KZ550LTD project

Just picked up an '82 550 LTD from a friend of the original owner. Bike has 473 original miles on it. It was bought for a beginner bike and was ridden(?) for a few years and put away in a closed garage :blink: . Guy went up to pick up an Italian moped and they asked him to take the Kawi too. So he did. He has ZERO mechanical skills and didn't want the street bike.
Soooo, I got it for a song. Still has the original tool kit under the seat, but I didn't see the manual, haven't really looked at it much, been super busy. Took just enough time to run over, throw it in my truck and get back home to finish a roof project.

We did spin the motor over with jumpers just long enough to see if it turn over. Spun free
The tank looks clean inside, but it did have old gas in it. Didn't smell real bad, but I will give it a good cleaning and clean the carbs before I fire it up.
Overall, it looks fair for being inside. I'm thinking ditching the LTD stuff and doing a KZ style bike with it.
I had been looking for a clean KZ650 for my son to play with, but haven't had one fall into my hands yet, but I AM STILL LOOKING :whistle:


My son looked at it and said, " did you get that free" ? I said , huh? Dang boy, you really know how to hurt a guy don't you. :silly:
Anyway, here it is. What it needs:
Carbs cleaned
Fork seals/oil
battery
tires
air filter
oil/filter




:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

That looks to be in decent shape. At least it looks like no one messed with it much. My signature has a lot of 550 info including factory service manual.

loudhvx wrote: That looks to be in decent shape. At least it looks like no one messed with it much. My signature has a lot of 550 info including factory service manual.

Haha, it's only got 473 miles on it. Don't think a wrench has ever been on it.
Thanks for the heads up on the manuals.

I got a chance to pull the tank and drain the old gas today. Had it running in 20 minutes.
Before I fired it off. pulled the plugs, squirted in some MMO,let it soak while I cleaned the tank.
Spun it over with the plugs out. Put fresh gas w/MMO in it and drained it through the bowls.
Bike fired right up. Running on three. Pulling the carbs tomorrow.
Air filter appears to be in good condition. Surprisingly, everything is still moving freely on the old bike. Chain/sprockets look like new.

Shoots, a tune up, battery and new tires and I'll be rolling for low $$. :woohoo:

cool score kevin!!!!!!!

leon

maybe with a minimalist rear sub-frame and the vintage ducati tail.

something like this perhaps, :whistle:













leon

great bikes...

run the piss out of em and they still go like snot

tough
light
fast
cheap

whats not to like

low miles too

i am jealous

I loves me some virgins :evil:

carbs, that is. Everything just as it left the factory, no stripped screw heads, everything is as it is supposed to be. Drilled the plugs out and cleane dthe air screws and idle circuits.
Teeny tiny jets in this thing :laugh: , should be good for 50MPG. :woohoo:

531blackbanshee wrote: maybe with a minimalist rear sub-frame and the vintage ducati tail.

something like this perhaps, :whistle:

leon

WOW! Leon, you have vision man!!! Killer ride. Let me show that to my son, you reckon he'll change his mind about the "old LTD" :laugh:

i know i would change my mind :laugh: !

he's prolly got enough of ol' dad's sense of cool to be able to see his way through :lol: !

leon

I cleaned a set of those TKs not too long ago for one of my buddy's customers. I can tell you that is a peppy little bike. His bike wasn't close to being that nice though.

Update on the teeny bike. New battery, oil and filter, fresh gas and clean carbs. Busted right off and purrs like a kitten. These bikes are super cold natured, IE: LEAN. :S Needs lots of choke when cold.
Carbs were a bit gummy, not bad like I was expecting. Clean as a whistle now. Bike is really peppy. And quiet .
New tires, fork seals/oil, and this is my ride for the pickup on my leg of the flag relay. 50mpg

BlackZ1R wrote: and this is my ride for the pickup on my leg of the flag relay. 50mpg

whoa kevin,
monkey/intercourse/football :pinch:,
i don't know about a full grown kid like you riding this bike :whistle: :woohoo: .

i mean i like to ride mini trail fifties,but :woohoo: .

keep us posted man!!!!!!!!!!

leon