'Tis a sad day....

So this morning I started suiting up to ride to class. Went out and started my KZ. After fighting with it for several minutes (its a hard starter when it hasn't been run for a few days) it finally started up. I get my jacket on, put on my helmet, and what do I hear?

clack clack clack clack clack clack

Yup, looks like one of the cylinders dropped a valve.

So, I think the bike is down for the count, because I'm not going to spend more money to fix it now.

I'm in a predicament: do I part the bike out and recoup some of my loss to help pay for a new bike? Or do I stash the bike under my deck and get around to trying to fix it some day in the distant future?

Well, that's only something you can answer. I think most everybody here will say to keep the bike and fix it, but we are all in love with old KZ's.

If you like the bike there is a 3rd choice:
I bet you could find a used motor for $100-150 bucks that runs.

I don't know where you live but this guy in Missouri has one for $300. I bet he takes a lot less for it.

kz 550 motor - $300 (chamois)
Reply to: sale-pgrza-1136246916@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]
Date: 2009-04-23, 10:24AM CDT

kz 550 motor dose run but the carbs are mest up. ran good when it was running i just dont want to see it sitting around and becoming junk. do have some kz550 bick parts left if interested to. would consider traid for a 250dirt bick or bigger or 250 4 wheeler or bigger.
* Location: chamois
* it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
PostingID: 1136246916

Unfortunately, I live in WV. Bikes are hard enough to find as it is, its nearly impossible to find an older bike within close proximity.

I suppose I could just strip the engine of anything that's not damaged and keep the frame/wheels/etc.

insignia100 wrote:

So this morning I started suiting up to ride to class. Went out and started my KZ. After fighting with it for several minutes (its a hard starter when it hasn't been run for a few days) it finally started up. I get my jacket on, put on my helmet, and what do I hear?

clack clack clack clack clack clack

Yup, looks like one of the cylinders dropped a valve.

So, I think the bike is down for the count, because I'm not going to spend more money to fix it now.

I'm in a predicament: do I part the bike out and recoup some of my loss to help pay for a new bike? Or do I stash the bike under my deck and get around to trying to fix it some day in the distant future?

ya sure it dropped a valve?

Well, I haven't been able to crack open the engine yet but it sure as hell sounds like it.

It sounds exactly like this:

Bummer. Put it away and start buying parts when you can. By this winter you should have all you need and the time to fix it.