KZR's Bikes of the Month for 2024

1981 440 Ltd with 2 challenges

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06 Mar 2022 19:35 #863281 by KZmarcel
1981 440 Ltd with 2 challenges was created by KZmarcel
Hi everybody, I guess I caught the bug, the KZ bug. I caught the 1981-2 variant which makes me appreciate the more crisp, mature and modern styling (just joking) and the pretty pretty low used valuations.
And so I grabbed this 440 Ltd. For my wife. For cheap. 

1. The seller said it has a "no spark" issue. Gave a bunch of explanations which I did not really understand because I did not really pay attention because I abide by Lord AvE's three rules of trouble shooting, the second being "don't rely on the guy that came before you, he was not able to fix the problem". So we'll get to that, later, for now I'm charging the battery overnight. More soon.

 2. WTF is the deal with the seat ?
The whole bike looks very very bone stock, but then the seat is wrong and too wide and... underneath is a pretty intense welded platform that looks like it was intended for the cafe-racer flat seat conversion that was fashionable for a while but, oh well, anyway.
I mean, look at the pictures below. 
The thing is, I really like the look of the 440 Ltd, and its seat is quite cool in a convoluted 1980s way. So. I need to find a seat, and I need to figure out how to re-install it to my frame...

Any thoughts ?












WA state, USA
1981 KZ1000 Ltd project for me
kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/617085-kz1000-full-spa#861637
1982 KZ440 Ltd project for my wife
1991 Yamaha 1200 VMax
2005 Kawasaki Vulcan 2000
1971 Buick Riviera boat-tail
2004 Jaguar XJR
1999 Dodge Ram 5.7L Magnum
1977 John Deere 400

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07 Mar 2022 00:06 #863290 by 750 R1
Replied by 750 R1 on topic 1981 440 Ltd with 2 challenges
Your bike has been modified to fit the wrong seat, I'd chase a stock seat and cut all that non stock metal out....

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07 Mar 2022 04:33 #863294 by TexasKZ
Replied by TexasKZ on topic 1981 440 Ltd with 2 challenges
Travelcade was once a popular and fairly expensive upgrade. It is sad that somebody butchered the bottom of it. Looks like you will be spending some quality time with a plasma cutter or cutoff wheel in an angle grinder.

1982 KZ1000 LTD parts donor
1981 KZ1000 LTD awaiting resurrection
2000 ZRX1100 not ridden enough

www.kzrider.com/11-projects/620336-anoth...uild-thread?start=24

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15 Mar 2022 16:54 #863845 by Ian R Powell
Replied by Ian R Powell on topic 1981 440 Ltd with 2 challenges
The 440s are very easy to work on and parts are still out there if you look hard enough I have had mine now for 38 Years and it has never let me down the thing you must do is Change the oil and Filter at regular intervals.
I change the oil and Filter every 1000 Miles and I use 10/40s Semi synthetic oil and this has never caused any problems ether with wear or as I have read Clutch Sticking or Clutch Slip it has never Occurred.
This is my Z440-A2 LTD that is Running at the Moment a 2 into 1 System and a BSA Goldstar Silencer it runs better than the original System that I still have if I want to put it back to Standard. With the Goldstar on the Motor can Breath and the Sound is very pleasurable.
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