New member and first time kz900 owner

Just thought id say hi and introduce myself. My name is Destin i live in fallon nv. I recently found myself with the opportunity to purchase a 1976 kz900. After doing a little research online and finally getting to see the bike i decided to purchase it.
This bike has been sitting in a guys garage pretty much untouched since 1990. Pulled the carbs and and fuel tank. One float bowl has a little old fuel gummed up in it. For the first time in my life someone said they drained all the fuel and actually did.
Wish i could post some pics but i keep getting an attachment size exceeds limit

You want to check everything. Get a manual and do the maintenance first. Valve adjustment being the most important. Here's a clip I made on a 550 I got last year.
Steve
kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/598262-kz-...-will-it-live#672882

Yeah im in agreement. This thing will need to be completely gone through. Everything looks like its in good shape but im starting to think if i get it running i wont stop riding it long enough to do the things i want. So im probably going to just strip it all the way down and start fresh.

Kauzenkaos wrote: ...........................Wish i could post some pics but i keep getting an attachment size exceeds limit

If you have "Paint" on your PC you can open the picture and resize it to a smaller size without much trouble. I usually must do that to post pictures. Ed

It also depends on how the cam is set.
Steve

Pics. Unfortunately the front fairing has to go. Not sure what is in place of the rear air filter but it has a k&n in the front hole. Maybe a kit? Looks like the rear drum has been swapped with a disk out of a 1000 whole swing arm swap i guess?

Yeah, I had one on my bike for about two weeks. Too heavy and was like a big sail. The KZ 900 I had for parts had a Dampener not a snorkel like that. Might have come off the 1000 the rear end came off of. Should clean up nicely.
Steve

SWEST,
I know this isn't the place to ask but I just was curious when you removed the front fairing how does the headlight mount? I don't have it taken apart yet but I cant see how it goes tohether.

Most bikes of this era had 2 'Ears' (for want of a better word) that slip on to the top of the forks and sit inbetween the upper and lower yokes. The headlight bowl then bolts on twixt these ears
If you look at the 900 on the homepage on this site,you can see how it should look. I dont know what your exact model is meant to have but itll be something like this.

P.S. If youre not worried about originality,you can buy aftermarket ones pretty cheap from any parts website. Theyre popular with the caferacer boys

Most of the time they will just fold the two ears together without the headlight. If not you can get some new replicas here.
z1parts.net/z1-900-kz900-kz1000-head-lig...et-fork-cover-73-78/
After the wreck I used the Vetter headlight rather than buying the whole set up. I like the quick change feature.
Steve

Lots of changes between the 75 z1 and 76 KZ900. Yours looks mostly original. The KZ900 came with rear disk brakes. Drums in the rear were 75 and earlier. I believe they were still date stamping the swing arms in 76. Look on the top front (near the pivot) on the swingarm's right side. There should be a 3 digit date code. The snorkel style Airbox is also correct for a 76. The replaceable filter element is a K&N. It pulls out. You're just missing the top cover. The front fork lowers have been flipped so the calipers are in the front. Some claimed it provided better airflow/cooling to the calipers. Easily switched back if you want. You've got some serious cleaning time in front of you, but definitely a good bike worth the effort. Welcome.

My 76 has rear drum. 76 LTDs came with rear discs. Nice that it has dual disc front though. Whats the manufacture date on the frame?