New guy from Fargo- just picked up a '77 KZ650

Hi everyone,

I've been riding for about 12 years and have owned several bikes over the years, old and new. I've been lurking this site for a bit while keeping my eye out for KZ, which I've always wanted. Well, I finally found one after a couple months of searching, recently selling my '07 Suzuki SV650S, which I loved and highly recommend. I picked up '77 KZ650 and an extra gas tank for $650, its got about 10,600 miles on it. The frame number is KZ650B-007143 and the engine is 007570. It runs great, most of the chrome is still in very good condition, though I did notice a small amount of rust forming inside the gas tank. The gas tank they gave me is perfectly clean, but not the right year. The tank on the bike was sanded, primed and rattle canned by the previous owner, to prevent rust as they said. Its not a perfect tank that is dented, weird dents, long one's like it was leaned up against something, probably going to have to get a different tank. I bought this with the intention of doing a 'rider' restoration, I'd like to bring it back to a clean, nice looking everyday rider and keep it relatively original.

I'm not going to pretend I'm something that I'm not. I'm kind of a rookie when it comes to motorcycle mechanics, I've always done the lite work on my previous cycles, but never really dug into anything serious. But I'm eager to learn, I'm a product engineer and write standard operating procedures for software all day, so I'm good at directions. So, please excuse the stupid boneheaded directions I'll probably throw at you guys.

Can anyone identify this gas tank? Would it fit my bike? I know its not the original, but its a cool looking tank.

Any advice on things to do first? I'm also trying to save for a down payment on a house, so I want to keep things cheap for the time being.

Anyway, glade to be a member, there seems to be an amazing pool of talent on here. Thanks in advance for any help you guys can give.

Attaching pictures, hopefully they work. Excuse me if they don't, different forums do this in different ways.

This is embarrassing. Let me try the pictures again

Welcome aboard; Nice bike! If that exhaust system is as nice as it looks treat it like a newborn baby. Original exhaust system in good shape are far and few between. Unless I'm missing something in the pictures, both tanks look like normal KZ650 B or C model tanks and either should be correct for your bike. Be sure to ask lots of question before you dive into anything you're not positive about. Here's a couple recommendations I just sent to another new owner of a rally nice KZ:

kzrider.com/forum/10-new-members/531915-...ing-condition#531947

Welcome DeFi! For $650 for a bike in that shape, you are already way ahead of the game. The bike looks awesome from the pictures. Very nice. I would start by doing standard maintenance (oil, filter, chain adjustment and lube). Install an inline gravity fuel filter if there is not one already. Especially if there is rust in the tank like you indicate. As for the rusty tank, you mentioned the other tank is clean. So as long as it fits, temporarily use that tank while you de-rust the one that came installed. You can use white vinegar in the tank to de-rust it. You can buy a plug from a hardware store or pool place (seen some that members here used) and plug up the holes. Let the vinegar (filled to the top) soak for a a week or two. You can tilt the tank forward or backwards from time to time so the whole top of the tank gets treated as well. You can check the progress every few days. Once complete, empty the vinegar and wash out tank with water then spray the inside with wd40 to help prevent flash rusting. Make sure all debris has been washed out. You'll have a new tank inside.

Thanks guys.

650ed- Thanks for the link, very useful. I had no idea about the Phillips tips, this is exactly the type of information I need. And yes, the exhaust is one of the nicest features on the bike, there's not a spot of rust on it, it was one of the reasons I jumped up to grab it. There was another '77 KZ650 on craigslist for $700 OBO, I was just about to take off and go look at it, I hit the refresh before leaving and seen this one for the same price, it was much nicer. The other one ran nice but the exhaust was a mess, the tank was rough and it didn't have the side covers. And with the tank, I seen a totally different looking badge on it and assumed it was from a different year, its good to know its still correct.

swmiller944- I'll get started on the tank this weekend, I've seen a million different ways to clean out tanks, some very complicated, this seems to be the simplest cheapest way I've seen, appreciate the tip. I'll also get started on all of the routine maintenance.

Any members in the Minnesota/North Dakota area?

Actually, since your bike is a 1977 the badges on the spare tank (all upper case) are the type that would have come on your bike originally. BTW, just so you know for looking up parts or ordering the correct manual, the model of your bike is a 1977 KZ650-B1. Ed

Check your Private Messages. Ed

Very nice bike and very nice price. Take care of her.

You scored! Take good care of it and please don't carve it up into a piece of modern cafe junk.

nice one......welcome


i see deals out there on bigger kz's and Z1's a lot

and have relatives there......good score

Craig

man you guys are gettin all the good bike what is going on..

looks real nice i wish i had my old one back lesson learned never sell my bikes again i am a bike horder..........lol

Thanks everyone. We do have some good deals up here if you put in a little work. It took me about a month and half to find what I wanted. I wasn't in a hurry, so I waited for the best deal to crop up.

Quick question. It runs really well and has about 10,600 miles, you think its necessary to adjust the valves at this point? My last bike didn't need that until about 14,000. Is the valve adjustment based purely on the number of miles or does age factor into this?

Thanks, Brian

There are lots of variables that contribute to if and when valves need to be adjusted, but in general the KZ650 shim under bucket valve configuration doesn't need a lot of adjustment. On my KZ650-C1, which I bought new in April, 1977, I adjusted 1 valve at 500 miles because it was close to the loose limit of the valve clearance range. I believe it was shipped that way from the factory. That is the only valve that has ever been adjusted. I check the valve clearances regularly and they barely fluctuate at all. None has changed by more than 1/1000th of an inch since the bike was new, and I now have more than 52,000 miles on it. Since your bike is running well I suspect the valve clearances are fine.

If you want to be positive, you can check the valve clearances. To do so you will need a set of QUALITY feeler gauges (junk feeler gauges are often inaccurate) and to be safe new cam cover and points cover gaskets. The Kawasaki Service Manual provides instructions on how to check the valve clearances. If you decide to check the clearance be sure to follow the instructions carefully. Ed