- Posts: 342
- Thank you received: 74
1978 KZ1000-A2 "Barn find"
- Kaylinator
- Topic Author
- Offline
- Sustaining Member
I thought I should document my journey on restoring a 1978 KZ1000 here, and perhaps get some help along the way.
For as long as I can remember, there's been an old bike sitting in the barn on my grandparents' farm. With both of my grandparents' having now passed away, we've begun the tedious process of cleaning up the yard for sale. One of those items that had to go was that bike, so I snapped a photo sent it to my buddy that is constantly working on bikes and asked if he wanted it. He said sure and offered $500 sight unseen and the bike was sold.
The next day he messaged me again and said he changed his mind based on how many projects he had on the go, but he'd let the word out to his riding buddies. Not 30 seconds later I got a phone call. Someone else was going to take it for $500. Done. Next day, same thing, changed his mind with too many projects.
A third suitor came around. He actually came to look at the bike. It still hadn't been washed up, and was still covered in 30 years of barn dust, mouse poop, and racoon pee. He decided it was more of a project he was looking for and passed until the next day when he called and offered me $200 as a parts bike. I knew it was worth way more than that, so I called my first friend to come out and take a look and let me know what he thought. What he found blew him away. An incredibly clean, low mileage (13301km) bike with nothing missing (save for the rotted exhaust). It was then that I decided I had to keep it and bring it back to it's former glory.
The story goes that my grandpa picked it up at an auction. He must have got one hell of a deal on it, because he never paid fair price for anything. He registered it in 1990 and had plans of driving it to work, but scared the hell out of himself with how fast she ripped, so parked it in the barn.
After a quick wash, it looked a heck of a lot better.
The carbs were completely seized up, so I took my time, watched lots of YouTube, followed the service manual, and started taking it apart to clean. The now look like new. Time will tell how well I did.
The tank was looking pretty rusted inside, but in otherwise good shape. Unfortunately, with the amount of rust inside, it needed to be boiled. I had the tank lined while I was at it. Not sure that I'm in love with that decision, but it just seems like the right thing to do to keep this bike alive.
That brings you all up to speed on where we're at today. Hoping to get the tank primed next week so I can try to get the thing started. Then the real work begins.
1978 KZ1000-A2
kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/613296-1978-kz1000-a2-barn-find
1978 KZ400-B1
2022 Z900RS SE
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Street Fighter LTD
- Offline
- Moderator
- TURBO, Its Better to be Blown than Injected
- Posts: 4936
- Thank you received: 2064
Great story and project
Dave
Original owner 78 1000 LTD
Mr Turbo Race Kit, MTC 1075 Turbo pistons by PitStop Performance , Falicon Ultra Lite Super Crank, APE everything. Les Holt @ PDM's Billet Goodies . Frame by Chuck Kurzawa @ Logghe Chassis . Deep sump 5qt oil pan. RIP Bill Hahn
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Mikaw
- Offline
- Sustaining Member
- Posts: 5007
- Thank you received: 1918
1976 KZ 900 A4 kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/613548-1976-kz-900-a4
1976 KZ 900 B1 LTD
1978 KZ 1000 B2 LTD
1980 KZ 750 E1
Kowledge Speaks, But Wisdom Listens.
Jimi Hendrix.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- calum
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 1135
- Thank you received: 401
Don't listen to Mikaw - make it shiny
Current Project:
www.kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/616901...-spare-parts-project
1977 KZ1000 Restomod ( www.kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/614517-1977-kz1000-restomod )
1980 KZ750H ( kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/612054-kz750h-restoration )
2000 BMW F650GS
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Kaylinator
- Topic Author
- Offline
- Sustaining Member
- Posts: 342
- Thank you received: 74
1978 KZ1000-A2
kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/613296-1978-kz1000-a2-barn-find
1978 KZ400-B1
2022 Z900RS SE
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Mikaw
- Offline
- Sustaining Member
- Posts: 5007
- Thank you received: 1918
1976 KZ 900 A4 kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/613548-1976-kz-900-a4
1976 KZ 900 B1 LTD
1978 KZ 1000 B2 LTD
1980 KZ 750 E1
Kowledge Speaks, But Wisdom Listens.
Jimi Hendrix.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Kaylinator
- Topic Author
- Offline
- Sustaining Member
- Posts: 342
- Thank you received: 74
1978 KZ1000-A2
kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/613296-1978-kz1000-a2-barn-find
1978 KZ400-B1
2022 Z900RS SE
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- cb900f
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 109
- Thank you received: 30
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- hardrockminer
- Away
- Sustaining Member
- Posts: 3036
- Thank you received: 1090
Kaylinator wrote: My front turn signals were splayed out a little funny, so I investigated this morning and the collar pieces just fell right out of the headlight. Add that to the list.
It was a common problem back in the day if the bike went down for some reason. First thing to go was a signal bracket.
I have several restored bikes along with a 2006 Goldwing with a sidecar. My wife has a 2019 Suzuki DR 650 for on and off road.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Rick H.
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 854
- Thank you received: 255
Rick H.
Rick H.
1977 Kawasaki KZ-1000A1
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- 9er rider
- Offline
- Sustaining Member
- Keep a cool tool
- Posts: 580
- Thank you received: 87
76 kz 900 1075 76 kz 900 a4 78 kz 1000 ltd
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- KZJOE900
- Offline
- Admin
Current project 76 KZ900 (This was a Vetter model)
76 KZ900
81 XJ550H SECA (Current Project)
82 XJ550R SECA
Past:
86 FJ1200
74 Z1900
72 CB450
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.