KZ1000 hopeful!

Hello everyone,

I'm looking forward to becoming an active member to your forum, as I'm sure I'll need some advice and tech tips. But first thing is first, I have NO bike! Not yet anyway, I'm to look at a 1987 KZ1000 police bike on Wednesday and I'm looking for some advice as to what I should be looking for as far as potential problems.

The bike has 99,000 miles, which scares me (a lot), and the owner claims that he thinks there is a problem with the carbs, possibly the intakes. Not too far out there for a guess. He wants $1000 and with that many miles I'm not sure it's worth it. Which is why I came on here. I'm looking for any advice, Thanks all!

Hello SD,

Welcome to KZR. There are plenty of retired police bike owners here, I'm sure they'll be along shortly.

I'd have to say that a grand for a 99K bike sounds really steep. It'd have to be totally complete with a sound motor to tempt me.

kzcsi

KZCSI wrote:

Hello SD,

Welcome to KZR. There are plenty of retired police bike owners here, I'm sure they'll be along shortly.

I'd have to say that a grand for a 99K bike sounds really steep. It'd have to be totally complete with a sound motor to tempt me.

kzcsi

I completely concur with our Moderator:) And, welcome to the site...if you don't get this bike, there will be another along shortly...patience is the key.

Thanks for the replies and warm welcomes! I'm thinking the same thing about the price. I'm taking cash with me tomorrow to see if he'll bite on anything lower. That is of course, if the bike is sound. Unfortunately it seems that a bike that runs in this neck of the woods (the south west) doesn't fetch under $1,200 . I'm probably being over optimistic by thinking that it will be ok but we'll see. The current owner claims it runs and rides great. It looks ok from the pics, and if he's telling the truth about how well it runs then he'll have it sold. I know enough to tell if it's about to blow, smoke, the obvious engine noises etc. What I'm not sure about is what problems these bikes are notorious for, if any?

Post edited by: speeducky, at: 2008/02/26 19:56

The usual Speedy. Check for vibes in the mirrors, spitting carbs, a rough chain, wear in the steering. Touch the engine and see how warm it is to make sure it hasn't been started and warmed before he turns it on to show you how quickly it starts.Listen to the starter. Check the rear sprocket for wear, and if it is needs new chain and sprockets, 20 percent off the price and check the tires. Look at the color of the oil by removing the oil cap after he has run it. If it is dark or black he is a negligent owner. And last of all oil leaks and posible broken/torn intake boots and check how well the clutch disengages. I think that is all.... o and no missing screws. But I tell you I would of bought the bike if I had the chance, Kz of my dreams. I got my 1000 for 700 with oil leaks, bad chain and sprockets clogged carbs scratches in the tank and covers and it smelled, plus a cruiser handle bar that hurt my wrists. So guy Good luck

Thanks for the list wolf! Hopefully I'll be able to pick it up for around that if it isn't too bad off. I probably wouldn't have inspected the carbs for cracks. How hard can new ones be to track down, and of course how salty?

It smelled?????:huh:

:silly: You're looking at the proud new owner of a 1987 KZ1000P(?) with 99,000 miles! Runs surprisingly well, fired right up (it wasn't warmed up before I got there), bearings seem tight and in good order. Of course it does have a couple of problems: the turn signals don't work (I think there is a problem in the switch as the button is extremely stiff to operate and there is no response when it does move), it leaks oil a little (it looks as if it's coming from the top front of the engine (please tell me I didn't make a bad move), slight rust in the tank, and the intake rubbers are cracked, and the tires are bald, that's it! All this for $700. I hope I didn't buy a head ache! I pick it up saturday and I hope it makes the 60 mile ride home! wish me luck!

sounds good to me! Just torque down the head bolts to stop the leaks, unless you mean right under the valve cover in which you would have to take off the valvecover and put on new gasket and dont forget the silicone like I did. You can get new intake rubbers from our main parts supplier www.z1enterprises.com at decent prices. But on the whole not a bad deal, but if you want that bike to stay healthy, start your service on it immediately. My bike had this weird smell of kerosene or something and the leaked oil had a smell to it. I have pics coming guys?

Thanks for the heads up on Z1enterprises $30 bucks cheaper for intakes than what my local kawi dealer quoted me today. Are you asking me for pics? I'll post some as soon as I can get them. I'm supposed to pick the bike up tomorrow ( it was supposed to be saturday but my boss (who rides) said to me today "what?!? you got it? f!ck that, you're not working tomorrow, You got important sh!t to do. Go get your bike" How could I argue with that?

lol. I have the factory intakes on my 650 but I don't like the rubber, too hard. The ones from z1 are soft and pliable. Go get that bike.

Right on Speeducky!

Welcome to KZR.

Congrats, and Welcome!
If the bike spent most of it's life as a cop motor, it was probably well-maintained. Cops run their bikes hard, but they know their rides and get them fixed before they develop problems.
Here's hoping it's a good, dependable scoot!