TOPIC:

Been a long time since I posted on the site. Sold my KZ750 last year like a fool and the last 2 weeks Im dead set on getting another KZ. Looked at some new bikes but dont like any of the new bikes at all. Not worth the money for the riding I do. Anyway.... I live in Chicago and been looking to get a KZ1000 (and keep it this time). There are not many good ones around now. I been watching and looking but nothing really nice has come along. I did find a 1977 KZ1000 LTD but it has 30,000 miles on it and the guy wants $2000 for it. 77 was the first year of the LTD and its in good shape. It dont have a fuel gauge or light for low fuel and Im wondering if them tanks had an option to install a fuel gauge if I got a different tach with the fuel gauge. I looked at the Cow website and couldnt tell. Also from what I see the 77 being the first year it seems like by 78 they did a lot of improvements. I cant find a decent bike for the life of me. I dont mind doing a little work like lowering the bars, tires, side covers or minor things, but Im getting in a jam trying to find a good 81 or 82 right now. $2000 seems like a lot for a 77 with 30,000 miles right now but Im getting desperate.

There really is no mechanical difference except for front master cylinder and paint schemes that I know of between 77 and 78. Fuel guage?? Dont know. The LTD is a good bike but needs to be picked up 1 inch in the rear by using longer shocks. The 77 was made in Lincoln Nebraska, right?

Hmmm,
Not sure. I been doing some looking around on the site and I would have to get the vin and look it up. I did find out that it was the last year before all the emisions and EPA regulations kicked in.

Heres one in Alabama. I haven't seen it on Craigslist and this is a local shopper paper so it may still be available.

KAWASAKI 1978 KZ1000 Being sold by second owner. 20,000 actual miles. LTD seat and bars. Needs some carb work. $900 firm. Call Rick in Montgomery at 334-221-0230 leave message. 334-221-0230 334-221-0230

1976 was the first year for a LTD. They bring good money.The "76"had the 900cc engine. In "79" the LTD had the markII engine. That would be the one to look for. Roy

The fuel gauge works because there is a float system mounted on the bottom of the tank by about a half dozen bolts. This means the nuts are welded inside the tank. You might be able to retrofit a stock fuel gauge by cutting a hole in the bottom of an LTD tank and brazing the sending unit in place or fitting nuts to the inside somehow; possibly with JB Weld. I would think it would be a bit hard to keep from leaking. You would also need a tachometer (which contains the fuel gauge) from a later shaft bike 79/80 KZ1000E1/2 or even newer KZ1100 (they had separate gauges) plus there are likely other models with a gas gauge that could be adapted. It might even be easier to get a tank from one of those bikes and try and redo the mounts to make use of the fuel sending unit. I doubt I would go through any of this as you can easily use the odometer to tell you how many miles you have gone since the last fill up and the gas gauges on the early Kaws are not all that accurate anyway.

Any power difference with the 77 and say 81 or 82 model year 1000's ? Im tempted to get his bike but that 30,000 miles for $2000 has me a litle hesitant. The bike is clean though, but I would like a little later model year.

The J motor (1981+) is superior to the Z1000 (1977-1979 LTD) and MKII motor (1980 LTD)...parts are readily available for all.

What is the location of this bike?? I'm interested if it's close. The miles are not a concern IF it has been even halfway taken care of.
Pat

roy-b-boy-b wrote:

1976 was the first year for a LTD. They bring good money.The "76"had the 900cc engine. In "79" the LTD had the markII engine. That would be the one to look for. Roy

i used to think that also,the 79 ltd used mostly left over 78 parts.the 80 ltd was an actual mkII motor;)

Dunno about the J motor being better than the earlier. The MKII is stouter and the cam chain associated bits on the J motor are tacky... the earlier stuff was far more over-engineered. Probably the best thing about the J motor was the hyvo cam chain and bigger valves for more top-end horsepower potential but that issue is fairly readily fixed with machine work.

wiredgeorge wrote:

Dunno about the J motor being better than the earlier. The MKII is stouter and the cam chain associated bits on the J motor are tacky... the earlier stuff was far more over-engineered. Probably the best thing about the J motor was the hyvo cam chain and bigger valves for more top-end horsepower potential but that issue is fairly readily fixed with machine work.

ditto!