Hello world

Hey everyone, I just purchased my '83 KZ550 Spectre this weekend and after about 10 minutes of Google'ing today found KZrider.com. I'm glad to have found ya'll because my bike came with a set of keys, a tank of gas and not much else so as a first time KZ owner (and first time bike owner for that matter) I've got a lot of questions. A few searches on the forms and I've already found the proper pressures for the front and rear suspension and the replacement bulb number for the turn signals

Here's a few pictures of my new toy. She's not in great shape right now but I got a great deal and the engine/drivetrain have been extensively worked over including:

• All four carbs cleaned, two float needles replaced
• New airbox to carb rubbers
• New airbox to crankcase rubber
• New fuel and vacuum lines
• New fuel filter
• New battery
• 3L of new 10W40 motorcycle oil and a new oil filter and gasket
• Clutch cable lubed
• Front brake caliper cleaned and front disk system flushed
• Both tires are *new*
• Gas tank has been replaced with a used gas tank
• Brake light switch replaced

And now for the pictures:






I purchased the bike from MPG Motors in Sellersville, PA. Pat (the owner) was extremely helpful and went over the whole bike with me, detailing all the work he had done and all the things that were left to do. He did an oustanding job of reworking the bike before selling it and I want to say many thanks to him for a great purchasing experience.

Post edited by: coffeedragon, at: 2007/07/09 14:12

Hey! Pretty, do you have a name for it, yet?

Nice colour on your pipes and tank, btw.

I haven't named her yet, I haven't been stuck with a moment of inspiration.

As for the colors, she's a mixed bag at this point with original red fenders and side covers and a replacement gold tank. The plan is to go over the whole bike top to bottom and do everything in flat black with a dash of chrome accents here and there. I also want to swap out for some flat handlebars and figure out how to clean up the left and right controls (maybe custom fab some switches in a nicer housing).

Anyway, that's all pie in the sky. Right now, I'm just glad to have something to push the wind through my hair and bugs into my teeth.

Welcome coffeedragon...that is a 1982 year model tank, BTW. If you wish to bring the bike back towards original, watch eBay (most of us and also turned into eBay geeks) and a 1983 tank will appear eventually.

Wow, you've got quite an eye for these bikes, I didn't realize it was a different year tank. Was it just the paint change to '83 or was the profile changed as well?

Congrats Coffeedragon. Your bike is a beauty, and I wouldn't change much more than the handlebars myself. If you decide to go flat black on everything you could probably sell those body parts on ebay for 2x what it would cost you to go black.

Is the bike shaft drive?

Yeah, it is just a color/pattern difference, tank shape was unchanged...the model was only manufactured in 1982 and 1983. Many of us pay attention to these meaningless details 'cause there is little else going on in our lives :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Good to know about the tank, I'll keep my eyes on FleaBay. I'm already watching a speedo/tach to replace my nearly illegible units.

The bike is shaft drive. I've been looking for a bike for almost a year and my requirements were 500+ cc, shaft drive and under $1k. This one fits the bill and has just enough wrong with it that I can convince my wife that all my future "repairs" are necessary (read new paint, wheels, etc...)