Oh NO! What have I done! My new KZ1300

I just couldn't resist, I had been talking with a local guy who has a 1980 kz1300 he wanted to sell. We settled on a price and I get to pick it up tonight. I have a bit of work on my hands, it has 65,000 miles on it and hasn't run in a few years, the coils are no doubt the problem, but the mechanical condition of the bike is a crap shoot at this point.

Here is my game plan

1. Take it to the car wash

2. Buy a manual (factory kawasaki if I can find one)

3. Mechanical evaluation - it had a compression test done by the guy who has it now and that looks good, but the cam chain tensioner should be replaced before it try and start it. The radiator looks nice and clean but I will flush it anyways. The carbs need to be cleaned I am sure, also the usual maintinace stuff needs to be done. The final drive should be checked and greased.

4. Evaluate the ignition - the coils will need to be replaced. There are a number of possibilities here, Dyna and Nology coils will work, but other types of OEM Kawasaki coils and even a 6 cylinder coil pack form GM can be used. I need to figure out the best option form a cost and simplicity stand point.

5. Cross fingers, push "start button".

Once it get it going I will have to decide what I am going to do. I may be looking at a top end overhaul this winter if I decide this bike is a keeper. I will post some pictures tomorrow, its a nice looking machine. I can only hope it will run as good as it looks.

if i were you i would just try and get it to run without putting any parts or money into it then try and figure out what it needs from there. i dont like to spend extra money on something that may or may not need major work.

The ignition is suspect, so if this is a typical 1300 there are coil issues, I will try to get it going with as little cash outlay as possible, but I want to avoid any prevenatble damage. It turns over, thats all I have at this point.

Tyler if you want a Kawasaki FSM, PM me.

Well here she is....

Thats a good looking monster. I wish you the best and I am sure it will be a blast to ride

That mudflap cracks me up :laugh:

Nice looking bike. Did you get the cam chain adjuster replaced?

Monster is right! This thing is freakin huge! I am 5'-10'' and I am on my tip toes when I sit on it. I am excited to make it run.

At this point I haven't done anything yet other than give it a good look over.

The good: Tires are excellent, the paint, seat, and controls are fanatastic for the age and milage. The chrome exhaust is near perfect, the engine covers are starting to peel, but they aren't too bad. Over all its hard to beleive the milage on a bike in this shape in North Dakota, it must have been from down south. I also have reason to beleive the engine may not be original, and the signs of regular maintinence and repairs are promising. I have yet to see anything that makes me cringe, thats always a good thing.

The Bad: The suspension is toast, it needs new shocks and the forks rebuilt. The carbs need a tear down and cleaning, the tank has some rust in it, but I have cleaned out far worse. There are a ton of unkowns, so I just need to stay optimistic.


I have never seen one of these bikes expept in books and online. It is an awesome machine, as an engineer I am just plain fascinated by it. I am just beside myslef to actually own one. Around here old KZ's are hard to find, and a 1300, local in town, is a real find in any condition. I paid too much- $800. But if it is a complete loss I am sure I can make most that back from parts.

I am going to drain the oil and coolant, and then trouble shoot the ignition, once I get spark I will start cleaning the carbs, then its gonna get real interesting.

Sorry to rant, but like I said, I am a little excited....

That is beautiful. I have two thirteens and I love mine. They do have some inherent problems but I have learned to work on them quite proficiently and so the problems a re easily solved.

That's a nice looking bike. As for the price, if there are no major problems that need fixing, I'd say it was a steal. Hopefully, that is the case. Good luck.

please replace the cam chain tensioner before u even think about starting it.That is their weakest point especially if they have been sitting up awhile.bj

bump.800 pesadas? Man u stole that bike.good luck.The Kawi dealer here in Chatt had a 1300 manual for sale a few weeks ago.If u still need one let me know, I will go get it and send it to u and u can pay me back.bj