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Free 79 KZ650

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20 Sep 2018 21:37 #791174 by JR_077
Free 79 KZ650 was created by JR_077
Help me make a decision here. A friend of mine is willing to "give" me a a 79 Kawasaki KZ650 "free". THIS IS A PROJECT BIKE THAT'S IN REALLY ROUGH SHAPE (IMHO)!

It has not ran in ~18 mo. & when last it did needed tuning. It's been parked outside uncovered since. It's intact, very little missing, clear title & keys. Engine turns, gears shift, tank is clean (inside), only 1 dent, he has some extras for it (saddles, cafe & duck tails, pod filters, side covers).

It has a lot of rusty bolts/parts, rubber parts are all dry rotten, tires gone, chain shot, leaking fork oil, no battery, throttle frozen, cables toast, wiring questionable & who knows what else.

While the KZ650 is a good platform for a cafe project I've been contemplating I'm thinking this one maybe too far gone now & not worth the investment of time, money & effort. Still I thought I'd ask some experts / enthousiasts. Thoughts?
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21 Sep 2018 04:09 - 21 Sep 2018 04:11 #791178 by Warren3200gt
Replied by Warren3200gt on topic Free 79 KZ650
Looks ideal for a café project, especially if its free. 99.9% of the bits are there, just need cleaning up or re finishing. Pretty much what you would have to do to any bike to turn into a café. Bits are easy enough to get hold of. Engines are pretty robust and nice and easy to work on. When done they are very reliable.
I'd say go for it, what have you got to loose? Where is home?


Z1000J2 somewhat modified!

Last edit: 21 Sep 2018 04:11 by Warren3200gt.

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21 Sep 2018 05:08 #791181 by JR_077
Replied by JR_077 on topic Free 79 KZ650
I fear my mind is what I'd likely lose due to aggravation if I took on this bike. I'm located just outside of Philly.

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21 Sep 2018 05:41 - 22 Sep 2018 05:48 #791182 by martin_csr
Replied by martin_csr on topic Free 79 KZ650
Do you have a good air compressor? A parts washer would also be handy. And plenty of work space. I wouldn't take on a project like that, but if I did, I would make sure the engine is good first, then strip the bike down to the frame & go from there.

I considered taking on a KZ750 Ltd project that was listed on CL, since I already have a bunch of parts that could've been used on it. It was going to be minimum of about $2000 total which included $500 for the motorcycle. The high end of the estimate was close to $3K. so I passed. $3K was a worst case for a stock type restore.
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Last edit: 22 Sep 2018 05:48 by martin_csr.

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  • ThatGPzGuy
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  • More Sparky than Speed Racer
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21 Sep 2018 06:14 #791183 by ThatGPzGuy
Replied by ThatGPzGuy on topic Free 79 KZ650
A free KZ650? Oh hell yeah.
If you want to café it do it as a rolling project. I did that with my café bike and just rode it and swapped/modified it little by little. I think sometime people get overwhelmed when they do it all at once.

Jim
North GA
2016 Yamaha FJR1300ES
1982 GPz750 R1
1974 Kawasaki H1
1976 Kawasaki KZ400
1979 Yamaha XS650 cafe'
2001 KZ1000P
2001 Yamaha YZ426
1981 Honda XR200 stroked in an '89 CR125 chassis
1965 Mustang
1967 Triumph GT6
1976 Bronco
"If you didn't build it, it's not really yours"

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21 Sep 2018 06:41 #791184 by JR_077
Replied by JR_077 on topic Free 79 KZ650
Compressor, yes. Washer, no. I wouldn't say plenty of space but between my detached garage & basement, ample. I wouldn't do this as a rolling project as the bike doesn't currently roll. I'd strip this bike down to the frame, trash everything I didn't want to refurbish or re-install, hack everything I possibly could off the frame, & rebuild it as lean as possible . I'm fully aware it would take hundreds of man hours & thousands of dollars which is why I'm leaning toward no thanks on this heap. I just dont have the time, motivation or extra $ to throw at it.

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21 Sep 2018 07:07 #791186 by 650ed
Replied by 650ed on topic Free 79 KZ650
If, as you say, you don't have the time or money it will take to make your dream bike you probably should let someone else have this bike. Ed

1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)

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  • SWest
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  • 10 22 2014
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21 Sep 2018 07:28 #791189 by SWest

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21 Sep 2018 07:30 - 21 Sep 2018 07:36 #791190 by Warren3200gt
Replied by Warren3200gt on topic Free 79 KZ650
Like everything in life thats worth having you have to work for it. Either time or money. Its unlikely anyone is going to give you your dream finished bike for free.
If you dont have the time or money now, when you do, you wont have a free bike offered.
Grab it with both hands now while you can and keep it until you do have time and or money spare.
OP sounds like a glass half empty kinda guy to me.


Z1000J2 somewhat modified!

Last edit: 21 Sep 2018 07:36 by Warren3200gt.
The following user(s) said Thank You: SWest

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21 Sep 2018 09:07 #791193 by JR_077
Replied by JR_077 on topic Free 79 KZ650
No, not true. My glass is full to overflowing with way too many other pursuits. I'd much rather ride my Triumph than wrench on this KZ. My friend is interested in getting this bike out of his yard & my post here was partly an effort to help him in that endeavor. So if there are any members out there local to Philly who feel up to this project or perhapse just need a parts bike please step forward. I will gladly pass your info to my friend.

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21 Sep 2018 09:54 - 21 Sep 2018 09:56 #791196 by Warren3200gt
Replied by Warren3200gt on topic Free 79 KZ650
OK, if you say so, cos that jibes with your first post, doesn't it.;)


Z1000J2 somewhat modified!

Last edit: 21 Sep 2018 09:56 by Warren3200gt.

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  • hardrockminer
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21 Sep 2018 10:16 #791197 by hardrockminer
Replied by hardrockminer on topic Free 79 KZ650
After reading the posts here it sounds to me like you didn't really want to do this project...at least not right now. Maybe I missed something but I saw lots of negatives about it and few positives other than simply having a project to work on.

From my perspective the initial cost of a project bike is a minor part of the overall cost, even if it's $4 orr $5 grand. Getting one for free won't really save you very much money overall. The big expense is in the restoration/refurbishment. If you aren't ready to do your project then maybe you should pass on this opportunity.

Why don't you check around to see if there are any trade schools with motorcycle programs that could use a project?

I have several restored bikes along with a 2006 Goldwing with a sidecar. My wife has a 2019 Suzuki DR 650 for on and off road.

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