1977 kz650

I am looking into buying my first KZ and have found a 1977 kz650 for sale. After talking to the guy I got him down to $750. From everything he has said it does run and drive and mainly what it needs is just the lights wired up and a few other minor things.

He said that it sometimes takes a little effort to get it started, but once it is started it runs strong. This is the information I got about the bike.

4-1 kerker header, and muffler
pod filters, stage 3 jets,new plugs and wires, new throttle control and cable, brand new clip on bars, will include drag bars, universal headlight mount, frame has been shortened about 6-8inches, new timing system, freshly tuned, carbs were rebuilt/ cleaned/sync'd,

I am going to look at it in a couple days, but I am not too familiar with these bikes. What should I look for and check out? is $750 a good price even if it needs a little more work than it appears? Also it is cold where I am so I assume it will be somewhat hard for the bike should start, but he said he was riding it like 3 weeks ago so I assume it should still fire up somewhat quick.

Anything to look for would help though!

Worth whatever you want to spend $750 for a running titled bike, not bad. Frame shortened 6-8"? Wouldnt be worth much to me after that, much of the apeal of these kzs is all the bodywork together as a whole, if you like that cafe crap go for it, it's your choice, and any 30-40 yr old bike is going to need unforseen work. I bought a running, rideable 1000 that needed the engine tore down and transmission replaced 10 miles down the road

The frame would be a deal breaker for me. If it won't start from the battery, it won't run for shit.
Steve

bryce824 wrote: I am looking into buying my first KZ and have found a 1977 kz650 for sale. After talking to the guy I got him down to $750. From everything he has said it does run and drive and mainly what it needs is just the lights wired up and a few other minor things.

He said that it sometimes takes a little effort to get it started, but once it is started it runs strong. This is the information I got about the bike.

4-1 kerker header, and muffler
pod filters, stage 3 jets,new plugs and wires, new throttle control and cable, brand new clip on bars, will include drag bars, universal headlight mount, frame has been shortened about 6-8inches, new timing system, freshly tuned, carbs were rebuilt/ cleaned/sync'd,

I am going to look at it in a couple days, but I am not too familiar with these bikes. What should I look for and check out? is $750 a good price even if it needs a little more work than it appears? Also it is cold where I am so I assume it will be somewhat hard for the bike should start, but he said he was riding it like 3 weeks ago so I assume it should still fire up somewhat quick.

Anything to look for would help though!

Hello, bryce824, and WELCOME to KZrider!

Anything to look for would help -- Would look for a different bike. :lol:

Good Fortune!

Agreed. I'm still having trouble how the frame was shortened 8". Where? Pics would be helpful.
Steve

My assumption is it has been 'cafe'e, tracker, bobbed, fightered' and the owner lost interest and gave up on finishing it, or looked at it and thought "I've ruined my bike!?!" :sick: 'time to give up and stay stock next time.'

I've bought a few cafe projects on the condition they find the crap they cut off and it's in okay shape so it can be welded back on, and of course I'm cheap and only pay $1-200 at the most. Most I've paid for a bike (outside of my H2 that I overpaid for) was $400. Unless it's what you want, find What you want otherwise youre gonna spend money and time screwing around

I too was curious about the chop because although I am not too familiar with these bikes, it didn't look too different than some I have seen.

This picture is the best I could find to show the bike.

Look's like your normal café/bobber build.
Just start cutting shit off cause you really don't have a
clue or the skill to really build a bike.

IMHO it's a $200 part's bike at the most

Only thing I can think about the chop is that he took the inches off just the tail section aft of the rear suspension points as the frame proportions look stock........one totally weird thing I have never seen before is how the top triple has been installed upside down, I assume this was to mount the bars as low as possible which also means the forks have had to be raised.............just too weird :blink:

That is why I came to the forums cause like I said I have had motorcycles before but never anything like this. And the guy selling it said he took it in on trade a few weeks back and is now selling it. So I assume the majority of you who know about these bikes thinks the $750 is too much for this bike? I just don't wanna get stuck with something that is more work than I want to do to it.

I wouldn't pay more than $300.........

$750 is way too much for a bike that has been mutilated. I wouldn't want it at all. Ed