Northern Michigan (Upper Peninsula) KZ Owner

Hello.

I've been a KZ rider for years now. I had a 440 in High School, but gave up the bike to play in bands, skateboard, and BMX.

Early this spring (2007) a friend gave me a '79 KZ400 LTD if he could use my back shed to work on his bike.

See this thread:
www.armbell.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=40...hlight=&mforum=kz400

Restored and rode this for a month or so in early spring. I jumped on a 1980 Suzi GS550 for $150 and got more than a month and +1,000 miles before I found my 1978 KZ1000 LTD.

I've got to say that these little KZs are beautiful machines. They ride well, and while these older bikes need caring for they are more reliable than I could have imagined.

I was warned about old KZ1000s by my dad, who has been an avid biker since the late 1950's. (BSA, Triumph, BMW, Drool) He said they were flying bricks that were too heavy to do anything other than make a fast, straight line down the freeway.

I have found out otherwise. My KZ400 weighs in at 365lbs (I think)and is one of the lightest, most nimble bikes I have ever ridden. It feels like a bicycle!!!!

The KZ1000 was a deal I couldn't refuse. I bought the '78 KZ with two '75 Z900s and a YAM XS650 for a nominal sum towards the decline of this summer.

While the 1000 is a little heavy, I've had no problems with the corners. I'm certain that it would easily out-perform my 400 even on a tight road.

Yes, it handles and accelerates *better* than the R-series BMWs my dad was so fond of through the seventies and eighties. And, I am not scraping the jugs around the tight corners.

Anyway, enough rambling. If there are any other KZ fanatics around here feel free to IM me.

Beatpoet wrote:

...I was warned about old KZ1000s by my dad, who has been an avid biker since the late 1950's. (BSA, Triumph, BMW, Drool) He said they were flying bricks that were too heavy to do anything other than make a fast, straight line down the freeway...

Welcome, Yooper! Sounds like you've got a nice farm of KZs going!

What your dad describes sounds alot like what they used to say about the old Kaw 2-strokes, like the triples and such of the early 70's.

Welcome to da Zone to another Michigander...


...or is that Michiganian?



...naw...Yooper sounds good enough!

Welcome Beatpoet...you have some nicer scooters there...keep us posted on how they are doing:)