Topic: 80 KZ1000 named Kaw Pie.

[Don R]

 I started this thread off with info about an 83 kz1100? Not sure why. Edited

[seanbarney41]

get it runnin right and rip it through the gears one time.  You just might say "oh my"

[Don R]

  It's an LTD but the picture in my mind is pure Z1. I also like the big gas tank like the 1100 had.
 
  My brother was a Kawasaki tech when these were new, If he wants it I'll trade for his basket case cb750F1 \ 900 kit.

[Bankerdanny]

I traded some car parts for an 82 KZ1000, it has a Kerker header, in theory runs but missing the headlight and gauges. The title is a question but I traded right. I pick it up Monday am.

This isn't going to help you get to that '69 Firebird, Don. LOL

[Terry in Australia]

That looks good Don, I like the mural on the tank, looks like an old guy in a doorway snapping a pic of it!

Don's Kwaka by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

[Bankerdanny]

I remember those from when I was in High School. They were a competitor for the Yamaha Midnight Specials. I loved the maroon and gold combo.

[Don R]

 It starts and runs on brakeclean, the carbs need cleaned, the shifter wouldn't go past N, I found out it has a positive neutral finder, when it's running it shifts fine. WooHoo.

 Sold it, going to check out a 1980 KZ1000 tomorrow, average miles, heated storage, ridden regularly, has a recent flip flop 3 color paint job. I'd love to slap a Z1 orange and burgundy paint job on it. I'm surprised there are so many different models of them.

[Don R]

That looks good Don, I like the mural on the tank, looks like an old guy in a doorway snapping a pic of it!

Don's Kwaka by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

 I never noticed it before, I went back out tonight and it's gone. hmmm, good thing I sold it, I think it's haunted.

[Terry in Australia]

Well done mate, did you make a fat profit? I missed out on a free Z1 a few years ago, a Vietnam vet friend of mine was given one by another old vet, and he gave it to his brother before he thought to ask me if I wanted it? If I didn't have so many other bikes clogging my garage, I would have been pissed off!

[Don R]

 Not fat Terry, well my wallet anyway, but I helped a young guy out and turned that old torque converter into something useful, a part of the cost of a running riding 80 kz1000. I'm going tomorrow with cash in hand, if I get it bought I may even ride it home. Should be around 40*F. film at 11.

[dragracer]

Not fat Terry, well my wallet anyway, but I helped a young guy out and turned that old torque converter into something useful, a part of the cost of a running riding 80 kz1000. I'm going tomorrow with cash in hand, if I get it bought I may even ride it home. Should be around 40*F. film at 11.

That 80 KZ1000 would be considered the Mark II. The engine has the better cases, crank and transmission for the pre-J models. Unfortunately, the head has the dreaded smog control ports in the valve cover. No big deal, just block them off. You'll be much more satisfied with this bike than the Spectre.

[Don R]

 I bought it, not as nice as the pics and seller led me to believe but I didn't pay the $1500 asking price and it turns out it's a KZ1000G or the Z1 classic. Originally had fuel injection but has had the head and carbs swapped. It's also missing the emblems, chrome tank sides and seat cover. Supposedly would have been one of the rarest (not most desirable) of the KZ's. I'm taking it to Tom Klemme (KZ guru) in the morning to get the valves adjusted and carbs looked at.
 The buyer of the spectre can't get the money to come get it. He's saving the $$ from his second job. Aw Jeez, Seems like a nice guy but I let the heap go cheap because he has one and needs an engine.

[Don R]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/gcgBaboIaElJb4083

[Terry in Australia]

Looks good Don, I wonder if you could retro-fit the earlier (more attractive) cam cover? Cheers, Terry.

Dons Z1000 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

[Don R]

 I don't know Terry, I'll check it out.
 This pup has been as heavily parts swapped as my K0 was when I got it. I got Tom Klemme, a racer and shop owner I've known from drag racing and motorcycles to set the valves, rebuild the carbs and give it the once over. The carbs need attention but it fired right up in his shop. It seemed anxious to be repaired. 
 So far, it got new carb adapters, oil change, valves adjusted, and generally checked out. It's an awesome chance to build a custom because it was injected new and restoration makes no sense performance or money wise.
 I'm thinking a Z1 clone, since this was a Z1 classic anyway. Repop emblems are available and Z1 parts makes a flat seat that fits an ltd style frame.

 A new set of carbs would be awesome, I'll try to snipe a set off ebay.

 Edit, was not an EFI bike merely a run of the mill LTD.

[Don R]

 Some of the heads in this race shop run so much compression and valve spring they weld braces between the banks of cams. I saw a Pro Mod class Suzuki engine, I think the ports are as big as my BMF385 big block chevy heads, except straighter.

[Terry in Australia]

Nice! Those Kawasaki's were bullet proof Don, not much that can't be done to them. Wire wheels and a Z1 front fender would top it right off!

[Don R]

 The PO thought this was a former police bike, he apparently never read the manual he gave me. I'm having fun with it so far. I think back to the late 70's when I rode a shop owned 900 ltd for a weekend. I could sit back and wheelie or slide forward and spin the tire.
 The guy working on it and his brother tear up the bracket racing scene, they began running different tracks, I believe to avoid discouraging the other local racers.

[Bankerdanny]

One of my buddies had a Classic that his dad bought new in (I think ) 1980. I remember it sitting in the garage when we first met in '82. I helped him get it running for a few years back, but he ultimately sold it several years ago when he had to sell his house and lost his storage.

[Don R]

 These carbs are fubared, the accelerator pump bowl and linkage is MIA. There is one odd non accelerator pump mikuni bowl and the feed nipples are swinging in the wind. That will mess with my ocd. I'll have to find a new set of carbs eventually.

  I'd love to build a bigger bore KZ motor and fit a modern EFI to it.
 I think there's a pretty easy 1150 kit for the 1100 motors, it's difficult but not impossible to build a hybrid 1000/1100 But then again, it has the better trans already and boring this engine is already easy.
 
 But, it's going to be for sale as soon as everything works and it looks awesome. I still want the flat seat and repro grab bar, I'm considering a vinyl chrome tank side and stripes on this paint. Repro KZ emblems too. Kenda tires.

[seanbarney41]

...guessing you have Mikuni vm28ss carbs then...very common to just remove accelerator pump stuff and re-jet to suit, as rebuilding the pump system is fairly expensive and the design is fairly susceptible to the ravages of E10 gasoline.

[Don R]

...guessing you have Mikuni vm28ss carbs then...very common to just remove accelerator pump stuff and re-jet to suit, as rebuilding the pump system is fairly expensive and the design is fairly susceptible to the ravages of E10 gasoline.

 Correct, they just did it sloppy with all the bowls scrambled up feed tubes sticking out everywhere. It totally messes up my ocd. My carb guy said don't worry about it. He'll check the jetting also. He's a drag racer but said even these run better with the stock air box. It's just too much trouble to work on the carbs when you're racing one.

[Don R]

 The guy that wants the 82 also wants the 80 and offered to trade a 99 sportster 1200. looks good in the pics. He was asking $3500, I'm in the kawi's for half of that. The issue is, we are 7 hours driving time apart.

[seanbarney41]

neither of those Kaw's will sell for much...what Sportster though?  Ironhead?  Evo?  883? 1100(One year only, I think) 1200?  Pretty unheard of for a running/riding Evo 1200 to go for less than $3000, even here in Motorcycle market depressed Michigan.

[Don R]

  A 99 1200 sporty is all the info I got, with a picture. We're still talking, the 80 KZ is still in the shop so pictures are pending getting it tomorrow. I hope. Today was supposed to be the test ride and I got no call. It had tight intakes, I'm concerned about a possible burned valve or leaky seat. 
 They did have a pro mod Suzuki to work on also.