What header would you put on 1979 MKII

I put the Kerker on my MKII back in 1983 when I first bought it. I had it on for I think 50 miles and one weekend. The way it bends under the engine ruins ground clearance in turns and it just looks wrong. Looked wrong 30 years ago and still does. I had a Kerker on the KZ650 for 35 years now and it is OK, but on the MKII just did not work at all.
I guess it's the oil filter access that makes the Kerker shape it is. You're better off getting a pipe that is shaped to work even if it has to come off to change the filter.

RonKZ650 wrote: I put the Kerker on my MKII back in 1983 when I first bought it. I had it on for I think 50 miles and one weekend. The way it bends under the engine ruins ground clearance in turns and it just looks wrong. Looked wrong 30 years ago and still does. I had a Kerker on the KZ650 for 35 years now and it is OK, but on the MKII just did not work at all.
I guess it's the oil filter access that makes the Kerker shape it is. You're better off getting a pipe that is shaped to work even if it has to come off to change the filter.

I wonder if Kerker still makes their "KR" series pipe for the MK II. That was the pipe that tucked up real nice for road racing. The KR pipe gave you all kinds of ground clearance for cornering. It was the pipe that Kawasaki ran on their '79/80 MK II AMA Superbike. Its a nice looking pipe but you have to remove it to change oil and filter.

slayer61 wrote: Here is a shot of my Suzuki I know, sorry, with the motogpwerks race pipe

and a link to this topic covered recently on this forum. Paul

What kind of Suzuki is that Slayer? About an '85 right? I met a guy on the road with one and then crossed paths with him at a gas station. He mentioned the year but I didn't get a chance to ask him what it was.

KZJOE900 wrote:

slayer61 wrote: Here is a shot of my Suzuki I know, sorry, with the motogpwerks race pipe

and a link to this topic covered recently on this forum. Paul

What kind of Suzuki is that Slayer? About an '85 right? I met a guy on the road with one and then crossed paths with him at a gas station. He mentioned the year but I didn't get a chance to ask him what it was.

Joe,
it's a 1983 GS1100es... or the motor and frame is anyways

glad to know that pipe on my old bike was wrong and did not work,,,thanks once again ron for your expert advice,,,funny...seemed to run perfect and rev great as well as get tons of comments...but now that an expert like you has pointed it out ( like always) now i know...stupid me...

good thing your around....too bad i have not saved all the good comments on my posts you have given me,,,,i could then avoid such glaring mistakes

btw...i notice you never post anything of your own or pictures or ride reports...or threads.....just here to be an expert aye

like the time you said a st was the best 79 in thread of mine or the fact that blue is a shitty color and red is the best,,,yours IS red right...or that my 16 inch tire would not spin better than an 18 ,,,that was a thread to save if ever...you are are one helpful member

it is the oil filter and center stand that are retained...kerker looks wrong on a big kz...thats rich

but pulling the header every 3000 miles or less is no big deal

Dr. Gamma wrote:
I wonder if Kerker still makes their "KR" series pipe for the MK II. That was the pipe that tucked up real nice for road racing. The KR pipe gave you all kinds of ground clearance for cornering. It was the pipe that Kawasaki ran on their '79/80 MK II AMA Superbike. Its a nice looking pipe but you have to remove it to change oil and filter.

Doc, was that the pipe with the aluminum can, rather than the megaphone on the end?

slayer61 wrote:

Dr. Gamma wrote:
I wonder if Kerker still makes their "KR" series pipe for the MK II. That was the pipe that tucked up real nice for road racing. The KR pipe gave you all kinds of ground clearance for cornering. It was the pipe that Kawasaki ran on their '79/80 MK II AMA Superbike. Its a nice looking pipe but you have to remove it to change oil and filter.

Doc, was that the pipe with the aluminum can, rather than the megaphone on the end?

The Kerker KR was still a megaphone pipe, but it didn't curve around the oil filter housing. The rear part of pipe had a bunch of upsweep to it. They all came with that big KERKER metal emblem on the megaphone. I will try to dig up a photo of one on the Kawasaki Factory MK II's. They might have been a pipe that they sold just to the racers back then.

The Kerker with the aluminum can was the K2 and the K2s.

Thanks doc. It was the K2 then that I retired off my Suzuki to make room for the motogpwerks pipe then. The K2 also had to be removed for an oil change. Paul