'77 KZ1000, mint condition!

Oh my!
It's too nice to ride.
It's out of my league price-wise, but sure would be worth owning.

"Honey, hide the keys. No matter what I say do not give the keys to me. I am weak and I need your help to be strong". Five minutes later... "WHERE THE HELL DID YOU HIDE THE KEYS YOU COLD HEARTED WENCH?".

Hard to believe that some people have the discipline to put a bike like that away and not ride it.
Do they get some kind of sick satsifaction from torturing us with a 30-yr-old mint KZ?

It looks fantastic, however not 11 miles on it. I can't say for sure, but why would someone go to the trouble of adding a sissy bar to a motorcycle they have not even ridden 11 miles then continue to not ride it, then because the tires are old, we'll just replace them and still not ride. If it had 11 miles the tires would not be replaced, I don't care if they were 30 yrs old. Also anyone notice the extremely faded incorrect 9000rpm tach? Red line on KZ1000 was 8500rpm. So we ride 11 miles decide on new tires, change the tach out add a sissy bar? I doubt. Still a real nice one with probably 10,000 or less on it though. Update: I'm an iddiot, I see a fence post in pic #1 that I thought was a sissy bar. My gosh, but the rest makes me wonder highly.

Post edited by: RonKZ650, at: 2008/01/11 10:25

Post edited by: RonKZ650, at: 2008/01/11 10:26

Also 3 pipes are bronzed? 11 miles with double wall pipes and somehow the pipes got that hot? Wrong type screw holding the air intake snorkle on, NGK plug boots? I suppose the plug boots weather cracked like the tires:) I love the bike, but it's not what's advertised I'll guarantee. I'm even wordering about the paint, the color looks right, but do the stripes look original. Look different than I remember. Sorry to pinpick, just wondering.

I can't believe I'm saying this but I agree with Ron. I also noticed the faded tach and looking at it further the key is not correct nor are the rear handlebar bolts. Nice bike but to me it is just a little suspect. 10 K seems a little strong to me as well.

Edit: Now this is getting scary. I just read Ron's second post and I too was thinking the tank stripes look wrong. It has been a long time but as I recall, the stripes just run back to front and don't tie together from the upper to the lower at the rear. I'm thinking the lower set of stripes on this bike looks to be mounted too low.

Post edited by: The Gringo, at: 2008/01/11 11:03

The Gringo wrote:

Now this is getting scary. I just read Ron's second post and I too was thinking the tank stripes look wrong. It has been a long time but as I recall, the stripes just run back to front and don't tie together from the upper to the lower at the rear. I'm thinking the lower set of stripes on this bike looks to be mounted too low.<br><br>Post edited by: The Gringo, at: 2008/01/11 11:03

You are correct...the tank is wrong...I have an original 1977 KZ1000A1 tank in that color and the striping is different. The tank is a repaint and not faithful to the original.

You guys are just plain SCARY!
I've got a pic of an A1 from Marsden's book. The seat should have a strap. I agree that the paint stripes are wrong, so the bike was repainted.
Caveat emptor boys, caveat emptor.

i am glad Ron and some other piped up, cause i was thinking something about this deal is fishy. it might be a very legit auction. the thing thats gets me is the tires, maybe they planned on riding it? and changed the tires, but how bad could they have been? i am riding around on 30 year old tires that sat outside for a long time (i know not a good idea), BUT if the bike was stored for 30 years for the sake of keeping it original, you dont bring it out and start replacing stuff just cause it is old.
very nice bike though

This guy is full of it! If that bike has only 11 miles he should explain:
Why has steering stem bolt has been overtightened – corners of hex head are deformed?
Why have rear 2 handlebar bolts (flat heads) have been replaced with non-OEM – compare to front 2 bolts (round heads that have been overtightened)?
Why is choke lever slot worn where it engages tensioner screw?
Why have sparkplug caps been replaced?
Why are exhaust pipes blued (mine look better after 46k miles)?
Why have cam cover and clutch gaskets been replaced?
Why is footpeg worn?
Why are some engine case screws bunged up?
Why is there so much wear on brake rotors (mine have over 46k miles and don’t look that bad!)?
Why is the red on the gauges so faded?
Why is it low on oil?

So I guess the good news is that if I did buy it, at least I wouldn't feel bad about riding it now. :blink:

650ed wrote:

This guy is full of it! If that bike has only 11 miles he should explain:
Why has steering stem bolt has been overtightened – corners of hex head are deformed?
Why have rear 2 handlebar bolts (flat heads) have been replaced with non-OEM – compare to front 2 bolts (round heads that have been overtightened)?
Why is choke lever slot worn where it engages tensioner screw?
Why have sparkplug caps been replaced?
Why are exhaust pipes blued (mine look better after 46k miles)?
Why have cam cover and clutch gaskets been replaced?
Why is footpeg worn?
Why are some engine case screws bunged up?
Why is there so much wear on brake rotors (mine have over 46k miles and don’t look that bad!)?
Why is the red on the gauges so faded?
Why is it low on oil?

Good observations.
With the bike on the side stand, the oil level will look low. Everything else you see seems right on.
Also, I noticed that the choke lever should have a rubber boot, but it's missing.
It's a real nice, real clean bike, don't get me wrong. And it looks like a low-miler, but I think the seller is being "less than honest" about this item.