1979 KZ1000 LTD - to restore or part out?

I bought a 1979 KZ1000 LTD from a co worker (working on getting a duplicate title for it now).  It's a survivor, less than 19k miles on it.  I removed the carbs, mostly cleaned up the rust inside the tank, and spent $250 on the intake pieces on both sides of the carbs.   I'm at the point where I'm considering options.  Do I want to restore it?  (and if so, I'd want to pull it all apart, media blast the frame and other parts to powder coat them, go through the engine, etc)   Do I want to sell it as is to someone else?  Or do I want to part it out?   I think parting it out would be the best financial decision honestly.....looking at the prices for engine, etc.    I'd really LIKE to restore it, I just don't know if it's the most practical thing to do.   I look at engines at around $1k, titled frame at around $500, and other parts up there as well.   It just makes me think.   Anyone else go through this justification process?

                  Warner

Pic before I started disassembling.....

Fix it then RIDE THE PISS OUT OF IT 

Looks like a good solid complete survivor. Having original exhaust, and body work is a big bonus.  I’d do a mechanical restoration, and ride it. As you pull pieces to rebuild clean and paint, before assembly. You will find when your done all that will be left is the frame. It can be touched up without complete disassembly. 
 

Nice looking survivor.
fix and ride!

At least get it running and sell it off so someone can appreciate they own it every time the walk in to their garage and not break it up into pieces that end up bouncing around Ebay for the next 5 years or so.

Looks like a nice bike. I would not part it out. Get it running and ridable. Fix up any cosmetic issues that are not too expensive. Then either keep it or sell it as a ridable decent looking bike.
Defiantly get rid of the windshield and get the seat recovered.

That bike looks like new!  I would strip it, clean it, paint it, put it back together and ride it.  That's what I did with the before and after photos below.  I picked it up for $750, put about 2 grand in it and have ridden it for the last 5 years.  It now has a '78 head, 76 carbs and a 4 ohm Dyna ignition system.  I would not do a showroom resto on it because the resale value isn't there.  But I can probably get $4k or $5k for it as is, so I'm not out any money on it.

Before Photo
 

After Photo
 

Well, it's wet in the photo, so it's not as clean as it looks, but it's definitely not a wreck.  There is rust in spots.  If I keep it, I can't imagine NOT tearing it all apart and media blasting the frame.  I have a media blaster, and a powder coater, but don't have an oven large enough for the frame, so that may just get painted.  But all of the smaller parts could be blasted and powdercoated.

I'd want the engine gone through as well.  So, a few bucks if I keep it....

    Warner


PS - I appreciate ALL of your replies, guys!
      

Current state.  Inside for winter, next to my other old girl....1990 CBR1000F (AKA Honda Hurricane)

I agree with everyone,don't part it out,between folks parting them out and the buyers in Japan we are running out of good clean kz1000s. 

Looks even better in the disassembled state. It’s a great bike for a restoration. Everything I see is easily fixed with gaskets/ seals and some paint.