Nice 78 KZ650 C-2

I received this in an email from M/C Classics. Nice example wonder if it belongs to anyone here?

cu.motorcycleclassics.com/photos/index.php?id=1502923

Thats my bike.. Did I say my bike I ment I wish it was my bike.

It's funny - they got it wrong or that tank was swapped; it's a 1977 C1 tank. The C2 tank pinstripping is curved at the front, not sharply angled. A picture of the left side would tell for sure if the dyno has 3 Allen screws, but I didn't see a second picture. I can't tell if the front master cylinder is the round type (1977) or trapezoid (1978) or some aftermarket unit. Ed

There is one like it on Evilbay right now. It screams your name, Andy!

Mellvis wrote:

There is one like it on Evilbay right now. It screams your name, Andy!

It can scream my name all it wants Mellvis, I'm not buying any bikes at the moment. For now I have waaaaaaay too much on my plate to take on anything else. I bought a 79 650C from Roy at Mid-Ohio that I haven't even touched yet other than to unload it off the truck. I really want to get going on my 79 1000 LTD and I need to re-do the 84 GPZ1100 I've been riding this winter. I've decided I really like the 1100 so I'm going to keep it and re-do it.

650ed wrote:

It's funny - they got it wrong or that tank was swapped; it's a 1977 C1 tank. The C2 tank pinstripping is curved at the front, not sharply angled. A picture of the left side would tell for sure if the dyno has 3 Allen screws, but I didn't see a second picture. I can't tell if the front master cylinder is the round type (1977) or trapezoid (1978) or some aftermarket unit. Ed

I agree with you Ed, about the stripes. The MC looks to be trapezoid. Nice bike though...

The round master cylinder used in 77 didn't have the clear body to view the fluid. This motorcycle master cylinder has the clear, so for sure it's the trapazoid from 1978, so this motorcycle is most likely a 78 with a 77 tank, which makes it garbage.:laugh: No, it does look nice. They use the same color in 1977 and 1978 so the tanks can interchange. There were a lot more 78s than 77s in this color since all 78s were this color and 1977 you could choose that ugly blue like Eds as an option.:laugh: Just kidding Ed, the blue is a much nicer color to me, I never did much care for this silver/blue Z1R color.

RonKZ650 wrote: "The round master cylinder used in 77 didn't have the clear body to view the fluid."

I think Kawasaki made 2 different master cylinders for 1977. The reservoir on mine is made of the translucent plastic like the reservoir for the rear brake. Regarding the color, I was surprised in 1978 when they stopped making blue bikes and kept the silver, but I later learned the blue paint was a 4 coat process and the silver a 3 coat process. I guess it saved a couple bucks for Ma Kaw. I'm thinking of painting mine Mary Kay pink (NOT):woohoo:

The '77 C1 also came in a Silver colour.
Never knew they came in the same colour as the '78 C2 and Z1R. I'd have to see pictures of proof.
The '77 Moondust Silver and '78 Metalic Stardust Silver (more bluish) were very different.

A '77:

A '78:

This shows the '77 C1 tank stripes:

jarle.eltelevest.no/Kawasaki/Images/Z650/p2/C12/KZ650C1_77s.jpg

This shows the '78 C2 tank stripes:

jarle.eltelevest.no/Kawasaki/Images/Z650/p2/C12/z650c2_78d.jpg

Not that much difference in these two pics, but if you had two bikes side by side you will see the difference.

Gringo's link doesn't seem to work for me.
Anyone have a link or picture of the bike?