New Member....New Purchase

Picked this baby up last week...was supposed to get it a few weeks prior.

Either way her she is.

1978 KZ1000 LTD

Now the big decision, do I convert it(full suspension swap for starts)

or clean it up and ride as is?

Welcome to z-jungle.
If you dont want to clean it up and ride it the way it is,let me know and I will! :woohoo:

Why would you want to "convert" it? That's usually reserved for the basket cases. That bike deserves to be cleaned up and ridden.

seems a little too nice to chop. although thats the whole reason i wanted to buy one. I think ill get this one all cleaned up and see if i can find another one in rough shape to chop

It's beautiful as is! I would just clean it up, change the fluids, and ride. Judging by many (not all) of the "projects" I've seen on this site if you take it apart you may never ride a motorcycle again. :laugh: If you must quench the thirst to modify just buy a clunker since you will end up changing most of it anyway. Ed

havoc97 wrote: seems a little too nice to chop. although thats the whole reason i wanted to buy one. I think ill get this one all cleaned up and see if i can find another one in rough shape to chop

Agree with everyone here. You can clean this one up, ride it for awhile and sell it for some good money. That will put you ahead of the game money wise and you can buy a not so nice example and the parts for your conversion. Or you just might find that you can't let this one go once its cleaned up.

I vote for clean it up and ride and enjoy it.
Is that 77 body work and paint ?

Street Fighter LTD wrote: I vote for clean it up and ride and enjoy it.
Is that 77 body work and paint ?

Not sure? The guy that had it originally told me it was a 77, but when we pulled the title out it said 78? He bought it when it was 2 years old and has had it since.

You guys would Know more than me. I'm a complete newbie when it comes to kz's

Im thinking 77, but who cares, Nice bike.

If you want to see 78 LTD paint look at mine. Black color with silver and red pinstripe, also came with a blue pin stripe option but dont see many of those. Also the KZ 1000 LTD on side covers tells me its not a 78 that Ive ever run across.
Keep it mostly stock , tune it and run it...

Street Fighter LTD wrote: Im thinking 77, but who cares, Nice bike.

If you want to see 78 LTD paint look at mine. Black color with silver and red pinstripe, also came with a blue pin stripe option but dont see many of those. Also the KZ 1000 LTD on side covers tells me its not a 78 that Ive ever run across.
Keep it mostly stock , tune it and run it...

Wonder if the years got switched around with the title at some point. Ill have to check the vin and research it that way.

Carbs are getting done this week, along with a tank clean up. Should have her going in a week or so.

Zedder.com shows these ranges of frame and engine numbers for 1977 and 1978 KZ1000 LTDs:

Year & Model '77 KZ1000-B1:LTD
Frame No. Range KZTOOB-500001 - 507530
Engine No. Range KZTOOAE000101 - 044022

Year & Model '78 KZ1000-B2:LTD
Frame No. Range KZTOOB-507531 - 515536
Engine No. Range KZTOOAE057037 - 057066 &
KZTOOAE058797 - 075473

Good Fortune!

Am thinking (but not positive) that Kawasaki offered at least two color options for each year KZ1000 LTD.

Some examples:

1977


1978


1979


Good Fortune!