tell me about the 440

I'm going to look at a cheapish 440 next week. I've had a 305 for 8 years so I think I can evaluate it fairly well, but are there things I should know and look for that might be different on a 440? My first concern was carb boots, which are pretty much unavailable for the 305 anymore but a quick search shows there are some for the 440. I presume that's because they made or sold a lot more 440s, so parts should be generally more available than was the case for my dead 305.

You are correct: parts are available just about everywhere and they're inexpensive. I picked up a basket case (complete) 1981 KZ440B, with two new IRC tires, for $100 and a 1981 440 LTD (complete, with clear title) for $200.

Are you looking at the standard or the cruiser (LTD)? I'm thinking an LTD since you asked in another thread about mag wheels.

Either way, from 1981 you should have electronic ignition rather than points. I had a '79 KZ400 with points, but I'm not sure exactly how things went in 1980. The carb boots can be an issue: I got the 440 LTD so cheaply partially because the PO grew tired of applying silicone to the boots to stop an intake leak. (He used a LOT.) I'm replacing the stock carbs with Mikuni VM30s and new boots so I wasn't worried about the leak or about the state of the carbs themselves.

If it has the belt drive, which I suspect it does since you asked about that in another thread as well , you have a few options:

- Use the existing belt (probably not recommended)
- Try to find an OEM type belt that's under 10 years old (good luck)
- Find an equivalent snowmobile belt (have read about people doing this but have no details)
- Convert to chain and sprockets (probably your best bet)

The 440 LTD I picked up is a project bike. The original tank is being replaced with a tank from an '81 GPz550: it fits on the existing mounts and sits low enough not to interfere with bars or the clamps. (I do not like the teardrop cruiser tank.) I had to trim the stock seat pan and foam about 1.5" at the front to make it play nice but it works. The stock foam is being trimmed into a bum-stop style seat so a little off the front wasn't a big deal.

This bike will receive the same updates as the '79 400: new incandescent turn signals and an LED tail/brake light/license plate holder. The aftermarket signals are much brighter than stock, and much smaller, and don't require a new flasher or other workaround to get the flash rate right.

good luck!

EDIT: Forgot that a B followed by a ) is rendered as

I don't know for sure if its an LTD or not. In fact I wasn't 100% certain there was a 440 LTD. I'd prefer the standard but I'll take either. Unfortunately the person with it isn't very communicative, so maybe I won't get to see it after all. I know I wont get it as cheaply as you got yours!

I have no problem converting it to belt except I read that the chain will rub on the guard bracket necessitating its removal (or living with the rub) and both ideas bother me. www.kzrider.com/forum/5-chassis/408874-8...drive-transformation
That did not happen when I converted my 305, and as my avatar shows I did not need to remove the guard.

My 82 305 has points.

To clarify, with the 440s you should have electronic ignition from 1981 onward.

I don't have production numbers, but see a lot more 440 LTDs for sale than 440Bs.

If you do get the LTD, you could replace the bars with something with less pullback and probably have a better riding position. The LTD seat will still be the cruiser style king-and-queen but that can be replaced.

Maybe the biggest functional difference between the LTD and the B is the part of the frame where the seat is. The LTD has a dip or a shallow V in that part while the B has straight horizontal frame tubes.

The LTD also has a smaller rear wheel than the B - 16" vs 18".

Well foo it all, I checked it out but wasted an hour driving there to find out he wouldn't let me test ride it. I'll wait a few weeks and see if he will take half of what he was asking, then I might risk it.

Next!