Hello,
I am a new member to this forum, but, have owned my 1978 Kawasaki KZ200 since 1992.
In the winter of 1992, back when there were still motorcycle magazines and small motorcycle shops in many small towns in Upstate NY, I drove to a small shop in Canandaigua, NY to pass a cold day. It was just north of the lake in an older, sort of run down area containing many little shops that has now all been converted to high rise apartments and fancy restaurants.
When I walked in the owner came out of his tiny office right away, like they used to do back in the day. He had a few bikes on the show room floor (no ATV's or snowmobiles to balance winter sales). We were chatting and I indicated I was looking for a smaller motorcycle.....but....nothing specific in mind.
He said: "Ah, stop back to the shop", back when they still let you walk around the shop without checking their liability policy. We walked back to the shop where two guys looked like they were doing rebuilds and there, on its center stand, was what looked like a a brand new Kawasaki KZ200. I checked the odometer (because it was analogue and I could see the miles and it showed 1800 miles. The bike was completely stock. No aftermarket anything on it. Just like it was new from the factory.
I asked: "How is it possible that an essentially new KZ200 is here?" He said, "In 1978 an older guy bought the motorcycle new, rode it for a couple of summers, then, stopped but stored the bike in a heated garage. Eventually, he passed and his son asked the owner to sell it for the estate and it had just come in. Mechanics had just finished checking it out in the back.
I asked how much? He said, tentatively, $550?. I said, done, I will be right back. I came back within 30 minutes with cash, and, he delivered the bike to my door the following week. I immediately bought the Haynes manual and have performed all maintenance since then. The bike now has 5600 miles on it. I own a 1999 Suzuki SV650 for most of my riding. But, I ride this little Kawi a little every summer.....but....I am now like the old guy who originally owned it.....hoping to keep in in good shape for the duration.
Some pics of the old bike, still all stock. Still looks brand new unless you really examine some of the harder to reach parts.
photos.app.goo.gl/9vUJgGtndgyfsry69
photos.app.goo.gl/TeNZoEN6SXC5QNdLA
I just finished complete maintenance (everything is in spec), and, because the cycle has been hesitating off idle, reset the float height to the middle of the spec. This took some effort because I am getting dumber as I get older but I finally figured out how to measure exactly from the bottom of the carb top gasket to the surface of the gas. For a while I was guessing. The spec height is 4mm-6mm but I finally nailed it at 5mm in the middle of the spec.
photos.app.goo.gl/vYCG4pgJnDsc6qej8
Took it out for 30 miles yesterday and it ran better than it ever has. Two weeks (off and on) to do a two hour job......that's what getting old is all about.
At any rate, I look forward to participating in this community. I love this old motorcycle, but, while I was getting older, all the parts for it were discontinued. I remember when I could get most stuff for it from bikebandit.com. Now? Nothing. Just finding tires, which, was easy in 2005, is hard.
I did manage to find stainless steel, hex head, bolt replacement kit for the engine covers from Dime City Cycles. I replaced all those old Phillips, soft head screws that were nearly worn out with the hex head stainless. Looks better and MUCH easier to open the case now.
That's it for now.