New member with US Import KZ550

Hi all,
I joined the site to hopefully find a bit more information about my bike's history.
I bought it from a local shop who import lots of bikes from North America. When i bought this i was told it was a Kawasaki KZ550 A2 1981.
But there are things about the bike that make me question that.
-wiring loom is a cdi version identical to an A3
-tank and panel colour scheme is black with silver stripes, which look identical to a 1982 brochure
-when i did a vin check on line and also read adecrypting guide, it says it was made in Nebraska in 1982

Then to comflict the vin stick has '7 81' rubber stamped on it, and i think the exhausts are stamped with the year 1981.

I know the year isnt major, but im trying to work out if its been modified from factory or if indeed its a KZ550 A3 1982?

If 07/1981 is the date of mfg, then it is probably an 82. You can try checking the vin & engine numbers at cyclechaos.com or Zedder.com. The zedder site only provides a partial sample for free, so if yours isn't listed, you'd have to buy the software & cyclechaos doesn't list all models.

Have you got a pink drainpipe?

Pink drain pipe on the air box? Ill look tomorrow.
Defiantly the wiring is A3 .
Jkakzfa12cb****** is the vin which i think c is 1982 and b is Lincoln nebraska?

Pink drain pipe??
Fnar Fnar!

Mrsblackcat wrote: Pink drain pipe on the air box? Ill look tomorrow.
Defiantly the wiring is A3 .
Jkakzfa12cb****** is the vin which i think c is 1982 and b is Lincoln nebraska?

No, behind the bike on your picture, it was an attempt at humour.

From the vin that's probably what it is. Another way to check is to reference a KZ550 Kawasaki factory service manual which will have a model application chart on the back cover. some eebbaayy sellers include a photo of the chart. I checked one which showed that the 82 550-A3 has a beginning vin range of JKAKZFA1#CB500001. # = digit varies from one machine to another.

Ahhh its one of two pink lamp posts

Mrsblackcat wrote: Ahhh its one of two pink lamp posts

Now I'm intrigued.

In the U.S. :

As Martin said, the factory manual shows that bike, in the photos, to be a 1982 Kz550A3.

Notice the rear footpegs are mounted to a triangle-shaped, aluminum carrier. The earlier Kz550A's (80 A1, and 81 A2) had the rear pegs mounted to a tubular, steel, triangle welded to the frame.

The 81 was thin black and gold stripes on metallic red. The 82 was thick white and silver stripes on black.

There was no CDI used on the KZ550's, but the Kz550A's after 1980 had transistorized Kettering ignitions. The C models, I think, all had transistorized.

(The 1980A1 model would have had points and 1-phase charging system. The 83A4 model would have had the newer styled motor and cv carbs. )

To get the factory manuals, follow the link in my signature. Download all of the manuals for cross comparing the different versions.

Hi,
Thankyou for all your input on this topic , very helpful.
At the moment im trying to get it registered in this country (UK).
I got a dating cert to which it was dated off a rubber stamp on the vin sticker which says '7 81'. But im thinking , yexit was manufactured in Lincoln Nebraska in 1981, but wasnt released for sale to the public till 1982.
I doubt if i could find the date of first registration in USA, but maybe someone might know what month the A3 series became available inthe shops?
Big ask i know

it seems clear that your bike is a '82 model year unit. As mentioned earlier, the change over occurs sometime mid year. So, for example, a 9/81 built bike would be a 1982 model year unit.