The Great MKII Debate: 1979 vs. 1980

The ST bodywork looks similar to a MKll but nothing is the same and won't fit. The sidecovers are very similar overall shape but the fastener points are different, the underside of the tank is different etc.

The FI 1980 H Model wasn't sold in Canada, that was a Europe only model.The only FI was the G Model Classic, not to say someone didn't import one...

thanks Jack...i want to rest a ST tank and just see but dont have one....was always wondering if anyone here had tried......the tail i saw come outta Canada was with a bunch of body and bike parts that were 80 A-4...i did not see injectors in the parts lot but the tail had the sideway euro gold dbl stripe

How much different can the tanks be? I have a good ST tank and side covers if you can use them Tri

I've researched the ST vs. MKII side covers and as Jack says, the mounting points are different. I have always been curious about the tanks myself though...hard to believe it wouldn't fit but they are different. The easiest way to tell (besides stock paint) is that the ST has the fuel level sensor on the bottom opposite the petcock. FWIW, I put my 78 A tank on my MKII frame while I was waiting for my parts to be painted and it fit really well. Doesn't really say anything about the ST tank though.

I remember a web site...either Klasmo or Z1 Enterprises I think....that lists the A3 as being made in Japan and the A3A as being made in the US. I always assumed the Japanese made models would be very rare...not sure??

I have a MKII head on my 77 1000a......is that going to cause a problem here?

i have one on my 75 dragbike and i also have a mark11 centerpin in my big dragbike does that mean people will be upset and come after me with large caliber hand guns

timebomb33 wrote:

i have one on my 75 dragbike and i also have a mark11 centerpin in my big dragbike does that mean people will be upset and come after me with large caliber hand guns

Or large caliber calipers!! :laugh:

I am still wondering if Jack has actually tried setting the ST on a MKII before,,,,,i would like to try it but dont have an ST tank.....i think i remember years ago having the MKII edition Z1-R tank, and it would not sit on the coils area of the frame flat,it rocked ,where a 78 Z1-r would sit nice and the rubbers slid on,both being laid on a 73 Z-1 frame respectivly.....Larry have you ever tried laying the ST tank on any of your bikes?if so what yrs?

thanks for the offer...i can get one cheap enough just wondering if they mount....or is it just the seat that wont close ect.....

I know about the side covers being different but close...i actually have some sets of MKII side covers saved up for painting now....


larrycavan wrote:

How much different can the tanks be? I have a good ST tank and side covers if you can use them Tri

Jack,

if a guy had a ST engine and the bottom end of a kz motor to rob the chain drive areas off,is converting the ST to chain drive as simple as removing and replacing the sprocket/shaft areas ,or is it about splitting the lower cases open?

Never tried the ST tank on a MKll frame,always told they don't fit.Anybody here tried ? Do have an ST sidecover on my MKll,they are a different profile but you really have to know what to look for to see it.The seats and tailpieces are different too.

I've run shaft cases in a dragbike,got them bare so never done the shaft to chain convo. but they worked just fine. Found they were ST cases running the serial number.
MKll or ST cylinder heads are standard fare KZ with a slightly different casting which will drop on any 73-80.

Just to throw another dog on the fire, www.zedder.com shows the 1980 KZ1000 as an A4 MKll. The original A4 was the 76 KZ900 on their list.

Jack wrote:

...

Just to throw another dog on the fire, www.zedder.com shows the 1980 KZ1000 as an A4 MKll. The original A4 was the 76 KZ900 on their list.

Now that's just crazy! Another conflicting piece of information to mull over....my head hurts!

The whole concept of the MKII cases was to have one set of cases on which to build the engine for either shaft or chain drive. It simplified the manufacturing process and strengthened the engine as the same time.

Use the right trans and move the shift shaft to the other boss under the trans cover.

Some of the trans parts are slightly different as well. I used ST cases with B4 transmission when I built my engine.

Heads are heads on 1000 models. Early ones don't have air ports on exhaust side. No performance advantage to having a 79 MKII head on any KZ 900/1000. Guides in later models were cast iron vs bronze.

Castings on 1000's were better than 900's. 900's would crack near the spark plug hole.

A4 www.bikebandit.com/houseofmotorcycles/19...-us/o/m3934#sch83527

ST
www.bikebandit.com/houseofmotorcycles/19...-us/o/m3183#sch85030


As far as 79 MKii vs 80 A4, anything black is always faster than the same model in red. It's a proven scientific fact that black paint has less wind resistance than red