Jeff 1980 KZ1000 A4

Hello everyone. This is my KZ. I inherited it from a friend when he passed. This thing is crazy fast. I don't ride her much.
He owned 3 KZ's but always had to end up selling them due to kids. divorces etc. I reluctantly purchased her not knowing the rarity of her after the heart attack took his life.
Thanks for letting me share.

Bill

Sorry for the loss of your friend. But you do have a nice motorcycle.The Mark II chain drive is the new sought after super bike!
If I were you, I would search out the original parts. Seat, engine covers, air filter box, rear black plastic fender. Keep it original as possible.
I just sold a set of blinkers last week on ebay for that bike.
Then decide what to do with it? Keep it, store it? Or make some nice money off of it.

Thanks for the information. I wish that would not have been messed with. But it could have been altered a whole lot worse couldn't it?

The worse part to me is the seat. Somebody paid a lot of money for that.

Welcome Bill.
Sorry to hear about the loss of your friend.

Nike MKII.

I am taking your advice. I found the back plastic fender. Seats and exhaust are expensive. Just those 2 items would cost about a grand. Would it add that much to the value? The air filter box with the silencer might pose to be a problem. Where should I stop? Let me ask this question. A stock bike in this condition would be worth? vs my bike the way it is? Many thanks!

Bill

welcome.
nice bike.


leon

A clean stock KZ1000A4 (with stock pipes, airbox, seat, etc.) should be in the neighborhood of US $8000...you never said what you paid for it.

I have had her between 7 and 10 years. When my friend died his widow asked me to help her out by buying it. At the time I didn't have a lot of extra cash and I really didn't want it. Reluctantly I did. I rode it a few times off and on through the years but for the most part she sat out in the shed covered up and mostly forgotten. This year I decided to tear down the shed and build a barn. I cleaned out the shed and put everything outside. When I uncovered Jeff I began to think that I had kept my friends memory long enough so I began to look into if I could maybe sell her to help fund the barn. I did remember when I changed the title over that it said something like kz1000A4 on it. Actually I was a little bummed that it didn't say kz1000LTD and that she was missing all of the chrome that the LTD had. When I began my quest for knowledge I saw on ebay that a good LTD wasn't really bringing that much I almost quit looking because I wouldn't even think of parting with her for what the LTD's were selling for until...............I came across an add for a Z1R. I thought hmmmmmmmmmm this looks a little like Jeff(ugly) and its selling for a lot more than the LTD's. Still I couldn't find one on ebay. Then I read an article about them. I guess back in the day dealers couldn't sell them. The only buyers were the ones who were taking them to the track and tearing them up. To get them sold dealers were replacing the gas tanks with LTD tanks just to even get them sold. I am not telling you guys anything am I? To answer your question I actually don't remember what I did pay for her. I paid Jeff's widow exactly what she asked though, I didn't try to talk her down. it was either $ 750 or $1500. So I will be purchasing a nos seat and everything else that I can find. I really appreciate everyone's advice. I will post pictures as I go forward.

Thanks!!!!!!!!

Thanks! I am liking her better each day now that I have found you guys!

here is a couple modded ones from sanctuary in japan.





the Japanese are re-importing these as much as possible.

leon

That is Crazy!!!! I must say that I am confused. I do understand that the engine was changed in 1981 by making it a "J" Block from then on.
From there up those aren't as collectable. I do know that they made the MKII 1n79 and in 80 but I haven't found out if those were somehow different? Is it just a name? Also I have read that the 80 will never be worth as much as the 79. Is that true? If mine is a MKII why aren't the side badges the same as the 79?
So why are they doing this in Japan? I understand the mods are for performance and handling but why not just purchase something new for what I would guess would be a 3rd of the price and not hacking up one of these? I am too new at this to know if I like the mods or not.
I am not new to riding though. At the age of 8 I was on two wheels with a mini bike and have ridden lots of different brands through out the years. In 05 I Reluctantly purchased A brand new Road King ( please don't boo me HA) And 150,000 miles later I have showed my wife 48 different states. Yes a Harley will run that long. I wanted a BMW but gave into my wife.
Thanks again,
Bill

One on my wish list....awesome moto. in the last 3 months two have sold. One was original and went for little over $12K. The other one was restore and sold for little over $10K.
My guess on yours the way it sits would bring in around $8k at least and would be going over seas.