1st Motorcycle to Restore! Hi Guys!

Hey guys, Happy Thanksgiving. I just found this website tonight, because just today I went to Thanksgiving dinner and came home with a 1977 Kawasaki KZ 200. It had been sitting in my cousin's house when she bought it and her and her husband just gave it to me to fix up. I will post pics of the bike later tonight or tomorrow. It doesn't look like it's in too rough of shape. Now, I don't know too much about bikes in general, i'm mostly a car guy so far.

So, i'm looking to be pointed in the right direction where I can find like all the factory info on my bike year and model, etc. This is my first bike, so i'm hoping to have a lot of fun with it and learn a lot as a rider and owner.

If anyone can assist me, thanks in advance!
-Dennis

Post edited by: ninjairoc, at: 2005/11/24 18:40

Welcome!
I checked buykawasaki.com, but unfortunately, they don't have a parts catalog for the '77 KZ 200. I did find the parts diagram for the '78 model. Here's the link:

www.buykawasaki.com

Select Owner Info, then Parts Diagrams. Select Motorcycle, then find your model. If you pick '78 KZ 200 from the list, you can get the parts diagram.

Post a picture. You'll be our first KZ200 in the Gallery.

Welcome Ninjairoc!

Watch eBay because there are frequently KHI (Kawasaki Heavy Industries) KZ200 shop manuals for sale. You can also occasionally find owners manuals also (I know because I bought a KZ200 owners manual and shop manual on eBay). If you have a choice between aftermarket manuals (Clymer, etc.) and KHI, always choose the factory KHI first. You made quite a find...I have sort of been looking for a KZ305/250/200 as a learner bike for my daughters.

I don't know if there was much difference between the 77 and 78 KZ200, but I know buykawasaki.com has owners manuals still available for the 78, pretty cheap, too. I think I paid something like 7.00 for mine when I had my 78. (sometime last winter)

As I'm typing this, there are three KZ200 KHI shop manuals, and two owners manuals on eBay.

Ok I just got outbid on one of those repair manuals today, by 25 cents! I was surprised, I thought I had it in the bag!

Well here are some links to pictures of the bike. I will try to upload them to the KZ Gallery as well soon.

putfile.com/pic.php?pic=11/32815393722.jpg&s=x12
putfile.com/pic.php?pic=11/32815393722.jpg&s=x12
putfile.com/pic.php?pic=11/32815410632.jpg&s=x12
putfile.com/pic.php?pic=11/32815435496.jpg&s=x12
putfile.com/pic.php?pic=11/32815472019.jpg&s=x12
putfile.com/pic.php?pic=11/32815494493.jpg&s=x12

Welcome to KZR ninjairoc. A buddy of mine also has a 78 KZ200. He's on this site, goes by the name kz200.
Here's your pic:
.

Post edited by: rstnick, at: 2005/11/25 17:19

Welcome. Spoke wheels...would make a nice start to a Bobber. Have fun.:whistle:

Post edited by: vic44139, at: 2005/11/25 17:57

vic44139 wrote:

Welcome. Spoke wheels...would make a nice start to a Bobber. Have fun.:whistle:<br><br>Post edited by: vic44139, at: 2005/11/25 17:57

Now, what's a bobber? Only bobbers I know are used for fishing haha

Holy crap :ohmy: That engine looks like it's been sitting in saltwater! Which is strange to me, because the exhaust/wheels don't seem to be in that bad of shape (from what I can tell from the pics). Maybe the battery exploded? In any case, you can't beat the price. It will be a blast to ride. There's something about the small displacement bikes that always makes me smile when I ride them.

Cheers!

Get some of this..



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Wow, read this link..
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Well, I'm sure there are many versions. Here is a picture of a sweet example. I am planning to get a project bike and make a Bobber myself. Here is what I would do to yours:

1. remove front fender
2. chop/lower the rear and get smaller seat
3. get smaller handlebars
4. new tires (fat as you can get away with)
5. paint that motor black
6. repaint gas tank and side covers

Have fun:cheer: