Sizing up to a KZ650

Thanks for all the input guys, glad I asked for help.
I'll keep looking around and maybe widen my search area.

48Crash wrote:

I'll keep looking around and maybe widen my search area.

...using other search methods helps too.
Fat Fingers.com
I've lucked into quite a few good deals due to mis-spelled auction listings using that site.

And you will be able to throw a 650 around as easy as a 400, with a lot more fun involved. I love my 650 to commute on, and highways are a breeze, 70-80 mph no problem, hours on end.

the bottom line is, if you like it and want to pay the asking price, then do it, you are the only one that has to be happy with your choice.
you will like a 650 a lot, and it rides better too

48Crash wrote:

. . ..He had it listed for $2800 two months ago but I think its still too high also. What would be a fair offering price?

The bike is clean, and if it fires off immediately and idles properly once warm, that is half the battle of maintenance restoration. That costs time and money. If chain, tires and brakes / rotors are in good shape, that is one less thing to have to spend time and effort on. A reconditioned rider doesn't have to be perfect to be worth something in value. Does the starter engage without chatter / clatter / whine? Means you don't have to buy a battery at a minimum.

I would have concerns about a one cylinder rebuild on an entirely removed 4 cylinder barrel case. Why shortcut the complete re-ring?

I know that good deals happen if you are patient. But if you have the means now and you like the bike, you can be riding, instead of waiting and hoping a good deal will turn up during peak riding season, when prices are going to be higher.

If your time is worth $30.00 / hour, and it takes you 15 hours to find a bike you like more than the one you already have seen, you will have invested $450.00 just looking for it. So there are some intangible issues involved in finding a bargain.

I like my bike, more now then when I got it 7 years ago from the original owner for $500.00. But gasoline was only like 60 cents a gallon then, too. And I have spent many dollars and hours to polish dirt. It's worth more now due to reliablity improvements, and worth less now due to higher mileage.

So maybe the number of dollars in a wheelbarrow full of money isn't as important as getting a machine that you can enjoy now.

Ask him if you can write him a check for $0.00 and take it home and take care of it.

If he smiles, you might win a bargain.

Thanks for the other points of view. I haven't had much luck finding anything else yet so I'm arranging to take this one out for a test ride. Turns out all four pistons were replaced (top-end rebuild?) so everything else might be in good shape too. Unfortunately the bike is four hours from me and it'll be another week before I can get away for the day. Of course I may break down and buy a new Versys before then!

I've owned my '77 KZ650C1 since April, 1977 (original owner) and I still love it. I would say that a "MINT" KZ650 is worth every bit of $2200 and then some, but the bike in the picture is not mint. Wrong paint, wrong air cleaners (pods, which means the guy may have dorked up the carbs and who know what else while experimenting with rejetting), wrong seat, half-way rebuild (why?), and what elst that doesn't show in the meager pictures provided.

I wouldn't part with my bike (44,000 miles) for $2200 and it is only close to mint, but not perfect. If I were you, I'd either pay considerably less $ for that bike or wait for a better one for that much $$. Ed

Also grab bars missing. Probably had a huge sissy bar and a windjammer fairing at one time. Not a big deal, but when things are missing not a great sign. on a "mint" bike.

Post edited by: RonKZ650, at: 2007/06/07 14:55

If you get fed up with the market in Halifax, see if there is anything you can truck up from Maine or Boston - those Americans are practically giving these bikes away! And with the age of the bike, you'll have no problems at all importing it.

I sold a 1985 234cc Honda Rebel for $2000CDN today! It was NOT in mint condition but boy was there a demand for it in this $1.20/litre gas market!

I gave up on my search for a decent well priced KZ650.
Bought a 2001 Kawasaki W650 instead.
Thanks again for the opinions.

Do not discount the possibility of a KZ550 also. The "A" models are hard to find, but if you do, it has been said that they are faster than the 650's.

48Crash wrote:

I gave up on my search for a decent well priced KZ650.
Bought a 2001 Kawasaki W650 instead.
Thanks again for the opinions.

Oh... :whistle:

Post edited by: godsjester71, at: 2007/06/12 16:14

48Crash wrote:

I gave up on my search for a decent well priced KZ650.
Bought a 2001 Kawasaki W650 instead.
Thanks again for the opinions.

Okay, so now the question begs: What'd ya pay? :whistle: