oil filter and tires???

Hey guys, I bought a "new" '76 KZ 900 A4 last week!!! I had been riding an '80 LTD 550 for three years (my first bike) and decided to take it up a small notch. Loud pipes, jetted carbs and flames on the tank is a "notch," right???

Anyway, very shortly I'll be changing the oil and filter- I was wondering what filters do you guys run? I'm an Amsoil man myself, so the oil choice isn't up for much debate . I live and ride in Southern California and it's heating up for the duration of the summer.

Also, I'll be needing to replace the tires soon (I can't sleep at night knowing I'm running Cheng Shin tires)- any suggestions on that front as well? I ran Pirelli MT66's on my 550 and have been very pleased.

Lastly, any recommendations for an oil cooler?

Thanks dudes! Keep the rubber side down!

I'll chime in here. On the filter, IMHO the best filters you can buy are WIX, Napa Gold or K&N. Under no circumstances will I put an "Orange" filter in any motor I own. Tires will depend on how you plan to ride your new hot rod. Bridgestone's, Avons, Metzlers are popular with member here.

I rode my 550 for about the same amount of time as you rode yours. Then I just lucked into the 1000. You have some ear to ear S E G's in your future my friend. :laugh:

Thanks! I guess we're the only two in this forum to use oil filters and tires....

Bridgestones come recommended by several people, so I suppose I'll give them a try. By "orange," do you mean Fram?
LL

I use K&N oil filters (Dennis Kirk sells them) and Pirelli Sport Demons. I'm very happy with both. Ed

mtbspeedfreak wrote:

Thanks! I guess we're the only two in this forum to use oil filters and tires....

Try a search and discover these topics already beat to death. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Good Fortune!

The filters I have been using since I bought my first KZ1000 in 1978 are Emgo. They have never failed me. However the oil you must be careful of. Oils have changed quite a bit in the last three years and not for the better where Motorcycles are concerned. There have been a lot of threads on this websight about that subject. Modern automotive oils will wipe out your cams and shims very quickly. Modern oils do not have enough Zinc and Phosphorus for solid lifter engines. Amsoil included. This is due to new EPA regulations. Older oils averaged about 1250-1750ppm of Zinc. Modern oils are down way below 400ppm. It has been determined that either, a motorcycle specific oil must be used of most any brand or most guys here use Shell Rotella-T designed for diesel trucks. Diesels have the same requirements as our engines. Some of us also run ZDDP additives in our bikes for the extra safety. If you insist on Amsoil, you will have to run these additives. As far as tires are concerned, I run nothing but Avon (made in the UK)I have been running them since 1979 when I changed my first tire on a bike. I also run them on my wifes Jaguar XJR and they come as OEM on Rolls Royce and Bentley cars. As far as I'm concerned they give you the best kick for the buck. I get great millage on them, they are not expensive and they grip in the corners extremely well. Here is a link for the main sight. as you will notice they have a vast selection. I reccomend the Roadrider AM-26 which replaced the Roadrunner AM-20/21, which was always my favorite. The Venom AM-41/42 is a bit better and also my favorite but a bit more expensive. I use both the Venom, Roadrunner and Roadrider on my bikes. The compounds are interchangeable which also makes the tires match to each other.
www.avon-tyres.co.uk/motorcycle/

To get back to the oils. It has been discovered by numerous oil manufactures that this deficiency exists this is why many of them now have "Off Road" Such as Racing oils. Companies such as "Rislone" (Bars Leek), Lucas RedLine, ZDDP Plus, STP, and so on, have noticed this also and now make these additives. If you buy a ZDDP additive make sure it is of standard OIL viscosity. Do not buy and use a "Motor Honey" stile additive such as STP oil Treatment. It would be highly likely that they will make your clutch slip like crazy. Some people have used them with some success, but speaking from personal experience I have had problems with them. I have used "Red Line", and Lucas with great success. The Rislone product is brand new on the market and is very hard to find in the stores still. I run the Shell Rotella-T mineral (dino) oil in new engines to allow them to brake in while also adding ZDDP. Once the engine is broken in after about 1500-2000 miles I switch to the Rotella-T Parenthetic, and still add ZDDP in a bit lesser quantity. Since you are in California than the Lucas oil product should be easy to find.
www.lucasoil.com/products/display_produc...-%20TB%20Zinc%20Plus
If I cant find it in a store (Advanced Auto Supply normally stocks it)I order it here.
www.buylucasoil.com/catalog.asp?id=153 I also run this product in every gas tank of fuel to keep the combustion chambers clean. These old bikes burn oil like crazy and build up quite a bit of crud on top of the pistons, inside the combustion chambers and on the exhaust valves. This stuff will clean that stuff off anf keep it off.
www.buylucasoil.com/viewitem.asp?itemid=L10512-3

mtbspeedfreak wrote:

Lastly, any recommendations for an oil cooler?

Unless you're going to be sitting in traffic for extended periods of time at 100+ degrees or facing similar conditions on a regular basis, I would personally recommend forgoing the cooler. I like them and the way they look but they are fairly expensive to buy and install properly and it is one more point of possible failure.

If a hose works its way loose, you could lose a lot of engine oil before you realize whats happening and cause more damage than you would have by not installing the cooler in the first place.

Just my $.02 (CDN)

Thanks guys! I appreciate your responses (I apologize for taking so long to get back to you).

I'm running a Wix filter and Amsoil 10W-40 ( www.amsoil.com/news/2009_july_motorcycle_oil_white_paper.pdf )

Does anyone know of a decent oil pump off the top of their head? I figure if I'm going to break the engine open, I mine as well bore it out a wee bit :lol:

mtbspeedfreak, I am not an expert, but I will offer my opinion. I doubt that you have a choice on the oil pump. I believe that it is the Kawasaki unit or nothing. Thankfully, the big bore Kawasakis run roller bearings on the mains and rod bearings. These only require splash lubrication. The only bearings that need pressure are the cam bearings. Consequently, the oil pump only puts out about 3.5 psi when new. There are specs to check in the FSM.