Paint code for my 1978 kz650 b2a RED

martin_csr wrote: By katit: Nope , it's not correct. I will see if I can get paint details from YouTube author (he had his color-matched). ....

I didn't think so. just linked it to show a seller that included the silver base coat.

I contacted him anyways and got following response:

Hi,
I do and I don't.
I have the 76' Kawasaki KZ900LTD who a person bought and painted his 78"KZ650.
Said the color was correct for his bike.
Have not confirmed it "in hand" with a good original part for comparison. In my data base, the numbers from Lubritech, who supplied paint to Kawasaki, the colors are the same, using same codes.
So I would say yes. I'll attach pictures of his bike for reference, which he painted his self, I did not do the restoration paint which I do offer as a seervice also.

Pictures looks good, one red-ish but other is more orange. TBH - I don't think today anyone will understand if it's matching or not if all pieces painted

When that eBay seller states color matched he is talking about computer matched. He offers a lot of colors that "Mimic" Candy colors....but you can't make a base coat /clear metallic car color look like a Tri-coat or quad -coat Kawasaki color. He does offer the 76 900 LTD red in a true candy with a silver base and that is probably similar to the 78 650 except for the candy orange.

PaintWorkz wrote: He does offer the 76 900 LTD red in a true candy with a silver base and that is probably similar to the 78 650 except for the candy orange.

This is one he was talking about

Lubri-tech did not supply paint to KAWASAKI to paint new bikes. It was only a US touch up paint company and they did their own color matches without any help from Kawasaki. Most of their colors were only close, and some of the info on their color charts is not accurate. They sold out to Color-Rite who still only get the colors close on the vintage bikes.

In 1978 I think it was, I bought a 1978 new from the dealer and it was referred to those days as "Candy Persimmon red".

I used to go to Mopar shows and you'd see 4-5 plum crazy cars parked together....all different shades. So dont sweat it unless you're trying to match a n.o.s. part.

Kidkawie wrote: I used to go to Mopar shows and you'd see 4-5 plum crazy cars parked together....all different shades. So dont sweat it unless you're trying to match a n.o.s. part.

Yes, this is true. I am not going to worry about it too much. I dont even know yet if I even want original color. It's going to be MY bike. I like all original parts and chrome. No chopping or altering. But color might just be something personal.

The correct color description for a red 1978 KZ650 B2 is "Luminous Burnt Red" which actually looks more orange than red (burnt?)

Its listed here at the bottom of this page :

www.jarlef.no/Kawasaki/Series/Z/650/z650b.htm

Close only counts in Horse Shoes and Hand Grenades! Get creative! Spray a metallic base. Lay some red, with a strip chart, 1-2-3 coats see where it goes!
Or paint it all Black!

z1kzonly wrote: Or paint it all Black!

It is. Already. Spray can. Easiest to just leave it. With rust. And call it "rusty"