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Just joined; just bought my first KZ yesterday, a 2005 KZ1000 Police with about 38,000 miles on it. Not my first Kawasaki, though. I just started riding 5 years ago (at the tender age of 56). I tried a variety of (used) bikes (Yamaha, Honda, BMW, Moto Guzzi) before finding that I really like the Vulcan 1500 bikes; I now have a 2008 Classic with a sidecar attached, a 2003 Nomad, and a 1999 Drifter. But I've long been interested in the KZP, partly because they're no-nonsense, purpose-built tools; that appeals to me. Finally found one that was in good shape, and was near enough to me to look it over before buying (I'm funny that way).

The only modifications I'm considering are a passenger seat and backrest (like the one from Hollywood Motors in Canoga Park, California), and a change in either the rear sprocket, or both sprockets, for better gas mileage and lower revs on the highway. Any recommendations there? I believe the stock front sprocket has 15 teeth, and some seem to think a change to 16 is good, but some think it's not a good idea. Rear sprocket, I believe, is 41, and there seems to be more of a consensus on switching that to 39.

I should be picking it up Labor Day weekend or the week after. I'm looking forward to getting out on some rides with it before the riding season here ends.

Tector wrote: The only modifications I'm considering are a passenger seat and backrest (like the one from Hollywood Motors in Canoga Park, California), and a change in either the rear sprocket, or both sprockets, for better gas mileage and lower revs on the highway. Any recommendations there? I believe the stock front sprocket has 15 teeth, and some seem to think a change to 16 is good, but some think it's not a good idea. Rear sprocket, I believe, is 41, and there seems to be more of a consensus on switching that to 39.

Welcome aboard!

There's about a 1:3 relationship between the countershaft and rear sprockets: going up one tooth on the countershaft is like dropping three teeth on the rear. I'm not entirely sure why people would recommend dropping two teeth on the rear rather than three. The 1000 shouldn't have any trouble pulling that ratio - maybe there's a vibration/RPM Issue or something.

Welcome. I think a 15/35 would be better for you. If still too low you can get a 16T. I ran 16 for years but it was a little slow off the line. I'm liking my 15/35 now but if I plan on extended HWY use, I can go back to the 16.
Steve

swest: What rpm do you hit at 65 in 5th gear? When I test-rode my bike, it was up at 4000 rpm (65 mph, 5th gear). Is your bike also a KZ1000 Police? Thanks.

Mine is a Z1. 1015cc, cams, 33 MIC's etc. With the 16 I was at 3500 at 60-65. Now I'm at 4000 at 70. 5000 at 90 or so. In that clip I got up to 65 and put it into 5th.
Steve

Bump the front sprocket one tooth and try it. You can always go smaller on the rear at a later time if you want an even taller ratio. If you go too tall the bike is harder to get rolling at the stop and is doggy at lower revs so know that going in.

16/35 is very very close to the ratio in a stock KZ1000 of 15/33.
However, those bigger diameter sprockets are slightly easier on the chains then smaller sprockets.
15/35 is still my choice for my bike.
Need to think about cutting out two links and back to 94 total.

I chose gearing / sprockets by calculating final drive gear ratio based on the stock ratio and RPM at 60 mph, and figuring out what ratio I need to get to the RPM I want. Then I buy sprockets accordingly, using the largest front sprocket I can and changing the size of the rear sprocket.

I spend most of my riding time on the highway at the speed limit, so I like about 3500 RPM at 60 mph for my old Kaw and Honda 1000's and 1100's. My '81 KZ1000CSR was running at 4300 RPM @ 60 mph with the stock gearing. I changed it to run 3300 rpm at first, but that was too highly geared around town and required downshifting on the highway. 3500 is as low as I would go on the KZ1000....

My '83 GPz1100 seems to like 3800 @60 gearing....it has less bottom end torque than the 1000...., and I occasionally like winding it WFO...with the taller gearing it hits top speed at 9300 instead of revving past redline like it did when geared stock. I'm sure I'm getting it nearer 150 mph now (the speedo is inaccurate, so I don't go by that).

I'll sometimes change the gearing back to stock when I go to the drag strip...