LTD vs NON LTD

Im looking at buying a 77-79 KZ1000. Cant afford the KZ900.

Whats the difference between LTD and non LTD?

Styling. for the most part.

Just a few styling parts, pull back bars, stepped seat short front fender, larger grab handle, smaller tank, fatter rear wheel. top one is of my ltd with the bars changed, grab rail changed and seat, and naturally different paint, second is of my old A2 with a Z1b style paint job

Nice bikes!
What size tire is on the back of that LTD?

My big problem with the LTD is the smaller tank and I really like the look of spoke tires.
Having said that, I have a build project brewing and it will have all the suspension off a 77 LTD but no small tank and I'm ditching the pull backs

650Dude wrote: Im looking at buying a 77-79 KZ1000. Cant afford the KZ900.

Whats the difference between LTD and non LTD?

The engine and frame are nearly identical between the standard "A" model and LTD . The wheels, tank, bars, and seat are all different. The LTD was styled to compete with Harley Davidson. The one frame difference I know of is the passenger foot peg mounting. The 77-78 standard "A" model had a stamped piece. The LTD had a tube triangle.

Also note that the engine changed between the 77-78 and the 79-80. But for a given year, the "A" and LTD got the same engine. The 79-80 got the MkII engine, which has a number of small changes/refinements (cases, head, engine covers, etc).

The LTD specific parts stayed pretty much the same from 77 to 80 (KZ1000B1, B2, B3, B4).

• cast wheels, 19" front 16" (3" wide) rear
  
• dual front disks
  
• deeply stepped seat
  
• smaller tank
  
• tall handlebars
  
• front signals mounted on bars
  
• different exhaust, different rear brake caliper, etc...

The 77-78 (A1, A2, A2A)

• spoke wheels, 19" front 18" rear
  
• single front disk
  
• flat seat
  
• larger tank
  
• less tall handlebars
  
• front signals mounted to headlight bucket
  
• exhaust, rear brake, etc....

The 79-80 MkII (KZ1000A3, A4)

• All new MkII bodywork (tank, seat, side covers, tail, fender, etc).
  
• cast wheels, 19" front 18" rear
  
• slightly stepped seat
  
• dual front disks
  
• insulated brake pistons with metallic pads
  
• drilled rotors

Also the LTD used the 1978 spec engine with points ect in 1979, where the rest of the KZ1000 line got electronic ignition with the Mach II engine. The LTD was always the least desirable model in my opinion.