79 Kawasaki KZ650 - Anyone have any experience?

SrgtBear

SrgtBear

The arsenic has oddly shaped feet...
Hey,

It's been sometime since I have been active on this site after completing my XS500 Cafe. I recently just found and purchased a 1979 Kawasaki KZ650 and I am pretty excited to start a new project. The bike is 100% there and is only missing the stock airbox.

Does anyone have a experience with these bikes? Any tips, suggestions, or websites I need to know about for parts and stuff? Any qwerks or things I should know about when running bike with uni-filters.

Thanks everyone!
 
They're basically a de-bored and -stroked Z1 with a shorter swingarm. Very solid, reliable bikes, if a bit heavy. Handsome, too, if I may say so. High mileage examples I've heard have issues with low oil pressure, but no personal experience with that. Never had an issue other than gummy carbs and torn diaphragms on the slides.
 
I have a 79 kz650.... barn find. Pretty much rebuilt it. Hasnt been very hard, kzrider.com, and this site have been fantastic!
 
I just picked up a bunch of 78' KZ 650 stuff, two tanks, two motors, three frames, five wheels, four sets of forks and misc... I'll keep an eye on your thread.
 
two-smoker said:
They're basically a de-bored and -stroked Z1 with a shorter swingarm. Very solid, reliable bikes, if a bit heavy. Handsome, too, if I may say so. High mileage examples I've heard have issues with low oil pressure, but no personal experience with that. Never had an issue other than gummy carbs and torn diaphragms on the slides.
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Not so.
KZ650/750s have plain bearing crank,900-1000-1100s have ball bearings.
650s have a better handling frame.
Keep the stock forks and swing arm,just add valves and good shocks.
Lots of parts out there.
Check out KZRider.com.
 
canyoncarver said:
I just picked up a bunch of 78' KZ 650 stuff, two tanks, two motors, three frames, five wheels, four sets of forks and misc... I'll keep an eye on your thread.
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Sounds great. Thanks for all the tips and the website. My plan is it make it a nice reliable bike and keep it mostly stock. Should I bother hunting down a stock airbox?
 
I've owned and loved my '78 KZ650C for 10 years. I've restored it once and now I'm in the processes of tearing it down and turning it into a cafe racer. Feel free to bounce questions off me directly. This site is a great resource, and KZRider.com is also a great resource for our bikes. You made a good choice for a bike, you'll enjoy it I'm sure!
 
I owned one for four years and absolutely loved it, great solid reliable bike. Still miss it. A great site for them is http://forums.kz650.info
 
HerrDeacon said:
I owned one for four years and absolutely loved it, great solid reliable bike. Still miss it. A great site for them is http://forums.kz650.info
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Scored it for $500 bones with 19k. Haven't picked it up yet and checked compression but you think it would be worth a engine top end rebuild? Been sitting for 10 years. Ran fine then garaged 10 years ago.
 
I don't own one but I've heard nothin' but good about the kz650. :)

This forum and kzrider are excellent!!
 
SrgtBear said:
Haven't picked it up yet and checked compression but you think it would be worth a engine top end rebuild?
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I'd wait until you get it running and can check the compression. If it reads ok and its not burning any oil I'd leave it as is. Be sure to check the valve clearances as well. Post a pic when you get it.
 
Great dependable run for ever bikes. DO NOT screw around with pods as u will spend the rest of your days trying to get the bike to run correctly.use a stock air box and K and N filter and u will be a much happier camper.Chassis is good as is but some Hagon rear shocks and Progressive front springs make it better.One of the best vintage 600-650cc bikes around box stock. Good find.b
 
I just a acquired her yesterday. Here is a video of the first day i had her and started right up. Bike Sat for 10 years.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C5OtxCfGBQ
 
Yo i got a 750 top end and a wisco 810 kit for a 650 i would like to sell also a super rare dg alum swingarm and a cafe tail for that bike and a nos 4 into 2 exh and several sets of carbs
 
bradj said:
Yo i got a 750 top end and a wisco 810 kit for a 650 i would like to sell also a super rare dg alum swingarm and a cafe tail for that bike and a nos 4 into 2 exh and several sets of carbs
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Are the carbs ready to go or need to be rebuilt? How about that seat?
 
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