My new KZ!

I just got this 81 kz550, Its in MINT condition, looks like a brand new bike! for only $400 freakin dollars! crazy dood! anyway, cranks right up, but i took it out on the interstate & top speed uphill was 55 mph, top speed downhill was 65mph, Im thinkin new plugs and some carb cleaner & see what happens. What should i reasonably expect from this lil motor? I weigh 230#s so pretty much its like a fat man on a little bike.

heres the pic

Welcome! Man!!! Where do you guys find these deals??? I don't know much to give my opinion ,yet, but there might be a liitle bit of a size compatability issue. Same here - 230.:laugh: Nice looking bike!

Check the timing advancer. It's under the small round cover on the right side. It rotate forward a few degrees freely and spring back. If it's frozen, it can give the symptom you describe.

But there are also many other things to check. The advancer is just one of the easier things.

Downhill it should be a 115mph bike. I had the same bike last year and it would do 90mph very easily. Never pushed it any harder.

ok just got home, opened the advance, It seemed to be kinda stuck, I got it to move with my finger, I then pulled a plug, lots of black oily residue on the plug. Im gonna replace the plugs and see what happens. anyone know the right gap? Its gonna be 70 degreesw tomorrow so Im gonna take it out & see what happens. bike hasnt been ridden in years just cranked every so often, it was babied and stored correctly with all the gas ran out.

Check the gap on the old plugs. I don't know exactly what's required, but .028 - .032" should get you in the ball park.

Nice looking bike! Let us know how it turns out for you.

Took it on a great ride today, put 60 miles on the odometer tearing ass through the country. new plugs helped it alot.but still not in the 90 mph range. I did get it up to 75 mph once on a gently sloping straight away. seems to like to cruise at 55 in top gear, when I roll on the throttle in top gear at about 50 or 55 mph the bike stutters, almost like its about to cut out or something then catches itself and slowly starts to accelerate. Is this my clutch slipping or something in the carbs?

Get thee a manual, perform a tuneup. Clean the air filter. Check the valve clearance. Check the voltage at the coils, put some Seafoam in the gas tank. Add an inline fuel filter.

I bet you can get to a hundred then

1981 KZ 550LTD

Spark Plug - NGK D8EA

Gap - 0.6 - 0.7 mm

Tightening Torque - 10.0 ft-lbs.


PS: Go to WiredGeorges website and look for the info on his coil powering modification. Then - DO IT!

Post edited by: Vter Bob, at: 2007/12/08 15:48

Here is the link to the coil mod....

tinyurl.com/3dsj3x