My 79 650SR

I recently acquired this SR. It was in decent condition and running. It has few mods. Yoshimura 4 in1, BS32 carbs, rear air shocks and the front brake master cylinder is been updated to the metal rectangular type from a newer model 81?82?
The colour was originally a metallic blue which I didn't care for; the back rim still shows that colour. The seat is out getting reupholstered.
Can hardly wait to get this bike on the road. See how it compares to my 79 Honda CX500.

That's a pretty sharp looking SR you've got there.

Your CX500 might have a slightly smoother ride to it than your KZ650 SR, but IIRC all of the CX models (yep, even the turbos) were pretty sluggish.
So basically pitting your CX500 against your KZ650 (especially with the Yosh pipe and BS32 carbs) will make you feel like you're comparing a small blocked Chevy Camaro to a V-12 Dodge Viper! :woohoo:

Ridden a LOT of CXs...never thought of calling them "smooth"...and the 650 Turbo was way faster than the 500 Turbo...still, I agree that the KZ650 carbed and piped should be a superior performer.

...there was this waste-gate kit that Honda used to sell for the Turbos, if you had one of thooooose....hmmmm.

-KR

Looks good.

Do add some air to your front tire, as it looks low.

Nice bike. Interesting color scheme. It really has a different look. The bike appears lower than stock. Has it been lowered?
I'd sure like to see it when you're finished.

RetroRiceRocketRider wrote:

comparing a small blocked Chevy Camaro to a V-12 Dodge Viper! :woohoo:

viper is a V10 :side: :S :S

It is almost finally done. Needs a little more spit polish. I took it for a run. It didn't run very good above 5K RPM. I put new gas in and still the same thing. I thought I was in for a bitch of time problem solving. The first thing I did was take the BR6ES plugs (supposedly I was told they were new) and replaced them with the recommended B7ES. I also noticed the paper air filter was coated with oil (don't know if this standard practice) and decided that can't help good air flow. So I removed it; no filter right now. Went for another run and it ran beautifully.
I think I may change the rear sprocket to a little larger; possibly a 43T or even 44T. I find the highway cruising a little high on the rpms. At about 92kph I'm doing about 5K RPMs. I don't know if this is the normal range.
But all and all a lot of fun. This bike definitely more peppy than my 79 Honda CX500. A heck of a lot more sporty also.

Good to hear you are enjoying the fruits of your labor. I've got the same bike that I picked up last fall and I think it will be next on the list after I finish the latest 650 and then maybe the 750 LTD :S . It sounds like you are going the wrong direction if you want to lower the highway revs. You want less teeth on the rear or what I always did was just add one tooth to the front sprocket. That is a nice looking bike you have there, I'm sure you will enjoy it a lot more than the Honda. Just be forewarned these old Kaws are addicting.

Gringo.
You're right about the rear sprocket. It's less teeth I need. My mind was thinking of the front sprocket.
So it'll be 41T or possibly 40T.