I'm just getting started in the bike world to get away from street rods a while. I need a website or something that's like a bike spotters guide for newb dummies. My old hometown is full of old bikes. I know where a couple late 70s to early 80s KZs are. What all different models of Kawasakis and KZs were there from late 70s to early 80s? Was there rarer models? Some more sought after than others? I've mainly had Kawasakis but like them all. I'd probably buy just about anything priced at a few hundred or less. I'm already going Tuesday to get an 84 GPZ550 for $250 that's been sitting since 1988 in a shop. I love GPZs but also want something older for a café build. Also, what models do I stay away from that parts are obsolete?
Any website like a spotters guide? Also, whats HOT?
- Thread starter HAFROD
- Start date
Made the trek to my old hometown. About an hour drive. I found 3 Kawasakis in a guys shed. One is an LTD 440, one is a wrecked KZ 650, and the other is a big ass KZ that's Kawasaki green. It had a cursive logo that said Eddie something. None of the bikes have ran since the late 80s and he was not sure if he knew where the titles were. He's going to look and call me. Lots of the bikes I remember that were around are long gone.
ApriliaBill
Yeah...I'm old school.
I think the reason you're not getting a response, is because you sound like the kind of guy that's driving our hobby in the ground. It's not personal, and you may not be that guy, it was the wording of your intro. We are running out of cheap bikes, you know this coming from a car back ground (also my back ground) we started the hobby because we enjoy old stuff and getting it back to reasonable running order. But then the $ moved in and spoiled it for many. It may not have been your intention, but it's what your intro sounded like.
KZ440 decent engine good candidate for café build. =67 Mustang coupe, plentiful easy to work on.
KZ650 amazing bike, Kawasaki people would rather cut your balls off than let you café one, but it's your $ and they are really good bikes. = Corvette, fast and easy to find parts for.
Eddie something (Lawson,) Kawasaki God. If it's real (1st gen), it could be a very good candidate for restoration. =ZR1 Camaro, rare and you have to keep wiping every bodies drool off it.
Now FUCK OFF! This is actually the greeting over on the Aprilia site. Hope you find some good projects. It may take the guys a little time to warm up to you, so hang in there.
KZ440 decent engine good candidate for café build. =67 Mustang coupe, plentiful easy to work on.
KZ650 amazing bike, Kawasaki people would rather cut your balls off than let you café one, but it's your $ and they are really good bikes. = Corvette, fast and easy to find parts for.
Eddie something (Lawson,) Kawasaki God. If it's real (1st gen), it could be a very good candidate for restoration. =ZR1 Camaro, rare and you have to keep wiping every bodies drool off it.
Now FUCK OFF! This is actually the greeting over on the Aprilia site. Hope you find some good projects. It may take the guys a little time to warm up to you, so hang in there.
This site may be of some assistance in your research of what is hot and not.
http://www.abacuscaralarms.co.uk/bikes/Test_Reports/index.html
Hint: The Eddie Lawson KZ 1000 is the cats ass.
http://www.abacuscaralarms.co.uk/bikes/Test_Reports/index.html
Hint: The Eddie Lawson KZ 1000 is the cats ass.
wagonmaster69
Been Around the Block
Go to kzrider.com allot of good people their with the information you want.
haircuttergirl
Over 1,000 Posts
Don't run so easily. Be you. Some will like ya, others won't. Appreciate the ones that do and don't worry about the others.HAFROD said:
Everyone has to start somewhere and there are plenty of us noobs running around asking noob questions and making noob mistakes. Every time I say I have a stupid question, someone on dtt reminds me that the only stupid question is an unasked one.
Stick around. There's plenty to learn and plenty of people willing to help.
Hoosier Daddy
Earache my eye...
Buddy had one of your GPZ550's back in the day...is a wonderful bike, Good Score!
If you want to build a custom cafe' try the 440. The LTD platform isn't the best being a sudo chopper "cruiser" style bike from that period. but they are a dime a dozen and nobody will care if you cut one up.
For an investment, buy the Green one and DO NOT cut it up... That would be like stumpling on a numbers matching '63 split window Vett with the Rodchester fuellie unit and cutting out the splitter bar and installing a 64-67 rear glass because it was in your rearview mirror... then yanking the 327 and putting in a 400 because it was newer and bigger. Then fiber glassing some flares on it so you could fit bigger meats on all 4 corners.
Now, that all said... If that's all it takes to make you want to leave here, I can tell ya for sure, you gotta be thicker skinned than that on internet forums. DTT is probably THE nicest bunch on the interwebz I have found. ApriliaBill explained that his "FUCK OFF" is a greeting on another forum, It's tounge in cheek comedy. (Aprilia is a brand of bike.) And yes, a lot of noobs sign up here, pick up a cheap bike, tear it apart and then either abadon it destroy it.
Do your research you've asked about here, tons of info available!
For specific model ID I like http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/ or http://www.bikez.com/brands/index.php
If you want to build a custom cafe' try the 440. The LTD platform isn't the best being a sudo chopper "cruiser" style bike from that period. but they are a dime a dozen and nobody will care if you cut one up.
For an investment, buy the Green one and DO NOT cut it up... That would be like stumpling on a numbers matching '63 split window Vett with the Rodchester fuellie unit and cutting out the splitter bar and installing a 64-67 rear glass because it was in your rearview mirror... then yanking the 327 and putting in a 400 because it was newer and bigger. Then fiber glassing some flares on it so you could fit bigger meats on all 4 corners.
Now, that all said... If that's all it takes to make you want to leave here, I can tell ya for sure, you gotta be thicker skinned than that on internet forums. DTT is probably THE nicest bunch on the interwebz I have found. ApriliaBill explained that his "FUCK OFF" is a greeting on another forum, It's tounge in cheek comedy. (Aprilia is a brand of bike.) And yes, a lot of noobs sign up here, pick up a cheap bike, tear it apart and then either abadon it destroy it.
Do your research you've asked about here, tons of info available!
For specific model ID I like http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/ or http://www.bikez.com/brands/index.php
