1980 Z1

i remember being educated and arguing till i was blue in the face about the 79 b3 motors being mkII motors,then i found out they were built with small pin 78 style cranks.the b4 motor is definately a mkII in sheeps clothing as they say,though you are still going to have a hell of a time hurting the crank in a 79 or older unless youre really getting into it;)

smclem wrote:

Please ship all undesireable 80 LTD engines to me please.

And I will take any 79-80 std. or shaft models,OSR can have the LTD's...

I see, I assumed the Z1 moniker lived on after that. So, this is a mkII model engine in a B model bike? Is it work trying to get running? I am mostly interested in the engine, and if it is a mkII then if has the larger crank and is possibly a good build starting point?
I'm having the owner send me the vin so I can tell what exactly it is. Would the whole thing, as parts, be worth $400us to someone that wanted to build a kz?

any kz1000 is worth that if it will turn oer and is mostly there;)

Jimbo302 wrote:

I see, I assumed the Z1 moniker lived on after that. So, this is a mkII model engine in a B model bike? Is it work trying to get running? I am mostly interested in the engine, and if it is a mkII then if has the larger crank and is possibly a good build starting point?
I'm having the owner send me the vin so I can tell what exactly it is. Would the whole thing, as parts, be worth $400us to someone that wanted to build a kz?

MKll cases are selling for $250-$400 alone and the cranks about the same, so ya $ 400 for the whole bike is a good deal.

as anybody ever actually come up with a cut off line where the mkII cases and crank are actually beneficial hp wise anyway? i remember the old stories about kawasaki guaranteeing the mkII cranks for up to 200 hp by just welding the pins,but where does it fit into the real world?

The small front fender gives it away too.(LTD)

PLUMMEN wrote:

as anybody ever actually come up with a cut off line where the mkII cases and crank are actually beneficial hp wise anyway? i remember the old stories about kawasaki guaranteeing the mkII cranks for up to 200 hp by just welding the pins,but where does it fit into the real world?

The modified cases I've seen have typically been ProMod or especially Funnybikes, the bikes you find with big nitrous or boost. Most NA or small nitrous will only need a good set of stock MKll cases with some type of crank support. Lots of 225-250 hp TG bikes out there with stock MKll cases and big pin/ welded MKll cranks.

The only way to be sure what you got is to check the frame numbers.

the 1980 G1 classic has a side cover emblam with Z1 on it. That might be what the seller was refering to. This model looked a lot like the LTD with the mags and small chrome front fender.

There was no tail piece with this model, but I'm sure someone could find one to fit (and match up the fairing).

The only thing that makes me doubt this is that in the pictures the engine looks unpainted, but on the G1 classic, the engine is painted black with chrome side covers.