79 LTD 1000 Project Finished

Got the ol 79 finished for the most part thought I'd share here






Bought one just like this new in 1979 and found this one 2 years ago...
Had to rescue it!

Bike is only showing 6000 miles and by the way it acts I think that to be original mileage







It sat for far too long and in and out of a few careless hands who didnt know what they were doing

As usual, I had NO idea how much work was involved
Had correct side covers and tail on it, but tank was dented and badly repainted.

Put a new take off 1979 tank on it, got some orange peel but nothin that won't buff out

Frame is pretty good polished up well most places got a few places yet to touch up

New points, timed, lubed and cleaned advancer (way off, kids playing with bikes they know nothing about)

Whoever had it really messed up the carb jetting was way too rich. Had to take the carbs off and on FOUR TIMES to get it right, but now she runs great.

They had taken off airbox had some nasty filters hanging off the carbs, found an airbox complete
along with parts I had here and she's back to original.

Rebuilt rear master cyl, these always leak w/age

Had some ugly foam grips on it, got some pro grips that are close to original OEM, try to
find the OEMS! No luck for me, I've seen guys asking $100 for a set..crazy

Had a badly cracked
front tire on it, I put on a new Dunlop made a big diff

Had stock pipes that were just hanging off it too, these couldn't have been in use by the way it was jetted, they're in pretty good shape but for me things haven't changed since the 1970s
as far as the stock pipes go.

As I did with my new one in 1979, those nasty looking (to me) jardine slip on thingies had to come off ASAP! IMO the LTD just doesn't look right w/o a decent 4-1 on it.

I put a RUSS COLLINS header on it I had left from the old days, has some rust but way up under on pipes you can't see, looks pretty good, these Russ Collins Headers are like gold, haven't made them for years
Couple more horsepower....LOL





I've since found and installed the correct set of rider footpegs
and as you see will have to work on replacing that brake line spring
(Notice the correct Mullholland shocks with great looking stickers)

Not a showbike, but a good lookin daily rider that will run with the best
I'll continue to work to make it as nice as it can be, but it's almost to that point now.
Needs a new seat, I would rather live with the split in it now than settle for one of those
seat covers. They just don't look right. Hunt for the seat is still on. Notice it has the factory grab rail. Another part usually missing and impossible to find.
This is what we took poker runs on in the 1980s...all round about the best you could get
What do you think? Was it worth saving?

good job , nice to see another resurrected Kawasaki ......

Good looking bike. Great save.

I have a RC headed but I think it has to be removed to change oil and I haven't installed it yet.

very nice looking ltd!!! think you've done a really nice job... and i also like the RC 4/1 header!! use to be the way to go in the early day's!! what plan's for the future??? keep us updated...

This need a bump. Only 79 views for a nice bike !!!

Very nice rescue indeed.

Thanks Guys! I'll post another pic or 2 when it's totally cleaned up.
I have one 1979 take off tank left if anyone's interested. And if anyone has a nice seat
that's original I'd be interested in that.

Changed to Shell Rotella T 15W40 yesterday, it seems to shift a little better. Probably as good as any motorcycle oil and much less! Here's another pic from yesterday:

That is a very nice machine. :woohoo:

Really nice bike....that's the first time I have seen a RC pipe and it looks very good. I have great respect for bike close to original but ridden daily.