Topic: I have a very interesting prospect, I need opinions guys! (kz 1300) UPDATED!

[tomsweb1]

Ok, so, for a year and a half now, I've been trying to sell this China cabinet that I have. No buysers, so just a few weeks ago I've been offering for trade on every equal value bike I could find on Kijiji and other sites, and finally I have a taker.
  Guy has a 1982 KZ 1300, a 6 cyl monster. I haven't seen the bike in person, yet, but here's the add with pictures:
   http://edmonton.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-motorcycles-touring-2500-or-will-trade-ask-me-obo-W0QQAdIdZ135986033

 What do you guys think? anyone have experience with this bike?

[bill440cars]

Ok, so, for a year and a half now, I've been trying to sell this China cabinet that I have. No buysers, so just a few weeks ago I've been offering for trade on every equal value bike I could find on Kijiji and other sites, and finally I have a taker.
  Guy has a 1982 KZ 1300, a 6 cyl monster. I haven't seen the bike in person, yet, but here's the add with pictures:
   http://edmonton.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-motorcycles-touring-2500-or-will-trade-ask-me-obo-W0QQAdIdZ135986033

 What do you guys think? anyone have experience with this bike?

         Not had any dealings with one, but thought pretty serious about it just a few weeks back though. Personally, I'd check it out. Why not?

[Hasenkopf]

go for it !!

[Grnrngr]

How bad do you wanna keep the China cabinet? Got pics? Kinda hard to compare the two with only pics of the bike.... if I had $2500 extra, and a choice between buying either, I'd probably take the bike...dude...it's got a stereo....    looks clean, but I think we need a bunch more pics to better evaluate...

[tomsweb1]

ok, this here is the add for my china cabinet:

http://edmonton.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-furniture-hutches-display-cabinets-Stunning-China-Cabinet-and-Hutch-W0QQAdIdZ161156726

Haha, I just realized that I made myself sound like a used car salesman...

[jumpjg]

There was an article in Motorcycle Classics' last issue (Sept/Oct 2009) comparing the KZ to the  CBX & Benelli Sei. Came in las in their shoot-out. They valued it at $1500-$4000; powerful (claimed 120 at the crank), shaft drive, heavy (710#), fast (11.79 in the quarter, 140 mph top),  lack of ground clearance.  I have a pal who used to own one - wore him out on a curvy mountain road in West Va. I'd rather have that than a china cabinet! Great machine for a sidecar/trailer rig.

[zoo mob]

Pardon if I offend, but seriously? No contest, get the bike.

[tomsweb1]

Yeah, that is what I figured... I just wanted to know if the old kz1300's are more trouble than they are worth...

[bill440cars]

Yeah, that is what I figured... I just wanted to know if the old kz1300's are more trouble than they are worth...

   I knew OF  them, but not much ABOUT them, until now and I've learned some about them myself. Sounding like THEY are pretty impressive themselves! I think it'd be cool to have!

[Grnrngr]

What'll you do with all your China, if you don't have a cabinet?    

[ColinMc]

Get some bags for the KZ and store your china on that 

Seriously though looks like an awesome and different bike.

[tomsweb1]

What'll you do with all your China, if you don't have a cabinet?    

Get some bags for the KZ and store your china on that 

Seriously though looks like an awesome and different bike.

 Haha! Already have a china cabinet, though not as nice as this one, this one was a wedding gift, they meant for us to sell it, but I have had no luck with that.

[Really?]

The only thing I can think of is that water cooled engines back then can be a pain in the butt to deal with.  I have an older water cooled beast and sometimes it is a pain in the butt to deal/put up with.  It is not a KZ tho, it is a XVZ12DN.

Hiway riding on a beast like that can be very nice though.  I know mine is.

One day, I might even post a pic of it so y'all can see it.  JK.

[tomsweb1]

Ok, I went for it, guys! Got her home, and started cleaning her up, Still haven't heard hewr run yet, the battery is out and charging (It was completely dead). Definitely looks like it's going to be a diamond in the rough.

Took some pics before the light faded tonight.

[GoatBaSS]

BABY GOT BACK!!!!!!

[Really?]

Well, looks like you got your weekends cut out for ya.  She has a bit of cleaning coming.  At least there are no fins to clean between.

If you keep her as she sits, it would prolly make a good tourer.  If you strip it down, I wonder how it would turn out cafe'd.  Since i said that, here is one - http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/886435418.html.  The black looks good in the engine I think.

[ColinMc]

Would probably make an awesome cafe, but it's kinda cool it's all original fairing and baggage and stuff. I'd clean it up and rock it like it is. Don't see many of them that's for sure!

[zoo mob]

What a beast! Congrats.

[tomsweb1]

Well, looks like you got your weekends cut out for ya.  She has a bit of cleaning coming.  At least there are no fins to clean between.

If you keep her as she sits, it would prolly make a good tourer.  If you strip it down, I wonder how it would turn out cafe'd. The black looks good in the engine I think.

 She does have alot of cleaning left. You can see that I had started, the left pipe and left side cover are done. She's not as rough as she looks! I have never had a good highway bike, so I am definitely going to leave her as she is. With all that storage, it's actually feasible to haul my tools and myself to work in the summer.

 Sorry if it offends anyone, but I really am not a big fan of the cafe look. And with the rarity of this model, keeping her stock and clean will make her valuable in a few years!

Would probably make an awesome cafe, but it's kinda cool it's all original fairing and baggage and stuff. I'd clean it up and rock it like it is. Don't see many of them that's for sure!

Exactly.

What a beast! Congrats.

I know, it's HUGE! It broke one of our ramps when we unloaded her. Thanks!

[Really?]

You will enjoy this bike as a tourer.  Get used to moving it around at slow speeds - you will know what I mean when you get there.

Take a close look at all the plastic, 'specially the tabs and mounting points.  No telling how long it has been sitting in the weather.  AutoZone or similiar, has a two part permatex that works well - adding fiberglass sheet makes it that much better.

Enjoy your beast.  I do enjoy my 800lb'der.

Edit:  Almost forgot, no push starts with someone pushing on the truck!  You will start crying when you hear the crack.

[kirkn]

And with the rarity of this model, keeping her stock and clean will make her valuable in a few years!

Hmmm.....  I'm not sure about the 'stock' part - the fairing, bags and trunk look like pure Vetter Windjammer stuff to me - not OEM at all, although maybe it was dealer-installed back then.

IIRC, it wasn't 'till later that Kawasaki added it themselves and named it the Voyager.  But in those early years, it was stock naked bike.  Like the early Gold Wings.

Still, I'm lovin' it just the way it is.  Clean 'er up and keep it that way.

Nice find!

Kirk

[tomsweb1]

The fairing says: made for Kawasaki by Vetter Fairing

[kirkn]

Really?!  Wow, learn something new every day...  

If so, that's got to be a fairly rare bird, because it wasn't long after that that the 1300 Voyager debuted with 'conventional' OEM fairing and bags.  That stuff there has the clear 'Vetter' look to it.

All the more reason to fix it up just as it is!

Really cool.  

Kirk

EDIT:  I just did a quick Google Image search.  It looks like by about '83 (or maybe '84) the bike morphed into the ZN1300 Voyager with much larger, more GoldWing-like fairing, bags and trunk. 

[Grnrngr]

You will enjoy this bike as a tourer.  Get used to moving it around at slow speeds - you will know what I mean when you get there.

heh...even at slow speeds it's gotta be easier to move than the china cabinet..

[GoatBaSS]

Your gonna get SPOILED!!!

[Really?]

The fairing says: made for Kawasaki by Vetter Fairing

Really?!  Wow, learn something new every day...  

If so, that's got to be a fairly rare bird, because it wasn't long after that that the 1300 Voyager debuted with 'conventional' OEM fairing and bags.  That stuff there has the clear 'Vetter' look to it.

All the more reason to fix it up just as it is!

Really cool.  

Kirk

EDIT:  I just did a quick Google Image search.  It looks like by about '83 (or maybe '84) the bike morphed into the ZN1300 Voyager with much larger, more GoldWing-like fairing, bags and trunk. 

Yammi kinda did the same thing.  One of the last years ('81) of the XS11 use a Pacifco (I think) setup - nicknamed "The Venturer".  Then they came out the the "Venture" & "Venture Royale" with a full frame mounted fairing in '83 but with a different motor n such.  That's why I say kinda.


The attached image is The Venturer and the bigger image is mine, an '85 Venture Royale.  Father to the VMAX in my mind, since it came out before it and hosts the V4 1200.

[mrbreeze]

I got turned on to an 86' Suzuki Cavalcade a few months back that I may go pick up this weekend. I will have to rent a trailer (its 100 miles away). The guy said it needs valve seals. This one looks to be a beast also but the price is right!!

[twinegar]

"READ THIS"
http://www.kz1300.com/tech.html
Don't start the bike until you deal with the cam chain tensioner!

[MRieck]

Better use a very large oil pan when you drain the oil.

[tomsweb1]

Tipper, that is a nice ride, I can see why you got it.

twinegar, thanks for the link, definintely helpful. I'll check it out soon.

MRieck: HAHA yeah, no kidding... this thing's got huge amounts of oil. You'd think water cooled would use less...