Maybe purchasing a 84 kz750... questions

Hello all,

I'm looking into an 84 kz750 with about 43000 klicks on it (probably about 30k miles or so). The bike looks mint.

I'm wondering if there are any issues with this bike I should know about before buying it. Anything on the engine let go at a certain point? Or any other issues that I should ask the owner about.

I did own an EN500 which was literally bullet proof but unfortunately some silly woman decided that stop signs do not apply to her, and here I am.

Here is a picture of the actual bike...



Two other questions are: how hard would it be to put a round headlight on instead of that hideous square thing? And, where would I find a decal kit? I think the 80s stripes are pretty sharp.

Thanks!

Post edited by: JimmyD, at: 2007/07/31 20:41

Welcome to Kzr jimmyd.

You can't go wrong with the 750/4 Kawasaki. The engine is pretty much bulletproof and based on the K0650 which was launched in 1976.

Listen to the top end when the bike is warm. This will give you an indication if you need to check the valve shims. The bike has a pipe on it and the factory air box. Hopefully the previous owner re-jetted the carbs for the pipe.

Try to get as much information on the maintenance record of the bike in particular the last tuneup.

You won't be disappointed riding a Kz and there are a lot of very helpful members here on Kzrider.com

Cheers-Colin Firth-Ontario Canada

Hi Jimmy,
Nice looking bike there. Looks to be in excellent condition, original airbox, no sign of any major mods.
My '80 has just over 60,000km on it and it's running like a champ. I've had it 4 years now. Previous owner had mine overbored and when I got it first I had some carb issues which I eventually sorted out. Other than routine maintenance (oil & lube) I really dont do anything other than remove and clean carbs every winter. I have not heard of any particulat issues associated with this model. Bulletproof motor.

Welcome to KZR. That looks to be a pretty nice bike you will want to verify the model year though. The reason I say that is that if it is in fact an 84 that would make it a 700 cc not a 750, 84 was the first year for the tariff buster bikes and Kawi like all the other makes put smaller pistons in their 750's to get around paying the tariff Reagan put on bikes over 700 cc. I have an 83 750 L3 and I can tell you it screams. As to putting on a round headlight that should be a piece of cake, I'd probably look for someone parting out a KZ 650 and just use the headlight and fork ears from that. The stripes could be made up by any good sign shop that does computer cut vinyl or you could have a bodyshop paint them on for you.

JimmyD:

Check the front of the cylinder block (usually, as you face the bike, on the lower left side...it might be different for 750s' though) if it says 738cc, then it is a KZ750. If says less than that, then it is the KZ700A model. The 700 was only imported in 1984 (no KZ750 that year in US, Canada may be different), The L model (which is what the pictured bike might be if a 750) was manufactured from 1981-1987, but imported into the US in 1983 only...don't know about Canada. The externals of the 700A/750L are identical...but the pistons, rings, cylinders differ.

jimmyd, ya talking in klicks, so where is this bike?
cheers
jimmybon

Yes, it is a Canadian bike. We weren't subject to the tariff and 750s flourished north of the border. According to the owner only 1000 of these bikes make it into Canada in 1984.

And yes, it is an L4, or so the owner has said. He has also said its mostly identical to the 1983 model.

I appreciate the input, and will probably be purchasing this guy if the insurance company stops dragging its feet. I'm glad for the bulletproof design, I was rather spoiled from the EN500 as it used the EX500 engine which has been around since creation itself and never breaks .

So the fork "ears" for the headlight from a 650 will fit the 750s fork? That is about the only physical thing I dont like about the bike so it would definitely be done.

Thanks for all the help guys, I appreciate it. You might be seeing more of me around!

www.rddecals.afegraphics.com/index.php?&cat_id=19224 has the decals. order some about 3 months ago. :)

You might be able to use the ears that are on the bike now. Just find a round headlight that will fit in between them. You might be able to use any round light. (900, 1000 or 650)

I know they sell after market holders for the old kaws. They are universal for big fork or small and are 17.95 a set. I have them on my bike, I just dont have a pic of them yet.