‘81 KZ 440 LTD. $300 bucks?

Jeez, that's rough. Maybe you could talk them down from the 300   

Yeah, it’s real rough. Even if it was for free, I just don’t think I’d want to take it on. On the other hand….most of the bike is original. The exhaust is totally clean along with a bunch of the other parts on the bike but….is it worth it. Hey, if it were a 900 it would be in my garage right now but it ain’t, so I’m going to pass on this one. Thanks all for your input.

motomisfit wrote:

Pretty rough. No airbox, throttle wouldn’t turn, front brake hydraulics no go. Why for the life me would anyone do that with the headlight is beyond me. I couldn’t even see thru the oil sightglass.
 

I was expecting it to be somewhat neglected, but daaaaaaannnng.

That's not the right headlight (should be round) so I'm guessing the original was replaced with whatever happened to be lying around.

And I think it needs a fork seal.

Yeah…..I just don’t know. No airbox? Ok, not a huge thing, just a couple K & N’s I suppose. Not being able to work the carbs throttle? The cable was ok, the carbs themselves were stuck. The tachometer cable was toast. The ignition switch looked like someone had used a screwdriver as a key. A real shame because it could’ve been a fun little project.

 "unfortunately he can’t take any pics of it"
That may have been a clue. 

I'm gonna be the "odd man out" here, yes it's rough and only worth taking on if you specifically want that model but, here in the UK given that it's pretty much complete and the chrome looks good you would be looking at double that money at least !! (anything old, especially with a Kawasaki badge is crazy money) 
What you see is what you get for $429 (without a registration document) 

 

motomisfit wrote:

Yeah…..I just don’t know. No airbox? Ok, not a huge thing, just a couple K & N’s I suppose. Not being able to work the carbs throttle? The cable was ok, the carbs themselves were stuck. The tachometer cable was toast. The ignition switch looked like someone had used a screwdriver as a key. A real shame because it could’ve been a fun little project.
 

I think it still could be a fun little project, tbh. Parts - including the ignition switch - are readily available and inexpensive, so you could replace the missing/damaged bits without spending a lot of money. I personally wouldn't restore it as such, just make it into something to ride around town.

Heck, here's a front end complete with forks and an ignition switch with key - $169.99 + free shipping.

https://www.[ebay].com/itm/276140890314

Yeah, I’m on the edge. He doesn’t have a title for it. The tank is not rotted but real crusty inside. I wish it had at least all 4 emblems but it only has 1 on one the side covers. I don’t particularly have a desire to own this model bike but was hoping it didn’t need this much work so I could get it running, ride it a bit and pass it on to my bro or a buddy.

If there's no title, yeah, I would pass - especially if it's not a model you really want or find particularly interesting.   I thought it had one for some reason - and maybe that's why the ignition switch looks the way it does.   Since the Vermont licensing option was shut down, I guess you would be on the hook for whatever your state would require to get a title.

I mean, you could part it out and scrap the rest - might get decent prices for the belt drive, exhaust, and engine - but that depends on how much you want to deal with it.

Or get it running and put knobby tires on it and call it an off-road bike.


 

Wookie58 wrote:

I'm gonna be the "odd man out" here, yes it's rough and only worth taking on if you specifically want that model but, here in the UK given that it's pretty much complete and the chrome looks good you would be looking at double that money at least !! (anything old, especially with a Kawasaki badge is crazy money) 
What you see is what you get for $429 (without a registration document) 

 

Complete with chopped hardtail frame

440 LTDs are very common here, and so far have not been affected (AFAICT) by the general silliness of the used bike market.

I just like bikes, period.    My first bike was a Honda CT70, then a SL100 and on and on and on. 

The no title is probably a deal killer, but he says just tell DMV that the previous owner died.    That's funny

motomisfit wrote:

I just like bikes, period. 

  My first bike was a Honda CT70, then a SL100 and on and on and on. 

The no title is probably a deal killer, but he says just tell DMV that the previous owner died. 

  That's funny