My 1st motorcycle: 1976 KZ900

A guy on here once said "Ride like your invisible and NO One can see you"

A KZ900 is not the quickest or the most fast out there anymore but it's plenty quick enough to put you into the hospital or worse if you don't give it plenty of respect. Be careful and enjoy.

Real nice bike.It is big for a learner,but if you keep within your skill level for the first couple hundred miles you'll get used to it.Just go easy on that throttle.

stokes wrote: Real nice bike.It is big for a learner,but if you keep within your skill level for the first couple hundred miles you'll get used to it.Just go easy on that throttle.

I haven't found a need to go much past 1/4 - 1/3 throttle. That gets me up to speed quick enough.

Those are 28mm Z1 carbe. Don't buy kits. You can get parts here.
Steve
jetsrus.com/

I have a thread open in the carburetor section.
www.kzrider.com/forum/3-carburetor/60530...rb-re-jet-and-tuning

So it seems there are several versions of the z1 carbs? How can I tell which one I have?
I searched jetsrus.com for part numbers and came up with the same main jet 04/042 but a different pilot jet vm22/210. I believe I have 117.5 main and 15 pilot in the carbs now but those don't line up with what seems like came in the stock z1 carbs. I believe I am running lean and would want to increase jets to 120/20.

My mechanic says that a lot of the gaskets are worn out as well. You're saying I should just buy those separate? My local dealership says they can order rebuild kits for the z1 carb. Why would you suggest against this?

From the pics it appears that your carbs are the later ones, from the late '74 Z-1A's / '75 Z-1B's. They have small drain screws in the float bowls that face the sides instead of the large drain plugs that face straight down as on the '73 Z-1's / early '74 Z-1A's.

The ID mark for the later carbs is 2170, stamped on each outlet flange.

Stock jetting was:
Main - 112.5
Pilot - 17.5

Float bowl gaskets begin to weep with age. We'd suggest ordering rebuild kits from Z1 Enterprises or Z1 Parts.

Can't help you on jetting for pods. We run stock air boxes on all of our Z-1's.

Good Ridin'
slmjim & Z1BEBE

By the pictures looks like you have a Z1 900....74-75 model . What are the engine and frame numbers ?

Apparently I have a Frankenstein hybrid, not sure if that is good or bad...

The frame is Z1F-505022
The engine is Z1E-085345

According to Zedder.com you have :

1976 KZ900-A4 Frame
1975 Z1-B 900 Engine

Carbs probably came wiith the 75 engine.

Are the numbers close enough that this could be a factory oddity? Say there was a Z1 engine or two still in the pipeline when the KZ frames went into production? Not likely I know, but stranger things have happened.

Conspiracy wrote: Apparently I have a Frankenstein hybrid, not sure if that is good or bad...

The frame is Z1F-505022
The engine is Z1E-085345

Neither good nor bad. Frankenbikes are not uncommon. The Z-1 and KZ900 motors are identical for all practical purposes. The only people who would care would be collectors wanting correct numbers.

Good Ridin'
slmjim & Z1BEBE