76 Z1 rear wheel, are there other bikes that match it?

Hi, I have a 76 Z1, someone at one point put a 15 inch rear wheel on it.  I've been looking for a standard rear wheel for it, but they are hella expensive if you can find them.  I was wondering if another Kawi had the same wheel I can use, like a KZ750 or something.  Thanks all.

 

More than likely it is a 16 inch rim. Many bikes in those early years were laced to a 16 inch rim. Im assuming it is a spoke rim. If so all you need to do is buy a used 18 inch rim from any of the bikes from 73-76. A new rim is not that expensive. You will need spokes also to replace it to the 18 inch rim. I have a pretty good rim if chose to go that route. Where are you located.

Question about year and model. Not that I know correctly but I do not think the Z1 was offered in 1976. As I understand it the Z1 was offered as a 73, 74 and 75 model . For 76 they marketed both (K)Z 900 in A and B (LTD) models but not as Z1 models.

Yes if it is a 76 its a KZ either way they used (Z1 and KZ)the 18 inch spoke rim

I think the KZ900 LTD used a 16 inch rim.  Which makes me wonder if the author has an LTD?  If he looks down at the valve stem he will see the rim date code.  It would be useful if he could post a photo of it.

We really don know what he has at this point. The LTD did use the 16 inch rim (mag wheel) but the std kz900 used 18 inch spoke wheel.

That explain why wheelies were easier with my LTD than my KZ

Thanks Cra-Z1, I'm in Orange County, like 30 miles south of Los Angeles.


HardRockMiner, no LTD, it has a chain.  I had an LTD 1000 in like 93, got it at a yard sale for 30 bucks!!!!  I wish I still had it.

OK, sorry on the lag, new to this site so I'm still struggeling finding out how to post and how to post pix, and how to get pix from my phone to my computer.

Also don't ding me on the condition, I was driving in my neighbor hood and saw the tail light in a guys garage, and I knew what it was.  Owner hadn't run it sinde 1989 it just sat in his garage.  I pushed it home after giving him $500.  I gave him the seat back since I'm not into vintage Dennis Kirk and he wanted to so something with it.

Thanks all for helping out, this is really fun, My Katana project ran amock when my Bandit 1200 doner bike got stollen.  

That rear wheel may have been made by using the original hub laced to a smaller rim.  I don't think any of the LTD's had spoked wheels, but others may know more about that.
And welcome to the fun!

Bikeazoid wrote:

I'm in Orange County, like 30 miles south of Los Angeles.

 

You should check out Buchanan's.  They are the only place I know of that specializes in spoke wheels, and they happen to be not far from you.  They sell rims in all sizes, spoke kits, and they build wheels as well.

www.buchananspokes.com/products/spoke_kits_kawasaki_kz.asp

Given that you already have the correct rear hub, if you can afford it I would take that whole rear wheel over to Buchanan's and buy one of their 18" rims, then have them build it up as a new wheel.  It'll be cool!

Although, if you end up with a nice aluminum rim, you might have to rebuild the front wheel as well so they match. 

Bikeazoid wrote:

Thanks Cra-Z1, I'm in Orange County, like 30 miles south of Los Angeles.

HardRockMiner, no LTD, it has a chain.  I had an LTD 1000 in like 93, got it at a yard sale for 30 bucks!!!!  I wish I still had it.


 

I have fixed your pics (next time before you post click "install all") not sure about your "chain reference" to the best of my knowledge all the KZ900 and 1000 models are chain (1100 is shaft)

Nice find! Did You feel Youthful pushing it down the street, ha. If it were me i'd just find an original 40 hole "steel" Takasago 2.15" 303-5 rim, new set of "swagged" spokes and nipples. Then hunt down a wheelwright for assembly. As mentioned Buchanan or actually a bicycle shop tech that laces wheels for a living.  Because the hub is even on both sides, you'll only have two type of spokes to buy, 20 inner, 20 outer. And there's no weird offset, rim and hub have equal offset. Those old 16" chrome rims were popular back in the day, a Harley aftermarket part actually. So the Seat and rim were probably bought from the J C Whitney catalog rather then the "later Dennis Kirk" company. Nice to see you still have the "often missing" original airbox! Your fun is just Beginning, Good Luck!!