1980 KZ550A The Money Pit

I got this from craigslist for $200. it has a title. The guy did not know anything about it. Its missing the headlight assembly, body side covers, and the instruments. It had low compression on one cylinder so I tore it apart. Planning on new rings, hone, lapped valves, and new valve seals. Want to get it running and riding first, then tear it apart for all new paint and seat cover.

Repairing/building a bike is almost NEVER a money making deal. I'd hate to think about the thousands I've spent over the years working on bikes that others would have thrown away. Maybe you should look for a complete bike, maybe even one with a lost title and make one good one out of the pair.

Looks like a nice score! I've always wanted to see one of those 550a's cleaned up with some clipons. Seems like they'd make for an easy little cafe.

I have this bike stored in my shed and have been busy on my GPz550. Today while surfing ebay, I found a set of 1985 GPz550 cams with gears for $55. I offered $35 and he took it. I also bid and won a right side plastic body side cover with emblem for $5. It's 16 degrees outside so I've spent my boredom surfing ebay. I'm waiting on a guy to get back to me on a GPz head and a used set of 10.1 GPz pistons. I had bought a set of 1983 GPz550 TK26 carbs with a complete dynojet jet kit from ebay a couple months ago and put them on my GPz550. What I did not know is the carbs for an 84 are supposed to be TK27's. I bought a set of TK27's today to put on the GPz550. So I'll use the 26's on the KZ550. Confused yet? What I also found out is my new KZ1000 intake boots will fit my 84 GPz550. The 1980 KZ550 intake boots are a lot smaller. So this and more power is reason for the GPz550 head swap. The KZ550 intake boots are going to be dealer only and probably stupid priced. The repop KZ1000 intake boots are $55 for a set. Hopefully all these parts will interchange to make an old KZ rock and roll. If the attempt fails, I'll just sell the parts or keep them for spares for my GPz

ZERO wrote: Repairing/building a bike is almost NEVER a money making deal. I'd hate to think about the thousands I've spent over the years working on bikes that others would have thrown away. Maybe you should look for a complete bike, maybe even one with a lost title and make one good one out of the pair.

This is absolutely no joke. Most peoples jaws hit the floor when they hear what I've spent on my bike. But at the end of the day these are great bikes that aren't made anymore.

D.Nel928 wrote:

ZERO wrote: Repairing/building a bike is almost NEVER a money making deal. I'd hate to think about the thousands I've spent over the years working on bikes that others would have thrown away. Maybe you should look for a complete bike, maybe even one with a lost title and make one good one out of the pair.

This is absolutely no joke. Most peoples jaws hit the floor when they hear what I've spent on my bike. But at the end of the day these are great bikes that aren't made anymore.

I did not buy any of my old bikes to sell. I'll be into them at an affordable rate because of drawing out the build over time. I don't have the cash to go out and buy one that's a cream puff and ready to go. $200 here and $200 there is the only way for me. Plus the satisfaction of bringing something that far gone back to good use is priceless.