Curious - What do you guys think?

Well... you guys give some great input on the 650 that I was trying to buy, now I could use your opinions again.

1975 KZ400 - 12,000 miles - good shape - $650

I'm sure this bike pales in comparison to the $650, but I just couldn't work a deal with the guy.

Hoping to get any and all opinions on the KZ400.

Thanks guys!



Post edited by: chopstar, at: 2006/07/17 11:15

chopstar wrote:

...Hoping to get any and all opinions on the KZ400...

$650, huh? I think that's a bit high, but bike prices are up these days. Offer him $500. Hell, offer $300, and pay $500.

I must say I'm biased: I love my 400. I need to get back to work on it someday, but my 750s have taken up all my spare time.

The 400 is light and geared really low so it's extremely peppy. Great gas mileage, I got around 55 mpg all the time, and I ran rich.

It's got a comfortable, low seating position. Relatively easy to maintain. Also, it's a GREAT starter (first time) bike.

I'd buy it for $500. In fact, I have. Like I said, I'm biased...

I'm certainly no expert on things 400, and it's hard to get a real idea from one photo, but it don't look to be in too terribly bad a shape.

From the looks of it, it needs a little carb work - it's got the telltale gas stain on the countershaft cover - needles and seats, perhaps...

You didn't say whether it was running at the moment. I'd assume it does, and for 650 clams, it better. Just in case, take along a set of cables and a battery and a compression checker. Run a test and see if it's anywhere near spec - further from spec, further down comes the price.

How's the rubber? Are the tires junk?

How's the battery? Does it have much crank left in it, or does it audibly lose amps within a few seconds of winding the starter?

Get down on a knee and get a gander at the brake pads - any meat left?

How'd the chain and sprockets? Any life left?

Doing a thorough go-over and hemming and hawing a bit if you spot any of the above items out of reasonable whack can have a bearing on a price - if you spot things the prospective PO'd rather you'd have glossed over, it gives you a bit of negotiating power he'd wish you didn't have...

Best of luck.

Hey Chopstar, where are you located. If you decide to pass on it, maybe someone else here will go for it.

I think that if gas prices continue to rise, I am going to start looking for something like this to commute with.

I get about 35 mpg with my kz1000, but if I could up that to 50 it would save in the long run (especially compared to my F150).

At least that's my story to the wife and I'm sticking to it.:laugh:

Important addendum to the above:

Take along a an extendable mirror and take a good look inside the gas tank. Clean metal is great, a minor amount of surface rust can be handled, scaley, flaking rust is a headache. Definitely should impact price.

The gas stain isn't too bad but the carbs on the 75's can be tough to find parts for. If it runs good it could just be a bowl gasket or something simple. If it's in perfect shape $650 might just be about right.

Looks clean in the pic.:woohoo:

I'd try to lean him down to $500. Gotta be something other than the stain to complain about! Hem and haw a little. If he sticks I have started with much less and made happy machines. I have a feeling oil went up with the shuttle and is not coming back down with her. Between the middle east shooting itself in the foot and increase in black helicopter flyovers a economical scoot with a large amount of fun in her is cash, which is just as good as money!*

* Yogi Berri'ism (see BooBoo)

If you like the bike, $100 shouldn't be enough to sway you either way. Looks nice enough, and if she runs decent, you've done well. ,BK

chopstar,

That looks cleaner than my 75 400, but mine is a running work in progress.

Carb parts can be a pain, Z1 enterprises does stock the rebuild kit with the gaskets and jets.

Pics can be decieving, let's just leave it at that.