1975 KZ900? new to me

First off I wasn't really sure where to put this so I just put it in bike related. Anyways I just got another KZ today and I'm not positive what I have here. I know it was cheap ($1100) and it runs (not well and it's not pretty) so I'm pretty excited and I'm sure it's worth the money. The sticker on the headstock says 6/75 but the Vin makes me think it's a KZ900. There were no sidecovers on it. I'm not sure what is original on it and what isn't. Obviously it's not the stock paint job. The guy I bought it from is an old Harley guy and he decided to keep the KZ750 twin bobber he made and sell the 900! He had the 900 registered as a 1978 and he only had it for like 5 years and wasn't much help for info. My wife is pissed at me for coming home with another bike so it's in my trailer until she cools off, so all I managed for now was a few crappy phone pics. I think the front rim imprint means that rim was from 1976, rear rim looks like 75. That's all I knew to look for very quickly. Tail looks like KZ900. taillight is square. The engine numbers are close to the headstock number so I think it's original, and most likely it's a Japanese made early KZ900 made in 1975?

If the passenger pegs are mounted on tube frame parts, instead of welded "clamshell" parts, I do not believe it is a KZ900.
I can't quite see that in your photos.

That's a 76 kz900

According the your frame number it is a 1976 KZ900-A4 model. Here's some info that may help. Ed

www.z-power.co.uk/merchantmanager/view_information.php?pId=21

Battery box, tail section, etc says it's a KZ 900. Not a 75 Z1b.
Steve

So I figured all signs pointed to it being a KZ900 but what about the headstock sticker? It is a 1976 model built in 1975? :huh:

Yes. That is not at all unusual. The same thing happens with cars. Today you can go into dealership and buy a 2016 model even though today's date is still 2015. Ed

www.cadillac.com/v-series/cts-v-sedan.html

Those 900's are pretty rare. If the engine and frame numbers are around 200 or so off, it's considered matching numbers. Great candidate for restoration.

Kidkawie wrote: Those 900's are pretty rare. If the engine and frame numbers are around 200 or so off, it's considered matching numbers. Great candidate for restoration.

Don't want to hijack this thread so if I'm in the wrong, sorry. My question might help us understand the "numbers matching". I have a 76 KZ900 A4. From what I can decipher from the vin is its a US made bike VIn is Z1F 5027XX. My real question is with a motor vin of Z1E 0941XX which appears to be in the right range to be period correct. How would you tell if its "numbers Matching' with there being no way the numbers can be within a couple hundred with a us frame and a Japanese motor. I can see this with Japanese made the frame vin would be Z1F-085701 - 117060 range and coud be within a couple hundred of the motor. Thanks

Mikaw wrote:

Kidkawie wrote: Those 900's are pretty rare. If the engine and frame numbers are around 200 or so off, it's considered matching numbers. Great candidate for restoration.

Don't want to hijack this thread so if I'm in the wrong, sorry. My question might help us understand the "numbers matching". I have a 76 KZ900 A4. From what I can decipher from the vin is its a US made bike VIn is Z1F 5027XX. My real question is with a motor vin of Z1E 0941XX which appears to be in the right range to be period correct. How would you tell if its "numbers Matching' with there being no way the numbers can be within a couple hundred with a us frame and a Japanese motor. I can see this with Japanese made the frame vin would be Z1F-085701 - 117060 range and coud be within a couple hundred of the motor. Thanks

Zedder shows the range of vins and engine numbers for many motorcycle models.

These steps will produce the link shown below.
Go to www.zedder.com
> Bike Info
>Kwasaki Model Information
>900 cc arranged by year
>1976 KZ900-A4

The above steps should produce this link:
www.zedder.com/Info/76%20KZ900-A4.htm

The information shown in the link includes the following:
Year & Model '76 KZ900-A4
Color(s) (1) Dia Dark Green

(2) Dia Brown
Frame No. Range Japan MFR Z1F-085701 - 117060

USA MFR Z1F-500001 - 510340
Engine No. Range Z1E086001 - 138846


When determining whether or not the"numbers match" on a Kawasaki motorcycle, I believe this refers to the range of vins included in the range of engine numbers and vice versa.

I would suspect that the quantity of KZ900-A models produced at the factory (per VIN range) is at least somewhat consistent with the quantity of engines produced at the factory (per engine number).

I believe that Kawasakis with a VIN showing manufacture somewhere other than Japan actually came from whatever factory with engines that were built in Japan.

I don't know how to tell when the factory bike's engine has been replaced with a different engine that also has an engine number that falls within the range of engine numbers for that particular model.

Good Fortune!

Mikaw wrote:

Kidkawie wrote: Those 900's are pretty rare. If the engine and frame numbers are around 200 or so off, it's considered matching numbers. Great candidate for restoration.

Don't want to hijack this thread so if I'm in the wrong, sorry. My question might help us understand the "numbers matching". I have a 76 KZ900 A4. From what I can decipher from the vin is its a US made bike VIn is Z1F 5027XX. My real question is with a motor vin of Z1E 0941XX which appears to be in the right range to be period correct. How would you tell if its "numbers Matching' with there being no way the numbers can be within a couple hundred with a us frame and a Japanese motor. I can see this with Japanese made the frame vin would be Z1F-085701 - 117060 range and coud be within a couple hundred of the motor. Thanks

Sorry, I only have a database for Japan built 900's.

try asking some guys here: www.kawasaki-z-classik.com/forum/index.php

KZ802,

Looking further into your bike Z1F 85996.

First 76 KZ900 frame number was Z1E 85700, so you have the 296th KZ900.

The closest comparison I have listed is: Z1F 86090 which has engine number Z1E 086393 Mfr: 6/75.

If your engine number is along those lines, it matches.