Topic: Got this in a Horse trade. 77 KZ1000

[78whiteorbs]

Not a kawi guy-
Got this in a package trade. Looks like was somebody's drag bike.
Swing arm looks stock not all crazy stretched out like most I've seen no wheelie bars etc. Has Weber 2-4 carbs . Came with an extra stock engine said to be good, had good compression.

Seat , tail piece etc

What the heck is this worth? Need more Honda money!!!
 

[78whiteorbs]

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[78whiteorbs]

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[78whiteorbs]

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[grcamna2]

You might consider returning it back to stock to flip it for more $.
What model KZ1000? it should be on the steering head if the sticker's still there.
is it a KZ1000LTD ?

Member here 'Kelly E' just purchased a 77' KZ1000LTD and started a thread;see if the frame numbers are similar?

[seanbarney41]

As is?  Maybe around $1500 running/riding.  The closer it gets to numbers matching bone stock original it could range up to $8k.

[78whiteorbs]

Kawi numbers matched? Wow, did not know .
Sticker is gone and no visible stamp. Maybe painted over ?

[grcamna2]

Kawi numbers matched? Wow, did not know .
Sticker is gone and no visible stamp. Maybe painted over ?

I mentioned the 'numbers matching' thing meaning that Kelly E has a 77' KZ1000LTD model and if it has similar frame numbers(by that I mean the first set of vin letters/numbers will reveal model )to yours,then yours could be a KZ1000LTD model:it looks like one but I'm not sure.

Possibly send a message to member 'Kelly E' to confirm if some of the vin number designations match his

[78whiteorbs]

Looks. Like it has a 1980 ltd body set engine num says 77 kz1000

[seanbarney41]

Kawi engine and frame numbers do not "  match" but must fit date of manufacture range very similar to Honda....diffetrnce is that many major components like exhausts and wheels have date codes, so that plays into it as well.  Not gonna be a concern for you as it would cost 12000 to get that bike original enough to sell for 8000

[Stev-o]

As is?  Maybe around $1500 running/riding. 

Agree w/Sean on the value. And you have a spare motor, maybe ask 2 grand for all to start.  The engines are the value, great motors and you have Webers to boot. Not a big market for drag bikes but ya never know?

Post it on fakebook vintage Japanese bikes for sale...

https://www.facebook.com/groups/vjmap

BTW - I dont believe these bikes were both KZ and LTD, think it was one or the other. I had a '78 1000 LTD, was a great bike and didnt have any "KZ" badging.  But same great motor.

[Kelly E]

As is?  Maybe around $1500 running/riding. 

Agree w/Sean on the value. And you have a spare motor, maybe ask 2 grand for all to start.  The engines are the value, great motors and you have Webers to boot. Not a big market for drag bikes but ya never know?

Post it on fakebook vintage Japanese bikes for sale...

https://www.facebook.com/groups/vjmap

BTW - I dont believe these bikes were both KZ and LTD, think it was one or the other. I had a '78 1000 LTD, was a great bike and didnt have any "KZ" badging.  But same great motor.

Here you go, a 77' KZ1000 LTD

[Stev-o]

As is?  Maybe around $1500 running/riding. 

Agree w/Sean on the value. And you have a spare motor, maybe ask 2 grand for all to start.  The engines are the value, great motors and you have Webers to boot. Not a big market for drag bikes but ya never know?

Post it on fakebook vintage Japanese bikes for sale...

https://www.facebook.com/groups/vjmap

BTW - I dont believe these bikes were both KZ and LTD, think it was one or the other. I had a '78 1000 LTD, was a great bike and didnt have any "KZ" badging.  But same great motor.

Here you go, a 77' KZ1000 LTD

Ok, I stand corrected, thx Kelly.  Do you know what year that is? Later model 1980?

My LTD was like this except I had a Kerker 4 into 1. Had a stepped seat, was very comfortable for me, rode it cross-country.



Seems the '78 KZ1000 had a flat seat...

https://www.bike-urious.com/1978-kawasaki-kz1000/

[Kelly E]

As is?  Maybe around $1500 running/riding. 

Agree w/Sean on the value. And you have a spare motor, maybe ask 2 grand for all to start.  The engines are the value, great motors and you have Webers to boot. Not a big market for drag bikes but ya never know?

Post it on fakebook vintage Japanese bikes for sale...

https://www.facebook.com/groups/vjmap

BTW - I dont believe these bikes were both KZ and LTD, think it was one or the other. I had a '78 1000 LTD, was a great bike and didnt have any "KZ" badging.  But same great motor.

Here you go, a 77' KZ1000 LTD

Ok, I stand corrected, thx Kelly.  Do you know what year that is? Later model 1980?

My LTD was like this except I had a Kerker 4 into 1. Had a stepped seat, was very comfortable for me, rode it cross-country.



Seems the '78 KZ1000 had a flat seat...

https://www.bike-urious.com/1978-kawasaki-kz1000/

It's the 77' KZ1000 LTD that I just got from my uncle who has owned it since it was about a year old. The seat has been recovered and it has a chrome Kerker but basically stock with 24k or so. I don't have it here yet but soon.
They also sold the regular KZ1000 at the same time. The LTD was the pimped out version.

[MauiK3]

The “stocker” the better and yes, getting it stock would be costly.
Interesting head mod for the webers.

[seanbarney41]

Up to 1980 at least standard kz and ltd frames were identical...just slightly different looks.  In general, ltd meant dual disc slightly longer front, cast wheels with 16" rear with a disc, stepped seat and more chrome (actually just the headlight bucket now that I think about it)  The different ltd parts have been swapped so much over the years that the differences have become blurred.  Even many 1973 Z1 parts bolt on to an '80 ltd.

[grcamna2]

Kawi numbers matched? Wow, did not know .
Sticker is gone and no visible stamp. Maybe painted over ?

The Vin numbers stamped into the steering head are gone? 

[Kelly E]

Up to 1980 at least standard kz and ltd frames were identical...just slightly different looks.  In general, ltd meant dual disc slightly longer front, cast wheels with 16" rear with a disc, stepped seat and more chrome (actually just the headlight bucket now that I think about it)  The different ltd parts have been swapped so much over the years that the differences have become blurred.  Even many 1973 Z1 parts bolt on to an '80 ltd.

That's good to know because I can't stand the looks of the seat. I'll box it up and get a replacement seat. I'll also be changing the bars and maybe raise the fork tubes in the tree to lower the front back to normal. The sissy bar and case savers will go as well.

[dragracer]

I'm not sure i would spend to much time or money trying to put this bike back to "stock". Unless my eyes deceive me, that front end has been raked. That probably explains why you can't find a Vin number on the neck. That much rake on the street will be a hand full even with a steering damper.  The wheels are from a regular KZ and not an LTD. Run the numbers on the engine and it will at least date the motor. If the exhaust studs are 6mm, its a 900 head. The frame is  likely a 77-78 KZ1000 with LTD side covers or badges.  If you could find a cheap frame with a title and transfer everything over, you'd be able to ask a decent price.

Note the rake on my no bar KZ 1000 in the attached picture. This was once a wheelie bar bike that i converted to mono sock. Neck was altered but the Vin tag was left in place because i do have a title to the bike.

[grcamna2]

I'm not sure i would spend to much time or money trying to put this bike back to "stock". Unless my eyes deceive me, that front end has been raked. That probably explains why you can't find a Vin number on the neck. That much rake on the street will be a hand full even with a steer damper.  The wheels are from a regular KZ and not an LTD. Run the numbers on the engine and it will at least date the motor. If the exhaust studs are 6mm, its a 900 head. The frame is  likely a 77-78 KZ1000 with LTD side covers or badges.  If you could find a cheap frame with a tittle and transfer everything over, you be able to ask a decent price.

Would you consider his bike a beginner's drag racer as it sits ?

[dragracer]

I'm not sure i would spend to much time or money trying to put this bike back to "stock". Unless my eyes deceive me, that front end has been raked. That probably explains why you can't find a Vin number on the neck. That much rake on the street will be a hand full even with a steer damper.  The wheels are from a regular KZ and not an LTD. Run the numbers on the engine and it will at least date the motor. If the exhaust studs are 6mm, its a 900 head. The frame is  likely a 77-78 KZ1000 with LTD side covers or badges.  If you could find a cheap frame with a tittle and transfer everything over, you be able to ask a decent price.

Would you consider his bike a beginner's drag racer as it sits ?

Yes, this bike is a good start for an entry level dragbike. My guess is it had a longer swingarm at some point but it was removed and replaced with a stock length arm. The Webers tell me it's an older build because there are many other choices for aftermarket carbs even back in the day. Hard to say what size the engine may be because you can go as big as 1260cc with a stock cylinder and big sleeves. The head could be ported but you'd need to remove the carbs to look. It could have oversize stainless valves but the head would have to come off to be certain.  It could have big cams with shim under bucket retainers but the valve cover would have to be lifted to see what's under there. The crank could be welded but the engine will have to come apart to look. It's got an airshifyer so the transmission may be undercut and an overshoot bushing installed behind the transmission door. The clutch cover looks stock with no spacer so it's likely just a stock setup with heavier springs. This could very well be a low 10vsecond to high 9 second bike with a longer arm and properly tuned carbs