KZ1000 Brake Question

I found a KZ1000 frame in a parts lot locally for $50 bucks... I would love to put a KZ1000 together - But I think this bike had a rear drum brake, I would prefer disk... How do you tell the difference? Can you convert them?:S

KZ1000 Newbie

Post edited by: Sienar1, at: 2006/05/12 14:49

I'm pretty sure Kawasaki went from a drum rear brake to a disc in 1977. Phrased another way, the KZ900A4/5 had a rear drum brake while the KZ1000A1 had a rear disc. Check the frame triple tree for a VIN and manf. date...it should let you know what you are looking at and the general direction you'll be heading in:)

I did look at the tag: it is a KZ1000 A1 1976... I forgot to write down the vin# - I will drop buy and give it another look.

Yep, it was '77 they went to rear discs...

Y'know, there _is_ another way to look at it....

A drum rear indicates an older vintage. An older vintage translates to a more valuable bike, given a decent restoration/rebuilding.

Having owned both types of rear brakes on a Z and KZs, I can vouch for the fact that if a drum is set up right, it'll lock your rear wheel as quick or if not quicker than a disc. And if you're worried about fading, either you're using your rear brake too much or you're running the Isle of Mann.

A reasonable guess is that Kaw went to rear discs to streamline manufacturing and costs. Take a look at the rear brake rotor - same exact item as on the front.

All things being equal, I'd feel enouraged by the drum rear.

If it *really* bugs you, it's not that big of a deal to convert it - a rear hub and a few other items - I'm _sure_ there's someone around here that'd make that swap...

Sienar1 wrote:

I did look at the tag: it is a KZ1000 A1 1976... I forgot to write down the vin# - I will drop buy and give it another look.

You already know enough to be sure it was a rear disc bike. 1977 year model KZ1000A1's were produced starting in late 1976. However, unlikely as it is, it is possible that someone could have retrofit a KZ900 rear hub into a Z1000 frame... :blink: The early model Z1000 rear discs functioned notoriously poor in certain situations.

Here is the vin# KZT00A-013532

When I went back to check the vin# the guy let me have it for FREE!:woohoo: Its just a bare frame with no title - but it is in damn nice shape, little rust, no mods or damage... I see Powder Coating in its future.

My first KZ1000 - Im so happy!

My 1977 KZ 1000A1 is Disc. Stock.

KZ 1000 Spec sheet,

KZ 1000 SPECIFICATIONS
Price $2899.00

Performance
Standing start ¼ Mile, 12.65 sec – 105.75mh
Engine RPM at 60mh, Top Gear, 3721 RPM
Average Fuel Consumption, 43.3mpg
Load Capacity – 333lb
Max Speed in gears at engine redline
1st – 52.50 2nd - 76.25 3rd - 99.99 4th - 121.12 5th - 137.05
Engine Type – 4 stroke Inline 4 cylinder DOHC 2 valves per cylinder, Air cooled
Bore & Stroke – 70 * 66
Piston Displacement 1015cc
Compression ratio - 8.7.1, full stroke
Carburetion - 4 Mikuni VM26SS, 26mm
Exhaust System - 4 into 2 interconnect or
Ignition - Breaker Points, 2 twin lead ignition coils 3ohms
Air filtration – Disposal able Paper element
Oil Filtration - Disposal able Paper element
Oil capacity – 3.7li
TRANSMISSION
Type - 5 speed constant mesh, wet plate clutch, chain final drive
Primary drive - chain drive, spur gear 97/56, 1.73.1
Final drive - 630 chain 33/15, 2.20.1
Gear ratio overall, 1st -12.08, 2nd - 8.34, 3rd - 6.36, 4th - 5.25, 5th - 4.64
CHASSIE
Type – Mild steel full double cradle, telescopic front fork, Swing arm rear fork
Wheel base, 1505mm
Rake / Trail, 26*/90mm
Brake Front- Hyd disc 296mm rotor
Rear- Hyd disc 292mm rotor
Wheel Front- Conventional Spoke 2.5in
Rear- Conventional Spoke 2.5in
Tire Front- 3.25H/19 4 PR Japanese Dunlap F6
Rear- 4.00H/18 4 PR Japanese Dunlap K87
Seat height - 31.5in
Ground Clearance - 160mm
Fuel capacity - 13.1li
Curb weight full tank- 256.3kg
Test weight- 331.1kg
ELECTRICAL
Power source- Alternator, permanent magnet
Charge - Solid state, Regulator / Rectifier
Head light beam, High / low - 12v, 50/60w
Tail / stop lights - 12v, 8/27w
Battery, 12v, 14ah
Speedometer Error
30 actual 28.6
60 actual 56.2
TAC RATIO = 5.1

Post edited by: dog pound, at: 2006/05/12 17:02

Post edited by: dog pound, at: 2006/05/12 17:04

Shuckey-darns.

Where am _I_ when deals like this happen? :blush:

Hey - I'll give you a skateboard with three wheels, a peanut butter & jelly sammich with only *one* small bite taken out of it (I didn't slobber much, *honest*) and a frog for it...

NO WAY! Its mine, all mine! I was in shock when he said take it... I guess it has been there for a while... the bike was his sons, but it broke down and he parted it out... he was going to make a drag bike out of it but that never happened.

Im going to turn it into a Mad Max Kwaka... I just wanted to make sure that the early 1000s had disk and not drum brakes...



Pterosaur wrote:

Shuckey-darns.

Where am _I_ when deals like this happen? :blush:

Hey - I'll give you a skateboard with three wheels, a peanut butter & jelly sammich with only *one* small bite taken out of it (I didn't slobber much, *honest*) and a frog for it...