Differences in 78 kz1000A2 and A2A

When I decoded my 78 it said it was an A2A. Wanting to know difference in the A2 and the A2A. I've also heard someone mention a J. Same platforms?

i can't help on the a2 a2a deal.
but j-models are the engines produced after 1980.
so if you find a 1981 kz 1000 it will have a j-model engine.
the earlier engines and the j-models wont bolt into the same place.
very few engine pieces are interchangeable between the two.

hth,
leon

HAFROD wrote: When I decoded my 78 it said it was an A2A. Wanting to know difference in the A2 and the A2A.

I believe it was a small mid-year model revision. See this thread:

kzrider.com/forum/13-bike-related/157331-78-kz1000-a2a-vs-a2

HAFROD wrote: I've also heard someone mention a J. Same platforms?

The 1981 model KZ1000-J1 (J model) was a major redesign to both the frame and engine. The '73 to '80 bikes (Z1/900/1000) are all pretty much the same design with a series of incremental upgrades.

The A2A is the limited edition "spirit of america" model, only 200 were produced it was a vetter decked out model that came with the full treatment and a red, white and blue paint theme.

Saw a roller with a title no motor but with the vetter bags get sold for a little over a grand a few miles down the road

I had to of looked at the numbers wrong. No way my bike is a Spirit of America bike is there?

I just rechecked my frame numbers and its an A2A. On the colors it says either luminous red or ebony. I don't know if the tank is stock. Its huge. Someones primered it. Underneath the tank looks like a charcoal gray. The plasic rear fender may have been black.

The A2A is just the later 1978 production vs the A2 which was early. Tightened emissions standards and other government mandates such as the elimination of the headlamp switch also.They did introduce the ebony paint on the A2A. Spirit of America fell in the A2A run, but was only a small portion, and a small portion most never cared for. Popular fable of the A2A being an only California model is incorrect. Sold throughout the USA in large numbers.

floivanus wrote: The A2A is the limited edition "spirit of america" model, only 200 were produced it was a vetter decked out model that came with the full treatment and a red, white and blue paint theme.

Saw a roller with a title no motor but with the vetter bags get sold for a little over a grand a few miles down the road

I posted a super clean low mileage one on here from Ebay a month or so back. It was a very nice bike, don't think anybody even commented on it. I had never knew of them before that.

The spirit of America bike was a limited run of 200 produced. They were sold out of the Lincoln Nebraska plant and only a certified Kawasaki dealer could buy it and they had to ride it home. It was a promotion of Kawasaki and there reliability. At least that is what I remember of the original article I had laying around here somewhere. It’s an ugly bike but I have one and one day after the way to many projects I may put it back together if I can find all the parts and where I put them. If I can find the original ad ill post it up.

kz10006 wrote: The spirit of America bike was a limited run of 200 produced. They were sold out of the Lincoln Nebraska plant and only a certified Kawasaki dealer could buy it and they had to ride it home. It was a promotion of Kawasaki and there reliability. At least that is what I remember of the original article I had laying around here somewhere. It’s an ugly bike but I have one and one day after the way to many projects I may put it back together if I can find all the parts and where I put them. If I can find the original ad ill post it up.

My son in law is from Lincoln. His Dad still works for Kawasaki in Lincoln.

To sbc1320. I saw and bid on that bike because you bring it to our attention..
I think it went for around 5000..
It was the cleanest I've ever seen I've only seen 2
I stopped at 3200 I'd rather have an 80 z1r if I'm spending