Time for a KZ?

I haven't had a project bike for a while, which means that everything I do have, a '75 CB400F and and '82 XZ550 Vision, is running great. I have also owned a '78 CB750F, an '80 GS550, and an '80 XS650. Each was modified, improved, and made a much better-looking and more satisfying bike. But I've never had a Kawasaki. Why should I get a KZ650, or Z750S perhaps, or a KZ1000? There are times when I think a new(er) bike is the way to go. Those bikes aren't over 30 years old with unknown and likely technically-challenged owners who never changed the oil, changed the brake fluid, or kept their bikes out of the weather. I've always liked KZs though. There's something about them. But why get one that will likely need a lot of work instead of a used, say, 919 or FZ1 or a ZRX?

I don't know because I've never bought a 30 year old bike. My '77 KZ650 was brand spanking new when I bought it nearly 35 years ago. :laugh:

To your left is a 1969 Camaro SS, to your right is a 2011 Camaro SS... You choose!!


Maybe not a very good analogy, but I think you know what im saying.. New is new... but old is classic!

I was at Biketoberfest this weekend in Daytona and if you have ever been you know how main street is. Ride down main street on almost any new bike (except for maybe the new 14R - JUST BAD) or something just on the extreme and your likely not to turn a head... Ride down on a classic KZ and you will surely get some love.

For me, I really like having something different and to suite my personal taste. The KZ does that for me. So hell ya... get a KZ!

if you are asking yourself that question you should get the newer bike. It's a love affair with the era that made my choice. been their done that with the newer stuff. my 02 FLSTS with 30k invested got a ton of comments my 78 KZ gets a positive comment everytime I ride multiple times a day my favotite quote at a local show arounf 30 harleys multiple new bikes guy about my age is looking at mine and says to his 8 or 9 year old son "now thats a beast! thats a KZ1000! that was the bike to have when I was a kid" realized I had made that same steatement multiple times, before I started on mine this year

CB/GS/XS wrote: I haven't had a project bike for a while

Sounds like you are tossing the idea of a project around. You won't have much to do on a new/newer bike. KZ's are great project bikes...if that's what you're looking for

I would buy a KZ1000 over a ZRX because the KZ got more character, and it's more fun to customize a bike then buying a fully functional newer typ that never needs any work

I would go for a "J" type KZ1000, that has a better fram then the two former kz1000, it already has the bracing that most people put on their older kz1k:s. It also has some more power stock, but I don't really know how common they are in the US.