1979 KZ 1000 LTD vs MK-11

Jack wrote:

RonKZ650 wrote:

Actually the 79 LTD used the old spec KZ1000 engine from 1978 complete with points ignition. It was 1980 the LTD was upgraded to the MKII type engine design.

Not so sure about that...there are 2 1979 LTD's on Ebay right now ,both with MKll enegines...check out EBay items 320359272543 and 260393899816. Pretty sure 79 LTD's in Canada had MKll engines,I ripped one apart for dragbike parts.US models could have been different.

Actually, there is nothing about either of those eBay 1000's that suggests they have MKII motors...we have been down this road before with what model had what motor and Jeff (of Z1E) stated that the 1979 KZ1000B3 did not have MKII refinements while the 1979 KZ1000A3 and KZ1000E1 did have MKII motor refinements. The 1980 KZ1000B4 incorporated the MKII upgrades.

Hey guys, does wether it has an MK-II engine in it matter? I'm just glad to know what model bike I have. Any suggestions on a slimmer seat? I need to get the leather on the original fixed and would like a slimmer seat while I'm waiting on it.

I don't know about everything on the B3 engine being the 78 design, but the vast majority is. For sure 79 LTD used the same crankshaft and camchain ect as the 1978 models as well as carried over the 1978 points ignition. In 1980 the LTD used the same crankshaft and camchain as the MKII and went to the electronic ignition. This has always led me to conclude the 1979 B3 was the old engine but I could be wrong, and possibly half way through the 79 run they swapped over to MKII parts, but this isn't documented by Kawasaki. If you cross reference any engine parts on the 79 LTD, they all match up to 1978 and earlier model KZ1000 from what I can tell. The MKII was just a stronger design engine, but nothing wrong with the prior KZ1000 engine. When the MKII engine was released it was kind of a mystery why Kawasaki upgraded the engine as it was already the strongest engine ever made. The main thing I would do is see if it still has the points ignition and get rid of that right away.

the seat you have now is an aftermarket saddle seat(double bucket whatev).the original ltd seat will be slimmer and still have the step up to the rear.

leon holmes

the stock ltd seat will be slimmer than the saddleseat (double bucket)that is on there now.the seat in the picture is aftermarket.hth

leon holmes

great looking bike,btw.

leon holmes

RonKZ650 wrote:

I don't know about everything on the B3 engine being the 78 design, but the vast majority is. For sure 79 LTD used the same crankshaft and camchain ect as the 1978 models as well as carried over the 1978 points ignition. In 1980 the LTD used the same crankshaft and camchain as the MKII and went to the electronic ignition. This has always led me to conclude the 1979 B3 was the old engine but I could be wrong, and possibly half way through the 79 run they swapped over to MKII parts, but this isn't documented by Kawasaki. If you cross reference any engine parts on the 79 LTD, they all match up to 1978 and earlier model KZ1000 from what I can tell. The MKII was just a stronger design engine, but nothing wrong with the prior KZ1000 engine. When the MKII engine was released it was kind of a mystery why Kawasaki upgraded the engine as it was already the strongest engine ever made. The main thing I would do is see if it still has the points ignition and get rid of that right away.

How do I know if it is a points ignition? The one that is on there now to me is electical??

531blackbanshee wrote:

the stock ltd seat will be slimmer than the saddleseat (double bucket)that is on there now.the seat in the picture is aftermarket.hth

leon holmes

Glad to hear the seat that is on it is not the stock seat, now I won't waste the money repairing it and just find an original stock seat maybe a different single bucket aftermarket.

RonKZ650 wrote:

I don't know about everything on the B3 engine being the 78 design, but the vast majority is. For sure 79 LTD used the same crankshaft and camchain ect as the 1978 models as well as carried over the 1978 points ignition. In 1980 the LTD used the same crankshaft and camchain as the MKII and went to the electronic ignition. This has always led me to conclude the 1979 B3 was the old engine but I could be wrong, and possibly half way through the 79 run they swapped over to MKII parts, but this isn't documented by Kawasaki. If you cross reference any engine parts on the 79 LTD, they all match up to 1978 and earlier model KZ1000 from what I can tell. The MKII was just a stronger design engine, but nothing wrong with the prior KZ1000 engine. When the MKII engine was released it was kind of a mystery why Kawasaki upgraded the engine as it was already the strongest engine ever made. The main thing I would do is see if it still has the points ignition and get rid of that right away.

the biggest thing aboutthe mkII engine was the crank center pin and beefier cases neither of which makes a differance on 99% of streetbikes or even the majority of low to medium range dragbikes inmy experiance anyway.thats a nice looking bike you got there,i like the ltds better than the mkII bikes myself anyway.

Kingchiefa, I moved this thread to the bike related, chit chat forum for you.
When I went to pick up what was supposed to be a 1978 kz1000 I had to drive all the way to Edmonton, which is about a 10 hr drive one way. I had never seen the bike before. Imagine my surprise when I finally get a look at my new bike and it's a '79 MK2 complete with spare tanks, side covers, seat and other misc. items. I still have it registered as a 1978 model.

Mcdroid wrote:

Jack wrote:

RonKZ650 wrote:

Actually the 79 LTD used the old spec KZ1000 engine from 1978 complete with points ignition. It was 1980 the LTD was upgraded to the MKII type engine design.

Not so sure about that...there are 2 1979 LTD's on Ebay right now ,both with MKll enegines...check out EBay items 320359272543 and 260393899816. Pretty sure 79 LTD's in Canada had MKll engines,I ripped one apart for dragbike parts.US models could have been different.

Actually, there is nothing about either of those eBay 1000's that suggests they have MKII motors...we have been down this road before with what model had what motor and Jeff (of Z1E) stated that the 1979 KZ1000B3 did not have MKII refinements while the 1979 KZ1000A3 and KZ1000E1 did have MKII motor refinements. The 1980 KZ1000B4 incorporated the MKII upgrades.

What suggests these 2 LTD's have MKll motors ,to me anyway,are the pics showing the MKll style dyno and points covers ,clutch ,cylinder head casting and pollution port rocker and countersprocket covers. No internal pics to see inside to see if the extra webbing in top case,16 tooth crank centrepin are there,lol. Maybe these are 2 more examples of registration /title year based on manufacture date on the neck of the frames? Things that make you go hhmmmmm....

Jack wrote:

What suggests these 2 LTD's have MKll motors ,to me anyway,are the pics showing the MKll style dyno and points covers ,clutch ,cylinder head casting and pollution port rocker and countersprocket covers. No internal pics to see inside to see if the extra webbing in top case,16 tooth crank centrepin are there,lol. Maybe these are 2 more examples of registration /title year based on manufacture date on the neck of the frames? Things that make you go hhmmmmm....

We went back and forth about this with Jeff and he convinced us that the 1979 and 1980 (aka MKII motored) LTD's have the same external engine covers and pollution equipment but only the 1980 year model is truely a MKII motored bike (e.g. internal motor upgrades)...the 1979 is merely a standard LTD in MKII drag