New member from Weston,FL

Hello all. I just got a 1979 KZ650-D2 SR, it is in good condition overall but I want to restore it to what it was 35 years ago.


So far I found this forum to be a good source of information and I'm looking forward to learn more about this bike.

Attached is a picture of the new toy

Welcome, murquiza.

Welcome from East Tennessee!! :woohoo:
TennesseeZ Ed

ed spangler wrote: Welcome from East Tennessee!! :woohoo:
TennesseeZ Ed

What great rides you have there!!!

Welcome...welcome to KZR.

murquiza wrote:

ed spangler wrote: Welcome from East Tennessee!! :woohoo:
TennesseeZ Ed

What great rides you have there!!!

Thanks :woohoo:
Do you mean the area ? :huh: , yep, there are a LOT of Nice Rides thru the area, I have Lived here most of my adult life and just discovered a Covered Bridge 25 minutes from where I grew up / live now!! and I didnt even know it was there, I live here and enjoy riding thru the mountains and backroads even though I have ridden most of them at least 5 or 6 times each! LOL. :ohmy:
or do you mean my bike? :huh: Its OK, its getting to the point I have to work on it as much as I ride it ( Or so it seems LOL)
Appreciate it!! Again, Welcome Aboard!
Regards
TennesseeZ ed

Welcome merguiza.

Bike looks great.
Looks like there's not much to restore.

rstnick wrote: Looks like there's not much to restore.

That's what I thought. The list so far:

• Brake MC: Redone completely. Is as filled with a rusty liquid, the diaphragm was shot, complete overhauled, rebuilt and repainted
• Brake calipers: Rebuilt. AL the rubbers turned into some kind of goo. Clear all the brake lines while on this
• Rear brake: Replace pads (I ordered a rebuild kit for this one too)
• Steering stem bearings: Replaced. The steering will literally lock on center
• Wheel bearings: Feel they drag a little, so just in case.
• Paint: The original paint is faded and with some cloudy areas, it requires to be repainted
• Turn signals: The lenses were cracked
• Center stand: Missing, had to be replaced
• Exhaust: Not original, It is a nice Kerker but this ain't going to be a cafe. I got me one from an E model that should fit well.
• Tires: Very dry. New Spitfires are going in. IDK why but this was the first time I couldn't remove a tire form the rim, that thing didn't want to stretch and come out, I had to use some persuasion :evil:
• Rims: In need of a restoration, polish and painting.
• Air box: Remove air pods and re-install the air box
• Emissions tubing: Re-install
• Starter clutch: It slips, for what I read I will have to fix it and in is not a simple task.
• Screws: Surface rust in all of them, so I'm going to polish the most visible one.
• Engine case: Clean / Soda blast
• Instrument cluster: Clean the inside and replace all the light bulbs.
• Gas tank: It had some minor rust inside so I cleaned it with cider vinegar and BB pellets (I'm still cursing the guy that said to put BBs in it was a PITA to take them out)
• Seat Lock: Take apart all the pieces and repair the lock.
• Side reflectors: Missing, replace.
• Center stand: Missing. Replace.
• Spare key: Cut a new one. (Do you know that Kawasaki for that year had two types of keys? 27008-1103 and 27008-1014 I got the latest and it was shorter)
• Carbs: Check for leaks and properly adjust. The bike accelerated by itself at some point so I believe there is a vacuum leak somewhere.

But overall all the pieces are there, and it in OK shape for it's age, however it does require work to keep using it. I rode it from St. Lucie to Fort Lauderdale, everything seemed to be fine. If I knew that the brakes were so bad (it braked well though) or that the front wheel axle nuts where hand tightened I wouldn't have rode it.

It will come out good though, I'm not looking for a show piece, only a period correct and nice looking KZ.

ed spangler wrote: Do you mean the area ?

Yep. I've been there a few months ago and it was a great trip, loved the area an I will surely go back (if I only could convince my friends for the 850 miles ride, last time the trailer their bike and I rode mine, I enjoyed the trip a lot more than they did.

Congrats on your bikes too.