Identification of two KZ650's. One's a mystery...

Hi,

I'm looking at picking up these two KZ650's. The seller says they are both 1978 models but looking at the photos I'm not so sure about the silver one. The color and master cylinder are what's making me rub my head. I'm not an expert on all of the facts on these bikes so I'm hoping to get some opinions on them. Thanks!

Pic 2

pic 3

#2 looks like a 1978 KZ650B2. My dad has one and the colors are identical

That's what I thought too. Nice to have it confirmed.

It's the silver one that has me stumped. Forks are from 1978B2 and up, master cylinder is from 1977 B1, and the silver colour apparently was only available on C1/C2. That's the best I can figure it so far.

I'm really hoping somebody here can id the silver one. It's the one that runs!

Just Yourshadow wrote:

#2 looks like a 1978 KZ650B2. My dad has one and the colors are identical

Would seem that the silver one was assembled from different models. Single caliper in front of the forkleg is 77 B1, single caliper behind the fork leg is 78 B2.

Also look at the stator cover (left side of engine), if you see three bolt heads in the center of the cover it's a 77 (B or C), if you don't it's a 78 or up.

If the paint is original it's a set of C bodywork.

Post the VIN and the engine serial no. and we can tell what you have.

And I agree the blue one is a 78 B2.

The silver one is not original paint, so that isn't telling much. It has a 77 style master cylinder, but 78 instruments. My guess is it's a 78. The brakes on the front will give more clues and the stator cover as mention. Here's a 77 stator cover with the 3 through bolts. 1978 did not have the bolts.

Alright this getting good! Love a good mystery!

Okay after reading these comments something else occurred to me. Apparently there is another engine, and a box of parts too. Stuff like carbs, forks etc. Maybe those parts are from a C. Still doesn't explain the master cylinder though does it. C's had B type master didn't they?

Maybe it's a B1 one rebuilt with parts from a C. It certainly looks like a B1/B2. I thought the C's came with 3 disks and cast wheels(?).

So I guess the likely scenario is that it's a B1/B2 with parts from a C.

I'll see what I can do about a VIN.


RonKZ650 wrote:

The silver one is not original paint, so that isn't telling much. It has a 77 style master cylinder, but 78 instruments. My guess is it's a 78. The brakes on the front will give more clues and the stator cover as mention. Here's a 77 stator cover with the 3 through bolts. 1978 did not have the bolts.

They are both B models for sure. The round master cylinder on the one came from an earlier than 78 model, could have been a B, C or not even a KZ650 at all.

Good point. What about the silver tank?

RonKZ650 wrote:

They are both B models for sure. The round master cylinder on the one came from an earlier than 78 model, could have been a B, C or not even a KZ650 at all.

Okay. So the Silver one has new cosmetics. Probably from a C model. Blue one is original so it's a B2.

Both bikes run, Silver one is ready for a safety, and the blue one runs but needs a header bolt machined out.

Package deal. Silver one has a bunch of new parts.

I think I'm going to be a KZ owner...

fireworks wrote:

Good point. What about the silver tank?

RonKZ650 wrote:

They are both B models for sure. The round master cylinder on the one came from an earlier than 78 model, could have been a B, C or not even a KZ650 at all.

Color doesn't matter as it's non original paint. Probably the 1978 blue or orange underneith. You can probably remove the tank and look up in the valley that rides over the frame and get a clue what color it was originally.