Best way to cross reference parts

I am curious what others do to cross reference parts. My first bike I did not do to much work on. My second bike was a Ninja 650R when they first came out, so there was nothing to "reference" to... everything was modded to work just about. Now I have an '81 KZ550, and am curious what parts that work on other bikes (LTD vs. standard, different models, years, etc.) will work on this. I need a center stand, seat lock, thinking of installing a chain guard back, etc. Do you find the part number you are looking for, and then do a search on BikeBandits.com to see if it pops up for other models? Is there a way to search on Kawasaki by part number? Is there a site/wiki that shows swappable parts (I saw something like this on the EX500 and interchangeable parts between generation 1 and 2). Thanks guys, hope this has not been covered too much before.

On the Kawasaki website are parts diagrams (owner info ->parts diagrams). After selecting the appropriate info, a pop-up window opens. At the top-center of the window is a drop-down menu that says 'model'. Find the part number you need, then select 'part number' from this menu and fill in the part no. You then get a list of all the bikes that use this particular part.

Also on Kawasaki.com when you're searching the parts diagrams for your bike; if you click on a part number it brings up a window showing more info on the part, status etc. There is a yellow circle at the top with a question mark inside, click that and it brings up a list of everything that part was used on.

Zthou's method is similar, but this way skips the need for a second search for the part number.

Keep in mind that Kawasaki will assign a different part number to virtually identical part with only a color change for example.

Good Fortune!

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Great information guys. I already had the parts diagram bookmarked for my bike. I also already was clicking around. It was the yellow "?" that I did not know about... that works great. Thanks

I have bought Kawasaki cross reference program from Zedder for $24.95 and its very simple to use. You put part number and program list all models that use that part.
www.zedder.com/msg6.htm

Interesting program, but it sounds like this does for $25 what the Kawasaki program does for free. Is there anything it does you cannot get from the website?

OldSchoolHr wrote:

I have bought Kawasaki cross reference program from Zedder for $24.95 and its very simple to use. You put part number and program list all models that use that part.
www.zedder.com/msg6.htm

If it listed the correct parts, the software would be wonderful...

However, Zedders software has several major problems. In the situations where multiple models are described on one fiche, entering a part number may show totally wrong fitment. Where there are footnotes on the fiche, zedder doesn't have that info. Where part numbers are superseded it doesn't handle this.

I have zedders xref for Kawasaki and Suzuki and just stopped using it - it is very poor. And as a previous poster pointed out - why pay $25 for something that's free (and better) on Kawasaki.com

The Kawasaki.com system is better, but sadly Kawasaki has deleted a large number of discontinued parts from the online fiche.

We are finding we are having to reference the old style fiche for more and more research these days.

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gte105u wrote:

Interesting program, but it sounds like this does for $25 what the Kawasaki program does for free. Is there anything it does you cannot get from the website?

Just easier and faster, if I am suspicious about something I check on other places. For purpose I use it I had no problems yet.

bump...i'm told that the 1982 kz-750 standard four is the same tail piece as the MKII chain drives.....but i am aware that a different paint color may be giving me the slip on nailing down a match.....

these are things i've been curious about...maybe folks here have tried one or more or know an answer,,,

i will fiddle with the kawi site more and see..i dig it and am getting some good ideas already thanks...

anyone know about these items::::::

1979-80 KZ1000 MKII (mine is an A3)

does it share it's tail cowling with the kz750 of 82?

can i use the right switch housing froman earlier kz1000-900 with the on/off headlight switch?

can i use the seat from any other kawi..1980 Z1R...shaft drive MKII....ect


1984 GPZ550 Ca model..(ZX550A1L)....

will the tank of the same design gpz 750 fit on the bike...i heard it may but i doubt this....they are super hard to locate...

thanks guys...any info would be cool