Author Topic: Another find, not a Honda though! Mad Max!!!! (Read 3450 times)

Tews19 · « **on:** May 15, 2019, 05:45:29 PM »

I have been in talks with the family of the original owner of this Kawasaki KZ1000 since January 16th. I made an offer and never heard back. Finally on April 25th I reached out again to the family in Blaine, Washington only for #$%*s and giggles as I suspected the bike was long gone. Well, #$%*, what do you know! They still have the bike! On May 2nd we agreed on a price and on the 10th she was picked up. She is a one family owner bike which is originally from Canada. Even though it looks like a factory paint job with some candy in her the paint is aftermarket. The bars I thought were cheap clubmans but I think they are much older then the cheapies sold today. Anyways, all the electricals work. I tried the start button and nothing. I thought maybe the control is shot as it has has some aging. I sat around admiring the bike sharing pics with a friend and he asked if I knew about the clutch safety mechansim. Well another ah #$%* moment... Pull the clutch in and she starts right up. Holy #$%* again! First vintage bike that I've ever bought to start up right away with no tinkering such as a carb cleaning. Anyways I'm freaking stoked about this bike and thought I'd share with this community as you all have walked me through how to remove a gas tank on a 550 to helping me build a few engines now. Lastly, the coolest part is the factory Kawasaki Warranty card. I'm not sure about the pipe as the curves look like a hand bent Yoshi that I saw at Godffreys yesterday.

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seanbarney41 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 15, 2019, 06:43:29 PM »

#$%*in' sweet! Have you riddin it yet?

I have had a kz1000 project going for over ten years. It was quite a basket case when I got it. The only bike I have owned as long as my gold 750. Last summer Ekpent let me ride his Z1 and that got me pumped! So mine is running now and should be riding relatively soon, but it will not be as pretty as that!

Tews19 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 15, 2019, 06:52:50 PM »

Quote from: seanbarney41 on May 15, 2019, 06:43:29 PM

#$%*in' sweet! Have you riddin it yet?

I have had a kz1000 project going for over ten years. It was quite a basket case when I got it. The only bike I have owned as long as my gold 750. Last summer Ekpent let me ride his Z1 and that got me pumped! So mine is running now and should be riding relatively soon, but it will not be as pretty as that!

I have not ridden it yet Sean. She idles but that's it. She will need the carbs cleaned. Do you hapoen to have an extra original fender for the kz1000 you would be willing to sell? Eric let you ride a z1??? How was it? Everyone i talked to have said the same thing about the z1s when comparing to the 750s.... " A different beast". I never appreciated the Kawasaki up until the past year. My only experience was with my kz650 SR and it was a turd. This has woken me up for sure. My goal is to have this and my K0 completed for June 2nd brewtown rumble in Milwaukee.

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 15, 2019, 07:13:03 PM »

Yeah, you need that fender! lol...mine is a 78 ltd so its a different fender...which ironically enough, I used one on the gl1000 frontend on my gold bike

DSCN1130 by Sean Barney, on Flickr
Riding Eric's Z1 makes a stock cb750 feel like a puny toy...ridiculous amount of power from a vintage bike...but don't get me wrong, you know I still love those 750's!

I am trying to sell a kz650sr right now and it will also stomp a cb750...but its got 710 Wiseco's and megacycle cams lol...but man no one wants to buy the damn thing

Tews19 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 15, 2019, 07:46:26 PM »

Don't take it the wrong way about the KZ650 SR but man. Once i got into the CBs, I didn't give it any love. I think I was bitter because the PO rigged it and I didn't know better. How many miles does your CB now have? How difficult were the carbs to clean on your KZ1000 Sean? I'm pulling mine tomorrow. I can't go too long without trying this bike out soon.

PeWe · « **Reply #5 on:** May 16, 2019, 02:55:41 AM »

Correct speedo too.. km/h as we have here :-)

bek1966 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 16, 2019, 12:46:58 PM »

Very cool bike - Congrats!

Brad

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 16, 2019, 02:10:12 PM »

Quote from: Tews19 on May 15, 2019, 07:46:26 PM

Don't take it the wrong way about the KZ650 SR but man. Once i got into the CBs, I didn't give it any love. I think I was bitter because the PO rigged it and I didn't know better. How many miles does your CB now have? How difficult were the carbs to clean on your KZ1000 Sean? I'm pulling mine tomorrow. I can't go too long without trying this bike out soon.

Mikuni vm series carbs are very nice to work on...just a few more o-rings to buy than cb750 roundtops. Infinite tuning parts though...so you can really get them dialed. Just be careful ordering parts as there were some subtle variations over the years. Z1 Enterprises has good information on what is what and a good selection...

I really don't have accurate mileage numbers for my gold cb750, as I have not had a speedometer on it in several years and before that crashes, parking lot accidents and a tree falling on it required several speedometer replacements. If I were to estimate? 50, 000 miles on the first engine(which I still have!), 30,000 on the second, and the engine in there now must put well over 100,000 miles on that frame!

Tews19 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 16, 2019, 02:14:27 PM »

Thanks Sean for sharing your insight! I need to figure out which carbs I even have here. The plan is to pull the rack tonight and clean two carb bodies at a time so I assemble properly. Do I sync them the same way I do with the 750s? Slap on the Morgan Carbutune?

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dragracer · « **Reply #9 on:** May 16, 2019, 02:19:53 PM »

Thats a very nice bike. Well worth the trouble you went through to secure it. I've got a few KZ projects myself I want to eventually make streetable one day but they are in very rough condition. I admire yours. I do have a KZ1000 bike I set up to drag race. Unfortunately the front end was raked making it an unsuitable candidate to restore for street riding.

Can't wait to see what else you do to your bike.

Tews19 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 16, 2019, 02:21:22 PM »

Quote from: dragracer on May 16, 2019, 02:19:53 PM

Thats a very nice bike. Well worth the trouble you went through to secure it. I've got a few KZ projects myself I want to eventually make streetable one day but they are in very rough condition. I admire yours. I do have a KZ1000 bike I set up to drag race. Unfortunately the front end was raked making it an unsuitable candidate to restore for street riding.

Can't wait to see what else you do to your bike.

Wow! That's a beast! Do you happen to have a stock front fender for a KZ1000A you would sell?

Gurp · « **Reply #11 on:** June 07, 2019, 03:48:25 AM »

Beautiful find Tews!

Stev-o · « **Reply #12 on:** June 07, 2019, 03:06:50 PM »

Hey Tews...just saw this thread. Did you figure out why the Kaw died on you?

Maybe you should get off the beach and get home to fix it!!!

Fender is prolly a low priority at this point but Z1 repops em:

https://z1parts.net/z1-900-kz900-kz1000-front-fender-35003-015/

But you could prolly find a nice one on ebay...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1979-1981-Kawasaki-KZ1000-CSR-KZ-1000-Front-Wheel-Fender-FF167/263524395182?epid=1523669378&hash=item3d5b4728ae:g:-dwAAOSwAwpalzIb:sc:FedExHomeDelivery!78645!US!-1

Tews19 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 08, 2019, 07:06:45 AM »

Quote from: Stev-o on June 07, 2019, 03:06:50 PM

Hey Tews...just saw this thread. Did you figure out why the Kaw died on you?

Maybe you should get off the beach and get home to fix it!!!

Fender is prolly a low priority at this point but Z1 repops em:

https://z1parts.net/z1-900-kz900-kz1000-front-fender-35003-015/

But you could prolly find a nice one on ebay...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1979-1981-Kawasaki-KZ1000-CSR-KZ-1000-Front-Wheel-Fender-FF167/263524395182?epid=1523669378&hash=item3d5b4728ae:g:-dwAAOSwAwpalzIb:sc:FedExHomeDelivery!78645!US!-1

Lol!!! We are in Bama and departing for the beach in 2 hours ! The tank was the culprit. She looked clean but the old gas turned into varnish started to break up. I cleaned the tank and the carbs again and I'm beating the pavement up on the KZ. I also bought a new repop fender from Z1 for $129 shipped. I dropped the KZ off at my friend's father's house yesterday. He is ummm, storing/maintaining it for the week plus we are out of town. For precautionary measures of course.... I don't want the gas to go bad!

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #14 on:** August 13, 2019, 05:26:04 PM »

Just spotted this thread. How did it all turn out?? Two years ago I went through a buddy’s KZ1000. He bought it new, when he was 19 and rode it to Florida (we are in Ontario, Canada) the next weekend. A few years later, he started his own business, got married and had three kids....... never sold it, hid it in his building at work. Did the carbs, polished some stuff, ordered a ton of bits from Z1, and he had it repainted (by a pro). He’s been smiling for two years straight!

Every time I ride it, I am blown away by just how fast this bike really is! My K1 feels like a scooter after a ride on the KZ.......

Tews19 · « **Reply #15 on:** August 13, 2019, 05:56:29 PM »

Quote from: BenelliSEI on August 13, 2019, 05:26:04 PM

Just spotted this thread. How did it all turn out?? Two years ago I went through a buddy’s KZ1000. He bought it new, when he was 19 and rode it to Florida (we are in Ontario, Canada) the next weekend. A few years later, he started his own business, got married and had three kids....... never sold it, hid it in his building at work. Did the carbs, polished some stuff, ordered a ton of bits from Z1, and he had it repainted (by a pro). He’s been smiling for two years straight!

Every time I ride it, I am blown away by just how fast this bike really is! My K1 feels like a scooter after a ride on the KZ.......

The KZ1000A is as of right now my favorite. It absolutely hauls. Handles better now that I'm use to it. I ended up cleaning the carbs 3 times and the tank once but now she purrs at 1k all day.

I did happen to pick up a Z1 last week.

Tews19 · « **Reply #16 on:** August 13, 2019, 05:58:47 PM »

Here is a picture of the Z1. Currently rebuilding the MC.

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seanbarney41 · « **Reply #17 on:** August 13, 2019, 07:11:28 PM »

Hey Nick, is that purple on your kz1000 original paint and what year is your kz? That has to be one of the best kz paint schemes.

What did you do with that fairing?

Tews19 · « **Reply #18 on:** August 13, 2019, 07:23:45 PM »

Quote from: seanbarney41 on August 13, 2019, 07:11:28 PM

Hey Nick, is that purple on your kz1000 original paint and what year is your kz? That has to be one of the best kz paint schemes.

What did you do with that fairing?

It's not original paint Sean. At least I do not think it is but then again it's originally from Canada. The owner bought it somehow middle of 76.. It's a 77 though. The side covers look to be original yet the tank seems to be green or blue underneath.. Pictures don't do the paint job justice. It has candy is it.

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #19 on:** August 14, 2019, 12:28:43 AM »

Yep, it looks great, but not original paint, the pin stripes on the OEM paint don't come to a point like it does on that tank. Good work mate, I love your Z1! (less the horrible seat, of course.....)

Stev-o · « **Reply #20 on:** August 14, 2019, 08:51:27 AM »

Looks like Tews is becoming a Kaw guy! Not a bad thing, IMO!!

Tews19 · « **Reply #21 on:** August 16, 2019, 08:36:32 PM »

Quote from: seanbarney41 on August 13, 2019, 07:11:28 PM

Hey Nick, is that purple on your kz1000 original paint and what year is your kz? That has to be one of the best kz paint schemes.

What did you do with that fairing?

The fairing is in the sheds attic Sean.

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #22 on:** August 16, 2019, 11:44:16 PM »

Quote from: Tews19 on August 16, 2019, 08:36:32 PM

Quote from: seanbarney41 on August 13, 2019, 07:11:28 PM
Hey Nick, is that purple on your kz1000 original paint and what year is your kz? That has to be one of the best kz paint schemes.

What did you do with that fairing?

The fairing is in the sheds attic Sean.

If you don't want it, I would be interested

Tews19 · « **Reply #23 on:** August 17, 2019, 06:00:07 AM »

Quote from: seanbarney41 on August 16, 2019, 11:44:16 PM

Quote from: Tews19 on August 16, 2019, 08:36:32 PM
Quote from: seanbarney41 on August 13, 2019, 07:11:28 PM
Hey Nick, is that purple on your kz1000 original paint and what year is your kz? That has to be one of the best kz paint schemes.

What did you do with that fairing?

The fairing is in the sheds attic Sean.
If you don't want it, I would be interested

I'll keep you posted Sean. At the moment I'll hold on to it

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Author Topic: Another find, not a Honda though! Mad Max!!!! (Read 3450 times)