New Kz owner

Hello everyone. I got my first KZ about 3 weeks ago. It's a 1980 kz1000 E2 shaft drive. It was sitting in a guys yard for at least a year before I got it. Before he sold it to me, he took it to get the carbs cleaned out and get it running for me. And run it does! I owned a 1994 883 sportster before this, and I rode the heck out of that thing. I think I put about 90,000 miles on it in 3 1/2 years. But this thing has some get up and go to it, like I never had with my sportster!
The first thing I did was give it an oil change, and then see what it could do. I know I need to do a lot of work to it, starting off with changing every gasket on it, and then taking stock as I go. It's got a good oil leak dropping down when I put it on its side stand, and there is a bit coming out from the head and rocker box gasket on the left side, that's causing me to put in a bit of oil every couple of days. I've twisted a wrench or two in my day, but I am by no means an expert, I still have A LOT to learn. Thank God for service books and wonderfully nice people who have an inclination to help people out. I will probably be asking a lot of questions and getting my older brother to assist. (I think he's forgotten more than I've ever known about engines)
I've put about 900 miles on it in 3 weeks to get a feel for it. There are quite a few differences between my old cruiser and this bike, I don't know if I'll ever get used to not having forward controls, but I'm working on it. And for some reason, there has been 2 or 3 occasions when I have tried to shift into 3rd gear, and it was like it wasn't there. Both times, I shift into 4th and then back into 3rd, and it was fine, but it was still a bit disconcerting. I'm idling around 800 and averaging about 30mpg so far, twice what I get in my truck. The bike is in pretty rough shape, but I will be busting some hump to get her looking and running good soon.

Welcome to KZR, CR...first order of business (if you haven't yet done so) is to acquire a genuine Kawasaki shop manual (it beats the aftermarket manuals all to hell). They can be gotten on eBay and are reasonably priced. Then post a photo of your bike

welcome, and thanks for the advice about the shocks... where abouts up in N. VA are you??

James

@stablechaser- I'm in Arlington
@Mcdroid- I tried looking for the kawi shop manual, but didn't see any listed. I picked up a clymer and figured I'd keep looking for a kawi one. Thanks for the tip.

I have the E1 and if I can be of any help just ask.

The FSM's come up on eBay from time to time so be patient.

Don't be shocked if one or more of the head cover bolts are stripped especially out by the half moon plugs. Wouldn't think there would be that many gaskets that will need replacing, these old KZ's tend to have the same usual suspects when it comes to leaking.

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Manuals
www.repairmanual.com
www.manualsnmore.com
www.midwestmanuals.com/
www.books4cars.com/
www.repairmanualclub.com/motomanuals/
moto-manuals.com/