1979 KZ650 Restoration

I happen to know of one that came in 2010 Camaro Inferno Orange....



I looked at a lot of bikes before I made up my mind, and I decided the factory red that this one was, well before the previous owner hit it with black spray paint, was to plain for me. I am partial to the Black Peral, which is more of a deep purple than a black, they looked really sharp all cleaned up....

Here is one in Black Pearl...

Here is another older 650 in Blue...

Niether of which are stock paint colors on your bike, but just a "tweak" of the color spectrum can make a really pretty bike. I liked the green, though as it was a really classic looking color on the KZ's with wire wheels.


There is a number of ways to optain paint codes. An easy way is to ask a body shop, they may have old paint books and can sometimes look it up. Also I am sure that people on this site may have code for a particular paint in those colors.

Oops here is the blue one...




They used this color throughout the years and I always likes it as well. There was the Strat Dust silver color too wich is an eye catcher as well. It depends if you want to stick to only the factory available colors for your bike's model and year, or if you are willing to streach it a bit. Its always a matter of personal choice, but it the paint looks half as good as the work you have already done then I am sure it will be a stunner in any color.

Tyler, I like the orange/red SR with the low handle bars,looks good. Well, I'll have to get this paint color figured out pretty soon, cause it won't be long and that is all I will have left.

I had some time this afternoon and evening to work on the bike. Last summer I came across a pretty decent set of stock KZ650 pipes at a swap meet. I think they came off the bike before it ever left the dealer 30 years ago. Still, they are not perfect. Just sitting for 30 years in Wisconsin will take its toll on the chrome. But I am very happy I found them. Here is the bottom side before they are on the bike.

So today I cleaned up the pipes the best I could and them on the bike. I also polished the point cover and put that on for the photo op. It will have to come back off to put the points and advancer back on the engine.

What did you use to clean up the chrome and side cover?

Here is a front photo that shows the head pipes, very nice condition. I should order a battery this week and try firing the old girl up. I better put the wiring harness back in before I do that. Gotta finish the head light bucket and tailight mounting as well.

DoubleDub wrote:

What did you use to clean up the chrome and side cover?

I used Blue Majic Metal Polish Cream from Fleet Farm to clean all the chrome on this bike. The point cover and all the other covers have been step wet sanded with 220, 320, 400,600,800,1200, 1500 & 2000 grit paper and then polished with the Blue Majic Metal Polish Cream.

Awesome - thanks! Glad to have someone in the general vicinity to share where you buy products!

DoubleDub wrote:

Awesome - thanks! Glad to have someone in the general vicinity to share where you buy products!

Yea, and for a cheap guy like me it is almost always Fleet Farm!!

I read you're Lake Superior ride report, I am glad to see someone is out riding and not wrenching all the time!!