Hello from Indiana! Excited to learn!

Hi all,
I recently acquired a '78 KZ200 that is running, but definitely has some issues (not in the least the ugly purple blue paint job). This marks my first foray into motorcycles and mechanics, so I have a lot to learn and I hope there are no stupid questions.

I have enjoyed learning how to take apart the carb to clean it and successfully getting it all back together again. (It is an aftermarket carb that came installed. I do have the original carb as well, and I hope to rebuild it soon.) This helped fix some starting and idle issues. However, the bike tops out at around 40-45 mph. At those speeds it is whining a lot like it is wishing for a 6th gear. I'm curious what is causing this and hope to ask for advice here.

Thanks for reading, and I look forward to learning a lot on this forum.
- Ross

Welcome Ross to KZRider
Nice little project 
I fixed your picture to be full size, next time click the insert all tab to complete the installation 
Dave

Welcome from the UK

Welcome to the fun!

Welcome from Massachusetts.
And just so you know, there aren't any stupid questions when you want to learn. (unless it's the same question for the third time.)    

Welcome aboard! A small thumper is a good introduction to bike wrenching.

Perhaps the most important tool in your box will be the factory service manual (fsm). Here is a digital copy.

www.kzrider.com/filebase-alias?task=down...&id=1171&catid=8&m=0

Print copies come up for sale online once in a while. If you are like me, you will one one of those, too.

Thank you for the welcome!

And thank you TexasKZ for the digital copy of the manual! Lucky for me, the bike came with a physical copy of the Haynes manual which has been immensely helpful.

Put your trust in the factory manual  over the Haines 
You will find differences in them.