KZR's Bikes of the Month for 2024

KZ650 Restoration

  • hardrockminer
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25 Jun 2020 05:25 #828938 by hardrockminer
Replied by hardrockminer on topic KZ650 Restoration
If you've never done a frame up resto I would offer the following advice.

1) Take lots of photos of what things looked like before you remove any particular part. They are useful when you want to put things back together again.
2) Buy a box of baggies and a roll of freezer tape to label the bags and put things into them in some sense of order. That way you will have everything to put things back together again...nothing worse than looking for that one part that disappeared and is absolutely necessary for the rebuild.
3) Download a correct manual for your bike. It will have a section on assembly/disassembly. Follow it carefully. It will have another section on maintenance. Read it thoroughly.
4) Buy a couple of torque wrenches. One for inch pounds....1 to 150 and one for foot pounds...15 to 150. The manual will have a section on proper torques and sequences for bolts. Follow it.
Lastly, set up a rebuild post here and post photos and comments on your progress. Some of the best Kawasaki enthusiasts in the world are on this site and will be an invaluable resource when you get stuck.

Good luck!

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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25 Jun 2020 06:20 #828940 by 650ed
Replied by 650ed on topic KZ650 Restoration
....and use JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) screwdriver tips NOT Phillips or you will be sorry. If you need more info on JIS just ask. Ed

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

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25 Jun 2020 06:44 #828946 by calum
Replied by calum on topic KZ650 Restoration
Looks like a solid basis for a restoration.

All good advice here. I would like to add that I went the second route on my restoration and completely stripped the bike down restoring or replacing everything that was past the service limit, rusty or just not up to my standards. It took me a year of weekends with no other real commitments. It also ate through my savings like you wouldn't believe. The most expensive things were specialised tools and getting the chrome redone on some parts that are no longer available new.
I you do go this route, be prepared to spend some money on parts and tools otherwise the project will stall. If that happens, well... just see Ed's previous post :)

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25 Jun 2020 07:36 #828955 by Mikaw
Replied by Mikaw on topic KZ650 Restoration
I love that statement... “ran great before it was parked” all that is is a buyer beware alert...

1976 KZ 900 A4 kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/613548-1976-kz-900-a4
1976 KZ 900 B1 LTD
1978 KZ 1000 B2 LTD
1980 KZ 750 E1
Kowledge Speaks, But Wisdom Listens.
Jimi Hendrix.

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