New guy from the UK.

Hi there,

Finally found myself a nice KZ to build into a Street Tracker. Just so happens to be an import from the US, or so i'm led to believe. Got it for the bargain sum of £250 and made more than that back, selling the parts I won't use to a nice guy in Ireland. Currently stands me at a zero cost bike, but I reckon it's gonna be a princely sum to get it the way i want it.

Someone might be able to tell me the exact model number too? Think it's a 1978 B1? Frame number = KZ650B024943

The day I bought it:



The day after :laugh: :

Looks like a B model with an added disc at the front.

Nice buy at that money! How many miles? I paid £350 & my bike is way worse than that but its all there.

I've actually got some wire wheels that I'd like to have re-laced with alloy rims.

The clocks had just over 30,000 kilometres showing. Don't know how genuine that is. It was running and sounded okay to me. Not that I have a tuned ear for engine noises. This is my first tear down/rebuild.

I'll be starting a project thread on the bike in due course. Don't get a great deal of time on the bike with work commitments, so it's a slow process I'm afraid.

It's a 1977 KZ650-B1. Some were actually built in late 1976, but the model year for all B1 bikes is 1977. Ed

Cheap for a UK bike these days. Evil bay has pushed up prices!

Limited UK history will be available from a number plate search at DVLA (free). You may also be able to trace past owners with DVLA assistance...and a fee!

Afarid I am a Z650 purist so seeing it torn down for a flat tracker makes me wince ...but hey each to his own! :ohmy:

Will be watching projects progress though

650ed wrote: It's a 1977 KZ650-B1. Some were actually built in late 1976, but the model year for all B1 bikes is 1977. Ed

Cheers Ed. Log book says 1978, but from what I've heard, they don't always get aged correctly when imported. I was born in 77!

z650freakl wrote: Cheap for a UK bike these days. Evil bay has pushed up prices!

Limited UK history will be available from a number plate search at DVLA (free). You may also be able to trace past owners with DVLA assistance...and a fee!

Afarid I am a Z650 purist so seeing it torn down for a flat tracker makes me wince ...but hey each to his own! :ohmy:

Will be watching projects progress though

I snapped it up early doors in an eBay auction. The guy lived 5 mins down the road.

Sorry for chopping it up pal, I hadn't a clue what I had really until researching afterwards. It was actually a decent bike that just needed some light cosmetic tlc from being stood in a garage.

This picture might hurt your feelings then:

Welcome Minus32.

Will be curious to see your project.

welcome to the forum.

Welcome.

Sorry for chopping it up pal, I hadn't a clue what I had really until researching afterwards. It was actually a decent bike that just needed some light cosmetic tlc from being stood in a garage.

This picture might hurt your feelings then:
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It sure does but hey there are plenty out there.

Not quite what Ben Inamura had in mind when he designed it but proves how flexible the design is!

750steve wrote: Looks like a B model with an added disc at the front.

Just thought, that'll explain why one of the front callipers looks like a replica? When I vapour blasted them, one seemed to have a poor quality cast, and incidentally, was the only calliper to have a leaking piston.

Minus32 wrote:

750steve wrote: Looks like a B model with an added disc at the front.

Just thought, that'll explain why one of the front callipers looks like a replica? When I vapour blasted them, one seemed to have a poor quality cast, and incidentally, was the only calliper to have a leaking piston.

We had twin discs on most models as standard as we are allowed to ride faster! Oh and it rains more! :lol: