KZ650 Performance Question - Where's my power?

Deacon: Just take a non-coated (rough, not smooth) business card from your favourite insurance salesman, put the 2-3 points set on the low part of the cam (points closed) and then gently lift the points open a bit. Insert the business card and let the points close on it on an area where there is NO printing ink, etc. Pull the card out of the points and check it for black grunge. If you've got grunge on the card, reinsert a CLEAN part of the card between the points and repeat this process until the card comes out clean. You MAY have a pice of crap caught between the points preventing them from closing and thus stopping your sparks.
My .02 worth....

I'll give it a try Rick, thanks. Hope it works, I want at least on crack on the bike before I put it away for winter.

Tach it up baby!!! I frequently bounce mine off 10,500 and have caught myself hitting 11K when I really was pushing the bike. I know that peak power is supposed to be 8500 rpm, but with the bigger carbs on mine she never stops pulling. Once you get used to the sound of those high rpms you'll never go back!

Just wanted to thank everyone for responding to my thread and getting me to twist that throttle (or as anarki says 'Tach it up baby!' going to have to get a shirt with that on it). I just came back for a short run and finally felt some of it's power. WOOHOO!!!!

I wasn't able to totally open it up due to traffic, but I did give it a good run. In fact I probably only got it up to 7 grand. Felt amazing! I'm now addicted. Not used to having to hang on. Sounds nice too. Just pissed that I'm now getting it as the season is pretty much over. Hopefully this weekend is nice and I can get out to try it more.

Thanks again to everyone.

Way to go deacon! Next time find an open stretch of road and try 9-9500 rpm's and do it through 1,2,3 gear. You'll be pulling over for a ciggy after that with a s**t eating grin on your face!! 650's really are little rocket ships!!:laugh:

When I was younger my 900 was down for a few weeks and I borrowed my dad's friends 650. I was so disappointed with the 650 after riding the 900. My suggestion would be get a 900 or 1000.

wouldn't call a 650 a rocket ship, my brothers nsr250mc28 runs rings round it and will esay outdrag it.
might of been quick when it was new but that was 30 years ago.
dont get me wrong i really enjoy riding my 77z650 but if i wanted a quick bike i would not of brought a 30year old z.
hell even my full power cagiva mito 125 was quicker than my z650

It's not that I want more power, its just that my bike didn't seem to be very fast at all. And by looking at the numbers I was afraid something may be wrong with it that I have been overlooking. 99% of the time I'm just putting around town or cruising around the coastline anyway, but at least now I know where the bikes power is when I want it.

So, Deacon, you've got all 4 cylinders firing now, I assume.
What was the fix for your 2 missing cylinders ???
I'm curious.....

Yes, they are all firing, at least off the choke (while on the choke is a different matter). As for a fix I'm not 100% sure. I went through all the ignition wiring and connections and made sure everything was tight. I believe it was a loose bullet connection.

Yeap, Deacon, a loose wire WILL do that to you, for sure. Glad it's all fixed and firing on all four. Now you're ready to rip up the Rock.

Still good riding weather here on the Rock, so I was able to get out this morning for a run. Had a few chances to open her up and found a large flat spot between 5000 - 7000. Does this indicate that the main jet is too small? Carb needle need to be reclipped? Ignition problems?

It took forever to get through this flat spot too.