Where is the KZ650 in your best Kawa bikes?

All 1000 and 900s Number One ,
750 H2 Two stroke Triples Number Two
KZ 650s Number Three
Dave

There are about 25 different Big Kaw air cooled models & maybe 11 700/750-4s. I would put the 650 below almost all of them except for a couple of 700/750 Ltds, so the best 650 is way down on the list. some 650s would be below all of them. The 650-CSR is dead last in my book. doh.

I love my 750E, which is basically an adaptation of the 650. These bikes are the best handling of the KZ's, or at least they were until the smaller 400/500/550 hit the streets. The 900/1000/1100 bikes are not in the same class handling wise, and the issue was not strictly one of weight either.

The 750 was such a great package of power and handling that it continued in various iterations all the way into the ZR-7 days up till 2003 (or something like this). The big KZ carried on for a lot of years as well, but the later year bikes were regulated to police use. Both bikes have a fantastic and LONG history though.

Nice deal Jack. I dig the custom exhaust.

I've probably ridden more miles on KZ650s than most, and always thought they were a great bike, but the KZ1000 is better in all regards. Better engine, more comfortable, just all around stronger. Z1 would be same as a KZ1000. H2 is a piece of crap. Lovely to look at, and fun, but really no good for the street. I say that after owning mine for 38yrs now.
I liked the 82 GPZ1100 I had best of all of them, but sadly it was riddled with reliability problems. The main reason I say the KZ1000 engine is better is that it uses far less rubber orings, far less oil leaks. Still many a leak on a KZ1000, but that 650 OMG. I'm sure some don't have problems, as in 650ED in particlar, but the oil leaks in general on a KZ650 are a major problem. I had the head off mine before it hit 10,000 miles to replace those oval orings, and at least 6 more times after that, and that is just one place they leak.
Not trying to say I don't still love all the old Kawasaki's, but I have a GL1800 Honda with 75,000 miles on it, and all I've done is maintenance. Not one problem. If I look back at the first 75,000 miles on the KZ650? Well probably upwards of 20 repairs here and there, No offense to anyone meant, just my own experience over the years.

I grabbed the 650 it for parts for my son's bike., the front master works, I almost have the complete brake system.
The engine is froze but the original engine screws are untouched I don't think it has ever been apart
Anyway she was a consolation prize

I spent a bit more for this one , probably one of the last 900 LTD's made, built on 4-77
Garage/barn kept it's whole life

bluej58 wrote: I spent a bit more for this one , probably one of the last 900 LTD's made, built on 4-77
Garage/barn kept it's whole life

A bit off topic, but is your picture really a KZ900 LTD? One strange thing about the 900 LTD was the way they mounted the rear master cylinder. It was tacked onto the rear-most frame triangle. The bike in your picture has the MC mount in the forward position used by the KZ1000.


Did Kawasaki stuff leftover 900 engines into the KZ1000 LTD frame at the end of the run?

1976 KZ900 LTD B



1978 KZ1000 B2

Good catch, yeah I know about the brake cylinder, the cat that sold it to me had a 76 that he restored and it has the exposed master cylinder.
This one was built on 4-77 and the jugs that came off it were 900cc, they must have started to use the newer frames but still had some 900 engines left to install.
The motor looks like it has never been out of the frame, all the screws holding the covers on are beautiful, i don't think the original clutch plates have ever been replaced


To get back on track, I really liked my 77 kz650 and never had any problem keeping up with most 900's back then.
When my son and I rebuilt a 78 650 for him a few years ago I was reminded just how peppy and agile they are.
My problem is that I am a big guy and like to haul a load from time to time, the 1000 better suits me.

Also when I get to highway speed the rpm's are lower and easier on the engine, the mpg's go down on a 650 running at 80mph

bluej58 wrote: This one was built on 4-77 and the jugs that came off it were 900cc,

I'm pretty confident that your frame is a 1977 KZ1000-B1 (LTD). Your frame number start with "KZT00B", the "T00" is for 1000. The KZ900 LTD frame numbers started with "KZ900B"

KZ900 LTD Info

KZ1000 LTD Info

What serial number is on your engine case?

As for the best "Kawa", that's a pretty wide open question. Even limited to air-cooled, or only KZ models, I still feel like it's hard to compare pre and post 1981 models. And since this is about the KZ650, the true KZ650 model was pretty much gone after 1980, even though the engine continued to grown and develop for years and years.

So limiting the question to 4-cycle Kawasaki street bikes made before 1981, I think there are only two models worth mentioning. The KZ650, and the Z1/900/1000. A few years ago I owned both a '79 KZ650B and a '78 KZ1000 Z1R. I no longer own the KZ650, but I have 4 KZ1000s. I guess that's my answer.

Don't get me wrong. The KZ650 is a great bike.
KZ650 Pros:

• It's a great city bike. The low speed handling is fantastic. My Z1R sucks. With my first KZ650 I got into the habit of coasting into a parking spot, pushing the side stand down, and resting the bike on the stand without ever touching the ground.
  
• The gear ratio spacing is perfect. Each shift puts the revs exactly in the right place. So much better than the 1000.
  
• It's smaller and lighter than the 1000.
  
• The styling is simple, modest, unassuming
  
• For a time they were dirt cheap. My first KZ650 was $75.

KZ650 cons:

• After I rode a 1000, the 650 felt slow
  
• The styling always struck me as the cute little brother of the Z1. It always failed to inspire me.
  
• I found it to be uncomfortable on the highway. Something about the shocks/springs/damping maybe? Too bouncy.

DOHC wrote: ................

I found it to be uncomfortable on the highway. Something about the shocks/springs/damping maybe? Too bouncy.
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The front forks on my KZ650-C1 have always worked fine. I replace the fork oil every 2 years; I use Bel Ray 15w fork oil.

However, the rear shocks were only marginal when the bike was new, and after a few thousand miles they were trash even though they looked good. Replacing them with quality shocks greatly improved the bike’s ride and handling. Ed