeavor only; something to part out. I would hate to part out something that looked nice! ;)

Tews, those bikes look great and the one with no title was right up my alley! If I were in Wisconsin, I would so jump on that! ;D
Logged
"He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed." ~Proverbs 13:20
"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life." ~Proverbs 13:12
“All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost." ~J. R. R. Tolkein

'80 Honda CB650 "Cassandra"--SOLD
'81 Kawasaki KZ440LTD "Sylvia"--SOLD
'80 Suzuki GS550L "Joyce aka 'The Sunset Bike'"--SOLD
'78 Suzuki GS750E "Jolene"
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