1980 KZ1000

so I picked up this little gem, I was searching for anything 1000cc+ air cooled and found this.
I have sort of figured out what kz900 and kz1000 and kz1000J means... but what about all the other
jargon I see that looks like models...like kz1000g/b/k/x/r/4/q/b/9/16/35/44/y/u/d/5??????

yes I am over exaggerating there...but that what it feels like I'm reading when I try to figure out what
I looking at here. Anyway, I have figured out that it is an '80, has the 1015cc engine which is considered
"old style" .....but what else is there as far as model designation?

Welcome, nice bike.
Steve

Yup, that looks like a 1980shaftie that somebody put a seat from an LTD or CSR on.

Here is what the seat should look like. s368.photobucket.com/user/RonKZ650/media...es/DSC00926.jpg.html

The KZ nomenclature can be confusing. In the model designation, the letter indicates the model and it is followed by a number that indicates which year of the model run it comes from.. For instance, the first year would be kz1000a1 the next year, kz1000a2 etcetera.

Engine designations are even better........
Z or Z1 refers to the earlier series engine (1973-1980) that were 903 or 1015cc.
The MKII was the last variant of the Z, or a transition to the J depending on who you ask. 1015cc.
The J engine (1981-2005) came in 998 and 1052cc

Now for model names....
LTD - a cruiser style with two level seat like yours, buckhorn bars and wheels of 19 and 16 inch diameter.
CSR - a cheaper LTD with spoke wheels.
GPz - high performance sport bike.
J - also known as UJM .. Universal Japanese motorcycle. More upright seating than the others. Better handling than the LTD, but not in the same league as the GPz.
Classic - also shaft drive, but fancier than the LTD. More like a touring bike.

If it's an 80 model, then the bike is a 1980 KZ1000-E2 Shaft drive model. It can get confusing, but the letter in the suffice indicates the styling & what type of bike it is, but you have to learn to distinguish the differences. The number in the suffix indicates what version of a model it is: the 79 KZ1000-E1 is the 1st yr for that model & the next yr was the E2. but that's it (no E3).

The KZ1000-C1 thru -C4 are early police models. The later police bikes were the KZ1000-P models (P1 thru P24) & completely different from the C models. Not all Kawasakis with an E in the suffix are shaft drive. A 750E is a 4-cylinder standard w chain drive (standard styling). A 750H is a 4-cyl Ltd, also w chain drive. A 750F is a 4-cyl Ltd Shaft. etc etc etc.

There are Standard models, GPzs & Ltds. and CSRs are similar to Ltds, but most CSRs have spoked wheels.
Most Kaws are chain drive, but there are some shaft drive models & a few with belt drive.
The 70s models are generally different from the 80s models. 1980 is kind of a transition year, with some 1980 models being more like 70s models (your shaft drive for instance), and other 1980 models are more like the newer style 80s models.

Yea, it's a 1980 KZ1000E2 shaft drive and as mentioned, they were only made in 1979 and 1980. Parts are a real problem as most parts the KZ1000E used was only used on the KZ1000E, Some of the KZ1000 designations,
1977-1980 standard KZ1000 was KZ1000A1, A2, A3, A4 depending on the year
1978-80 KZ1000 Z1R was KZ1000D1-D3 in the same fashion
1977-80 KZ1000 LTD was KZ1000B1-B4
1979-80 KZ1000 shaft was KZ1000E1-E2
1981-83 KZ1000 Standard was KZ1000J1-J3
1977-81 KZ1000 Police was the C model, then 1982 and up they changed to P
There are more KZ1000 as well like later LTD and CSR which had another letter, but those never interested me.
Strange thing about Kawasaki is the letter is different meaning in different CC bikes, so for example:
KZ1000B is the cruiser in the KZ1000 line
KZ650B is the standard in the KZ650 line
KZ1100B is the fuel injected superbike from the early 80s in the KZ1100 line.

Simple, aint it? :blink:

I would recommend a steering dampner on that model as a top priority. Great Bike. I have lotsa video on complete engine and bike dissasembly on You Tube. R

yes I agree about that stabilizer, I had it up to about 130 on a moderately rough road, racing a Harley. I was in the suicide lane and the road became a bit hilly and had some slight curves, I decided it best to back down and let it drift back over to the proper lane. As I crested the crown in the road I got a terrible speed wobble, scared the bejeezus outta me but managed to hang on and ride it out as I coasted back to 60. At another time, I accelerated down a ramp to merge on a freeway at about 90. The freeway was that damned grooved concrete and that gave me a terrible wobble too, I had to slow to about 50 then SLOWLY bring the speed back up.

Also I recently noticed the tires are not the correct size, nor are they even the same brand....looking into a matched set of Pirelli sport demons.