KZ1100-How do you guys in the USA rate these bikes

Just asking a question really as I have picked up 3 of these over the last couple of years quite cheaply but all will need a bit of work. May get round to it one day!
Seems to me that most KZ1100's get parted out & I see very few complete bikes for sale here in the UK or on Ebay USA.
Don't know how many were made but were they popular bikes in the USA.
I love the styling & the performance is pretty good for an early 80's bike. Not too keen on the Vetter fairing models, "dresser" a bit too Goldwing for me.
The original stock models in blue, red or black with the pinstriped fenders, side panels & gas tank look absolutely brilliant!
What would a fully restored KZ1100 A1 or A2, professionally repainted stock fetch in the USA? Would you reckon them to be collectable or not?
Tommotbird

Kelly blue book Suggested Retail Value $1350 This is a shaft bike right? I just seen one sell for 650.00 If its a shafty I think people like the sprocketed bikes as you can change gear ratios. I posted one under craigs list post he wanted 800.00 but I know I could have got it for 500.00.I really don't know why they are not more popular...

This is the one from CL

I'm with Chance on this one...I don't know why they aren't more popular. Perhaps, when first sold, they targeted a different type of rider and 'hot-rod' mystique (like the earlier KZ's and Z1) just never developed. Perhaps it is a styling issue? Although many would argue, there does seem to be a greater value attributed to those Z's with the 'duck tail' endpiece over those lacking it... for what ever reason, on this side of the pond, you can find a very very nice KZ1100A model for less than US$2000...sure can't find a Z1 for that

To me the styling was a major disappointment compared to the KZ1000ST that preceded it and it was not built nearly as strong as the previous KZ1000 and the first few years at least of the new J engine proved not the most reliable to say the least. Even with these negatives though I always wanted one, but never found one that wasn't all goofed up with add ons or repainted.

in my part of cali folks did not stop and drool at em..there were a few running around but not getting cafe look jobs or sporting headers....they were the volvo of kawasaki's in the 80's imo....around 800-1100 are the prices i see and they seem to get re-listed for a month or two...cheap enough that you wonder why no buyers:ohmy:

I had one - theyre kinda high in the saddle, felt top heavy compared to an older kz1000, to me anyway..

will61310 wrote:

I had one - theyre kinda high in the saddle...

That's the story i heard too - also that they had reliability issues with the transmission.

Found this picture.
What a truly beautiful bike. I am going to keep two of mine completely stock & maybe slightly customise the other one.
Any changes that I make will be easily reversible and all that I intend to do do is change the seat slightly and and change the bars to clip ons to give a sort of cafe look.
I take the point on them being the sort of Volvo of the era but in my opinion a much better looking bike than the ST.

That is a nice looking bike. Here's the ST for comparison. They are definately a different look. I always thought the MKII was probably the best looking Kawasaki ever, so the ST is similar in appearance to it is why I liked it. I liked the tail section on the ST and the shape of the tank. Nothing wrong with the KZ1100. Very nice too.

WG has a 79St He loves his.

I have a 82 KZ1100 spectre I painted all black put the block off plates and it runs preaty good.