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1979 Kawasaki KZ650B3 21 Jun 2014 08:08 #637383

  • LineArtist
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I bought this bike in Nov 2013 and started working on it the following day and yesterday (June 20, 2014) it took the road for the first time in style. A few months ago I thanked the forum for it's wealth of information and patience when it comes to entertaining the redundant questions of a newbie member. I will be here for a long time and will attempt to return my knowledge and experience.

- I will edit this first post with the story of my bike -

1979 KZ650B3 with 10,409 original miles, all stock

original condition
  • parked sometime around 1999 to 2002 in a covered garage
  • all parts on the bike except for an exhaust cover on the right side and the button cap on top of the headlight assembly
  • key in the ignition
  • flat rear tire
  • engine not seized
  • brakes working
  • all electrical working, including bulbs
  • gallon of gas in the tank
  • all said and done, not a single bolt/screw was frozen
  • plenty of dirt and surface rust

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maintenance
  • full carb clean and rebuild, 3 were locked solid in varnish
  • recondition air box boots
  • inspect tank, remove old gas, no deposits found
  • clean/rebuild petcock
  • clean main negative to frame connection
  • test/measure coils (4.2 and 4.12 OHMs) and continuity to plugs and points
  • points adjustment, both sides needed to be gaped and cleaned
  • clean contacts of front brake light switch
  • exhaust muffler center pipe (custom welded, $50)
  • mount and balance wheels, $130 with new tubes and liners
  • adjust cam chain tension
  • a ton of cleaner and labor

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replacement parts round 2 (May 2014, after getting the motorcycle registered)
  • tires (Shinko 712 Series 100/90-19 front 120/90-18 rear )
  • chain (JT Chain 530/102, with split link connector)
  • rear brake light switch
  • in-line fuel filter
  • bar grips
  • round 3 (July 2014)
  • spark plug wire set by Dynatek (not used/for sale)
  • spark plugs, NGK B7ES (first set of plugs were in there throughout the project/testing, time for a new set)
  • factory service manual, $20 on Ebay
  • round 4 (September 2014)
  • headlight by Wagner, Napa Auto Parts branded ( H6024 )
  • petcock diaphragm replaced
  • points and condensers / ignition kit by Sudco
  • spark plug caps by NGK



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    '79 KZ650B3 (stock)
    '79 KZ650B3 (parts bike)
    '06 HD 883R
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    Last edit: by LineArtist.

    1979 Kawasaki KZ650B3 21 Jun 2014 14:48 #637421

    • 650ed
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    Very nice! I bet the previous owner wouldn't recognize it! :) Ed
    1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)

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    1979 Kawasaki KZ650B3 21 Jun 2014 17:22 #637440

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    thanks Ed. I won't need to get back into the gym until next year with all the hand polishing I did on this bike.
    '79 KZ650B3 (stock)
    '79 KZ650B3 (parts bike)
    '06 HD 883R

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    1979 Kawasaki KZ650B3 21 Jun 2014 17:31 #637441

    • peter1958
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    looking good. Nice bike!

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    1979 Kawasaki KZ650B3 21 Jun 2014 19:36 #637462

    • rstnick
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    Looks great.
    Nice find!
    B)
    Rob
    CANADA

    Need a key for your Kawasaki? PM me

    1978 KZ650 C2, 130K kms, Delkevic ex, EI, CVK32, PMC easy clutch, ATK fork brace, steering damper, braced swingarm, 18" Z1R front wheel.
    2000 ZRX1100
    2011 Ninja 250R
    2005 z750s

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    1979 Kawasaki KZ650B3 26 Jul 2014 00:26 #641465

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    Update 7/21 - I started riding this week!
    '79 KZ650B3 (stock)
    '79 KZ650B3 (parts bike)
    '06 HD 883R

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    1979 Kawasaki KZ650B3 26 Jul 2014 07:30 #641479

    • 650ed
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    I can hear you smiling from here! :laugh: Ed
    1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)

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    1979 Kawasaki KZ650B3 28 Jul 2014 17:39 #641784

    • gbot9000
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    Nice bike! Warning: once you starting riding, you cant stop :laugh:
    79 kz650

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    1979 Kawasaki KZ650B3 28 Jul 2014 17:47 #641786

    • Tyler
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    Man that is one nice 650, a true survivor.

    Keep up the polishing, cleaning, scrubbing, waxing... preserve that old girl the best you can.

    Best thing you can do is open up that throttle and let the old girl breathe.... trust me they really like that!! :woohoo:
    If I knew what I was doing all the time life wouldn't be any fun.

    '80 KZ650 E 700cc, dyna ignition and coils, frame up restoration, daily driver
    '81 KZ1300 A3 full restoration, custom big bore pistons, 1400cc 6 cylinder super bike
    "77 KZ650 B1 - Barn Find, work in progeress
    "74 Yamaha DT 400 Enduro

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    1979 Kawasaki KZ650B3 29 Jul 2014 06:52 #641852

    • bugsinmyteeth
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    yep. these engines weren't made to putt around, though they can do that fine, but they were made for high rpms. They only start getting happy at 4000-5000 rpms. Let 'er rip. :woohoo:
    Old School Is Cool!

    1975 Kawasaki 900 (Z1B)
    1982 Suzuki GS750E

    Northern KY

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    1979 Kawasaki KZ650B3 23 Sep 2014 11:13 #648518

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    It's been a fun summer with my KZ and now I'm starting to understand what winter really means to a biker (depression is already setting in). This week is still in the 70's and riding will continue. I've also wrenched most of the summer making the KZ better and better and understanding how she works. This weekend I replaced a new set of points and condensers and set the timing to spec. Overall I'm super happy with my KZ and want the journey to continue for many years to come.

    Here's a short video after the points and timing were setup. (video didn't load?)
    '79 KZ650B3 (stock)
    '79 KZ650B3 (parts bike)
    '06 HD 883R

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    Last edit: by LineArtist.

    1979 Kawasaki KZ650B3 29 Sep 2014 18:42 #649156

    • Arttodd
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    Very good looking bike. The Black paint is the identical paint scheme that was on my bike when it was new. I'm eating my heart out. I have to ask, what's next?
    Arttodd
    1979 Kawasaki KZ650 B3
    Rock, Stock Old School Kaw

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