KZ 700 in MA

Always loved these bikes! Pretty decent and bidding starts at $9.99. For anybody in MA ...

1984 KZ700

I always liked those too. It always looks like it was ready to pounce at any moment. Sure need some work but had potential.

great link guys! im in braintree ma. i live nearly on the weymouth line. what do you think about this bike? It was on CL for 300 bucks i believe not too long ago. maybe i could snag it for super cheap. any pros and cons about this model.year?

I wouldn't hesitate for $300.00 . However, the caveats are:

1) Only made one year, but many parts are interchangeable with earlier 750 models.

2) Only 2000 made, so many people think they are more valuable than they actually are...a collector market failed to develop.

3) You'll have to do some silly stuff to obtain a title and it may cost you about $120-200.00 to file the paperwork + fees

4) The tank needs replacing and the odds of you finding a nice KZ700A1 tank w/original paint is slim...thus you must paint the tank.

5) A decent tank might cost you $100.00+ and to have it painted (w/matching bodywork) might be an additional $400.00

Thanks for the imput! Were there are quirks about the bike? Any mechanical problems? Any reason it was only made for one year? I think itll be worth it, especially at what the price is at now.

B/C the import tariff was taken off after a couple model years and then everything went to newer models by the time the tariff was lifted.

-KR

BTW: I agree with McDroid: you're looking at dropping some significant coin on this bike, especially if you don't do any of your own work. I would predict chain, sprockets, tires, re-uph the seat, carb clean, fuel tank cleaning, and an oil/filter change...these are just what I forsee as the "for sure"s. If you are planning on making it look right there are the cosmetics to consider: paint, rusted parts galore(!). Then there are the things unseen and unpredictable, such as do any of the bearings need replaced (a likely scenario since the bike seems to have sat for quite a while), any electric issues, etc...

Often times one man's 'deal' is the financial death of another man's wallett.:dry:

...food for thought...:huh:

-KR

I find it very sad to see bikes like this that have been allowed to self destruct through neglect. One would think that once the previous owner lost interest in the bike he would have sold this poor thing while it was still in reasonably good condition. There's a Honda 4 cylinder bike up the street from me that is currently deteriorating outside the idiot's house under a tarp the size of a pillowcase, and it to will one day be sold with an opening bid of $10. What a waste. Ed

freebyrd24 wrote:

great link guys! im in braintree ma. i live nearly on the weymouth line. what do you think about this bike? It was on CL for 300 bucks i believe not too long ago. maybe i could snag it for super cheap. any pros and cons about this model.year?

Please let me know if you persue this bike as i am bidding on it as well...

Thanx

650ed wrote:

I find it very sad to see bikes like this that have been allowed to self destruct through neglect. There's a Honda 4 cylinder bike up the street from me that is currently deteriorating outside the idiot's house under a tarp the size of a pillowcase, and it to will one day be sold with an opening bid of $10. What a waste. Ed

I've been keeping my eye on a KZ1000P that is sitting just that way. The tarp is maybe a 4X4 with tears and holes in it. I may try knocking on the door one day after I get my Spectre running and offer to haul it away for them cheap, :whistle:

I assume the engine/tranny in this is the same as on the more common ZN700. However, the ZN is a shafty and this one is chain driven.

However, other than the engine, wouldn't the remaining parts be pretty much identical to a chain driven KZ750 of the same vintage? I owned an 84 ZN700 and the PITA part of it was that the chassis and body parts were unique to that bike - AFAIK they didn't share many major parts with the 81-83 KZ750's.

ZappBranigan wrote:

I assume the engine/tranny in this is the same as on the more common ZN700. However, the ZN is a shafty and this one is chain driven.

However, other than the engine, wouldn't the remaining parts be pretty much identical to a chain driven KZ750 of the same vintage? I owned an 84 ZN700 and the PITA part of it was that the chassis and body parts were unique to that bike - AFAIK they didn't share many major parts with the 81-83 KZ750's.

You are correct...the 1984 KZ700A1 shares much with the 1982 KZ750R1 and the 1983 KZ750E4 (Canada only).