77 KZ1000 resurrection

Picked up this 77 KZ for $1,100.00 (with some trading and wheeling and dealing) 20,600 miles on odo. Here are the pics of how she looked when I got her home...

more pics

yet another

and another... Already pulled the carbs, and I am replacing all gaskets and giving them a good scrub. Pulled the tank (to coat the inside) and tail piece. Removed rear wheel to check bearings and clean/replace chain and clean sprockets. Now as a newbie to the KZs is this gas tank really held on by that little rubber bungee by the front of the seat?!?

It will look a lot better with a day of cleaning. The scarred engine covers can be replaced and that will help a lot. I'd say good buy. Roy

toecutter1974 wrote:

Now as a newbie to the KZs is this gas tank really held on by that little rubber bungee by the front of the seat?!?

Yep that is how they are held down from the factory. That bike looks like a pretty good basis for a project. Do you know what direction you intend to go with it? I've got a 77 LTD 1000 here with similar mileage I'm trying to figure out what I want to do with.

I was told that the thought was to let the tank separate from the bike and you if you went down. No use having a tank filled with gas between your legs or spilling out on you or a hot engine. Also better isolates the tank from hard points and needless vibration and shock. Sounds reasonable to me.

make it go fast

The Gringo wrote:

toecutter1974 wrote:

Now as a newbie to the KZs is this gas tank really held on by that little rubber bungee by the front of the seat?!?

Yep that is how they are held down from the factory. That bike looks like a pretty good basis for a project. Do you know what direction you intend to go with it? I've got a 77 LTD 1000 here with similar mileage I'm trying to figure out what I want to do with.

My plan is to keep the bike as stock in appearance as possible, but eventually big bore, bigger carbs, probably replace the ignition system. So looking to create a bit of a sleeper... For now, give the bike a good once over, and get ready to ride this summer!

Anyone run a clubman style bar on one of these badboys? I'm wondering if I will encounter clerance problems with the tank...

yes you can run into problems with clip on's with a straight drag bar you will have problems as well, that is why most guy's use the super bike bar instead

And no oil leaks around the cylinder/head, seems clean....

As mentioned, a day of cleaning, removing some rust, buffing of the engine cases, down the road some paint and this bike would look sweet indeed...

Seems like a hell of a deal for $1100....

How she run?

OMR