New member and New bike rider

I have a stupid question. I have never owned or even driven a motorcycle. I just purchased a 1982 Kaw 440 LTD and with that said does the bike need to be rolling in order to shift up? It needs the carbs cleaned and isnt running at the moment. It was sitting in my driveway and I was shifting the trans and it only shifts down into first and up into neutral.

Welcome to the site. I had a '79 kz400 Ltd that did the same thing. I think it's a "neutral finder" feature that Ma Kaw added.

Good luck on getting your bike running. I've never bought a bike that ran when I bought it so you're in good company. Strongly recommend getting a Factory Service Manual for your bike.

get it running aand it will be fine....i just recently found a kawi with this too...while buying it i was afraid it had a bad tranny...not so...yours is o.k too....welcome and keep asking questions it'll run...

Welcome to KZR. Hope your planning on a riding safety coarse. And we like pix of any bike in any shape.

Mark

You'll be fine, and your trannie is fine (going up with shifter. 1 N 2 3 4 5 6?) Kawasaki is a very good, no great bike,easy to work on and very forgiving, motors are damn near bulletproof,your 440 will be a fun ride nimble and quick. you'll love her. regards Duke

this is a pic i took right after picking it up today. Its in really good shape cosmetically. I got it to start and sputter for 3-4 sec and it sounds damn good. Although it idles high and wont stay on.

Quote[Welcome to KZR. Hope your planning on a riding safety coarse. And we like pix of any bike in any shape.

Mark]Quote


Yea at the Harley dealership in Corpus Christi, Tx

Welcome LivingDead...another Texan...I think you have several KZR members as neighbors...also from Corpus. I'm a bit further north

LivingDead wrote:

It was sitting in my driveway and I was shifting the trans and it only shifts down into first and up into neutral.

Welcome to KZR. You are correct. It's Kawasaki's neutral finder. It will not go into 2nd unless the wheel is turning. When slowing down for a light or stop sign, you down shift into 1st and come to a stop. Then you can just flick up and your in neutral! No "hunting" around for it as on other bikes.

this seems to get alot of people. it got me back in january when i bought my 82 1100

you will probably need to remove the carbs and run guitar string though the idle and main jets to get the gunk out of them.

the riders course is important but even so, you will be ill equipped to deal with the infinite hazards of riding a street bike. the greatest danger are cars turning into your path. take nothing for granted.

dragsta wrote:

you will probably need to remove the carbs and run guitar string though the idle and main jets to get the gunk out of them.

the riders course is important but even so, you will be ill equipped to deal with the infinite hazards of riding a street bike. the greatest danger are cars turning into your path. take nothing for granted.

Egads!! A guitar string? This will surely damage the jets. If the jets are gummed up, soaking them in a good solvent or carb cleaner will loosen the gunk and then use something softer than the jet (like a toothpick)to clean it out.