1976 KZ900

Hello,

I live in Connecticut and am looking for a mechanic I can trust. I recently received a 1976 KZ900 with 5,400 original miles. The bike has been covered in a garage for the last 30 year.

Can anyone give me the estimated value of this bike? Does anyone have a referral for a mechanic?

I have the original seat and headers/exhaust too.

Thanks in advance!

johnblaze516 wrote: Hello,

I live in Connecticut and am looking for a mechanic I can trust. I recently received a 1976 KZ900 with 5,400 original miles. The bike has been covered in a garage for the last 30 year.

Can anyone give me the estimated value of this bike? Does anyone have a referral for a mechanic?

I have the original seat and headers/exhaust too.

Thanks in advance!

A mechanic in CT or the Tri-State area? There are a few here in NYC.

Value is anywhere from $5k to about $9k on the books.

I was really trying to be close to home as possible because I would like a working relationship. I am in Fairfield County.

Nice ride .

Bring that right to my house . Ill get it back to you just in time for winter . Just kidding nice score .

Have you thought about doing the work yourself . We could easily talk you threw it . There's lots of help here . You defiantly came to the right place .

Welcome to the site .

We eat,sleep and dream about kzs around here

Great Score! Please burn that seat! Put original on. How about a picture of the other side, to see the header.
You might have a rare DENCO 4 into 1 pipe. Sell the Denco pipe to me, and put on the original exhaust. That's if it's the 4 pipes.
Today's old bikes are all about original!
Good Luck

z1kzonly wrote: Great Score! Please burn that seat! Put original on.........

Agree! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: Ed

Re: the mechanic search you started in a good spot with the forum. I'd recommend checking in with the VJMC rep for your area as well.

vjmc.org

A formal appraisal would need to be done to establish the value of the bike and the person would have to be knowledgeable about these bikes. It appears and sounds like you have most, maybe even all of the original parts. If your question is about insurance value, I'd tell them $10K. (I'm talking insurance value, not market value) If you buy an agreed value policy for a vintage bike it really shouldn't cost you much at all. Those often come with an annual mileage limit, so how you intend to use the bike may increase the price of your insurance.

"What can I sell it for?" and "what is it worth?" are two different things. If you have the time to be patient, you present the bike well to the right audience you will likely get a higher price. Also a bike that is running and running properly is worth a great deal more. It is a rare piece and there is always someone out there with more money than brains that will through crazy money at a high quality all original bike. Connecting to them, when they are in the mood for an inspiration buy is the hard part. A well documented all original bike at a vintage bike auction increases the likelihood you find the guy I referenced or a serious collector. Or if you have two of either one of those guys in the auction house that want it you will ring the bell. Loads of ifs and buts in that paragraph. If you need or want to sell it fast there is downward price pressure. The time of year affects the value for those buyers that are not collectors. Your location makes a difference. There are several guys here that specialize in KZ900's so they can give you a better sense of the range of market values for your bike as well as what the proper pieces are/aren't for your specific year.

Kelly Blue Book and the NADA guide are two places to start.

Track similar bikes on fleabay for a while.

We have our six Z1's insured with Hagerty Insurance. Check their valuation tool:
www.hagerty.com/valuationtools

Can't really suggest a mechanic, but let us say this; Don't cheap out on a mechanic! There are far too many friend of a cousin who knows a guy who flips burgers and he's buddies with the janitor who also works on bikes sometimes. Few if any dealers will touch a bike that old. If you must let someone else work on it, find an independent shop that doesn't specialize in Harley's. Ask around at bike nights where vintage Japanese bikes are common. There's lots of one-and-two man shops where the guys are often retired, know their stuff and do it for the love of bikes.

Looks like you've got a very nice cream puff there. If you're mechanically inclined at all, it would likely be very rewarding and educational if you were to return that 900 to a roadworthy state yourself. Vintage bikes aren't like the new stuff that's computerized, fuel injected and basically just work, appliance-like. These old bikes need us. The satisfaction, sense of accomplishment and pride of ownership are all part of life with a vintage bike that needs you to minister to its demands.

There's lots of assistance available here and on other forums if you choose to service this bike yourself. You'll be glad you did.

Good Ridin'
slmjim & Z1BEBE

Too bad your not in western New York!
I do part time work for $25 an hour cash on the barrel head. Working these since 1976.

Value of course depends on condition and originality. Prices for kz900 all over the board $3500 up to $7500

I just sold this one for $4500 and it was pretty darn nice. Ran perfect

Wow, prices here on the front range of Colorado must be very inflated. The bike you show Greg would go for at least $6K here. Especially now on the cusp of Spring. I spent some time surfing Hagerty last night, and my first thought for all of them was 'these prices are low'. I just sold an 82 GPz750 that was at the lower half of good, needed tires for $1,800 in Feb. I cleaned it up, did the basic maintenance, tuned it including ultrasonic clean, rebuild and vacuum sync the carbs. Sold in a week, first guy bought it and was thrilled to have it at that price. He was giggling. I've had multiple similar experiences over the past three years. One guy even asked me why I wasn't asking more.
Hagerty showed a 1980 KZ1000 Z1 Classic in Concours condition was $2K. That was a love it or hate it disco bike that often came with fuel injection issues, but seriously? I'm not confused about asking versus sales price.

It does have the DENCO 4 into 1.