Mfg date 8/79- a 79 or an 80?

I saw an old kz650 by the side of the road today with a for sale sing on it. She needs a serious fixing but it could be fun. I didn't write down the VIN but the date of mfg. is 8/79. 79 or 80?
If I get it, I'll be here begging for help in no time!

On a pathetic side, I was riding my license-less friend's brand new '07 883 sportster home and I was amazed at what a p.o.s. it was.

gsnfl wrote:

...was riding my license-less friend's brand new '07 883 sportster home and I was amazed at what a p.o.s. it was.

Guessing because nothing much happened when you twisted the throttle?

Oh, wait -- maybe only some noise.

I rode it 100 miles and yeah..no roll on at all. First gear was a waste of time and it handled like a snowplow. It vibrated so bad that my hand went numb at 50 miles and my feet at 100.

The brake lines were made out of some cheap rubber that looked like it came off a 79 vega and the head bolt was exactly the same kind you buy at the hardware store. The suspension was so bad that it hopped like a hardtail over the smallest pavement bump and I felt it needed a fork brace just to be safe at highway speeds.

sad..very sad

cant help ya with he harley,im gonna guess 1980 on the 650;)

My LTD is an '80 which was manufactured in July of '79, so it has MANY identical characteristics to the '79 SR. Many vehicles are manufactured in the year before their release.

Post edited by: abilane78, at: 2007/09/01 22:14

gsnfl wrote:

I rode it 100 miles and yeah..no roll on at all. First gear was a waste of time and it handled like a snowplow. It vibrated so bad that my hand went numb at 50 miles and my feet at 100.

The brake lines were made out of some cheap rubber that looked like it came off a 79 vega and the head bolt was exactly the same kind you buy at the hardware store. The suspension was so bad that it hopped like a hardtail over the smallest pavement bump and I felt it needed a fork brace just to be safe at highway speeds.

sad..very sad

Very sad that people lay down LARGE amounts of money just for the image. The HDs really do have the best finish and do look like you are getting a quality product, until you ride one.
On that note, I'm trying to decide if the next project will be a rigid Panhead chopper and try to recreate those high school days, or build a fat fendered rod I've kept putting off to build Brit sport cars and real Minis instead.

after doing a bit of research using what I remember, I think it was a 1979 SR. It was blue and that seems to have only been a SR color.

Thanks!

In 1980 the SR became the 650 Ltd. with some changes such as a single front disk and drum rear brakes. It also should be badged as a KZ650E.

It is commonly accepted that model years begin on July 1 of the prior calendar year and end on June 30 of the model year. Manufacturers have introduced "early" year models that have violated that rule.

In 79 the 650 SR's were really more of a purple color rather than a blue but in 1980 Kaw came out with the F-1 and that came in blue. The bike BlueMeanie just had his accident on was an F-1. The bike should have an 18" mag rear wheel with a drum brake and a single disc up front and it will also have a tail section where the SR's and LTD's did not.

I think the 1980 Ltd., nee SR, were also Midnight Blue as Kawasaki called the purple metal flake color. At least a ride article I scanned from Road Rider (now Motorcycle Consumer News) of that vintage shows the '80 Ltd. in Midnight Blue.

Gringo is correct, mine was built in 11/79 as an 80 F1. Single front disc, rear drum with 18' tire. Many consider the 80' KZ650 to be the last of the "great" 650's. Everything is still interchangable back to the original 650. So... with all this info what do you think you found?

Im going to get the VIN today and maybe some pictures. This is beyond a project and I'd like some opinions on whether its worth it.
I'm thinking 1980. The year I learned to ride!