Bought two non-running KZ440s

So I bought these two bikes yesterday for $600. I used to hang out here when I was riding a 79 KZ650SR several years ago and I know where to come for the best advice and help.
kzrider.com/forum/10-new-members/544909-...-owner-member#545205

Today I bought a battery for the one that isn't burnt.Late 79 with 6800 miles. Hadn't run since March of 2011. Dumped the old fuel from tank and bowls and put some fresh in with some seafoam. Changed oil and filter which the P.O. had kindly provided at the time of sale. New plugs . Take apart and clean all connections . It started first try. I was amazed . Me and my buddy Bill even rode it around the block. OMG the bars are horrible. Like Roto tillers!. The thing is, this is gonna be for the wife so I might let her decide. If I decide to swap them out I'd like some ideas from you guys.
Carb linkage is a little sticky and I'm sure all the cables need lubed and on and on but it's ALIVE!

Welcome back pumps, great score on the 440's.




I used a set of bars from a 400 or 550 standard on my wife's 440. The wrist angle is much more pleasing. She is 5', I'm 6' and they fit for both of us.
Changed out the master cylinder for one from a standard also.

Good luck,
Jim

Hey that looks great! I'll check into the bars.

I see over in the for sale section a guy has a set of bars off an 82 550 LTD. Something like that?

Nope, LTD bars are going to be like what you have now.

Those old 440's were good reliable motorcycles and very easy to work on. One thing about them though is the rear portion of the air box. That silencer portion absolutely has to be on it and sealing good or they run too lean.

Pumps, The bars on the wife's bike measure approximatly 30" width, 4.5" rise and 6.5" pull back. Center width is about 6".

Z1 has some Daytona Touring bars (EM23-12564)that are close and under 15.00.

Good Luck,
Jim

My master cylinder and brake perch have the paint flaking off pretty bad. Can I just spray paint them black with regular paint or what's the best way to do it? I plan on rebuilding the master if I can but it looks like hell.

Rainman I'll check out those bars. Did you have to change out the cables?


The airboxes are all there fortunately.

Welcome back!

A couple questions. I've been looking to replace the fork tube on the right that got hot enough to melt the tire and blow the seals. . I wonder if I could just clean it up and rebuild it or would there be a question of it being safe?

My other question is , on my old Yamaha, there are some numbers on the ignition cylinder that gave me the key code. Nothing on the LTDs lock cylinder. Is the code somewhere else on the bike? I have keys , they are pretty rough though.

Parts started arriving. I replaced the twisted off tach cable that broke when my buddy was riding it. That damn little screw there on the front where it goes into the motor was very stuck . I could not get a screwdriver in there very well with the frame and the fender in the way nor my impact driver. After scratching my head for a while I managed to get my tiny set of vise grips in there to break it loose. New cable and now it works. Replaced the screw with a stainless allen head.
For the burnt 83 a used pilot box with harness, mirrors, brake caliper, another tach cable, left side switch came. Still in the mail to come is a wheel and tire, some different bars and some fork seals and dust covers.
I still have to get a headlight bucket, right side switch, grips, right foot rubber or a whole peg, speedo and throttle cables, headlight, master cylinder and line, turn signal, rt side cover, get the seat recovered and I don't know what else.