which year KZ engine is the best to have?

Hi, I am new to KZ. May I ask here that:
If I am looking for a KZ, which year KZ should be the best to having and the engine is more potential to mod up for more power?
AL

As far as I know, all the 4's are great and easily modded with success. Its just a question of what kind of power you want.

what cc do you want to build to?

Hi,
What means 4's? I hope a good streetable bike!
I want the cc between 1100 to 1200cc with stock block.
Dose 77 KZ1000 is good?
Or a 79 Z1R?
I see in japan have a lot called Mark II Z1000. Are these als good?

I'll insert my personal opinion on the 1000s. The 79-80 is the strongest, best KZ1000 engine. This includes the MKII and shaft, 1980 only on the LTD and Z1R. The 77-79 LTD and 77-78 KZ1000s and 78 Z1R were second best, the 81-up J coming in last. Yes the J was the fastest, but also the most fragile and weakest of the KZ1000 line in the real world.

Different models/motors have advantages and disadvantages to them. Are you going to dragrace it? Only street? What style riding you plan to do? How much you willing to spend on your project? What kind of pwer you looking for? Lots of bottom end...high HP at any cost? With all the posiblities, there will be as many opinions as there are ways to build and which bike to use. Really boils down to what model you have and working with that bike and it's advantages/disadvantages. Early Z's frames aren't as strong as the later 70's frames. Later 70's motors are stronger but use heavier components in areas and don't rev as fast. Most of the motor parts interchange and most of the body parts/ frames/ etc. can be changed around. If this is going to be mainly a streetbike, just find one in good shape to start with and build around what it has and what you want to end up with. Do you have a particular style you like...as in Z1 or Z1R or MK11 or GPZ look? Take a look at the bikes in the Gallery and see if any grabs your attention and then go from there. Lots of way to go and only you can decide what look of bike gets you there. They are all good bikes to work with and as you can see, we all have our favorites.Find you style/look and build your motor.

my race bike has a gpz head, aftermarket block, the crank has a mk11 center pin, j-rods the trans mission was built up from three different units,the clutch is from a 1975 zi-b and the cases are from a 1978 kz1000. enough said

cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ZMotorcyclesQQ_fviZ1

Item no. 140266704780 in ebay at US$2700

Dose this one a good indication price at this condition of 1977 KZ1000?

Looks good to me. Some might call it high, but I've seen much worse bikes for more.

RonKZ650 wrote:

I'll insert my personal opinion on the 1000s. The 79-80 is the strongest, best KZ1000 engine. This includes the MKII and shaft, 1980 only on the LTD and Z1R. The 77-79 LTD and 77-78 KZ1000s and 78 Z1R were second best, the 81-up J coming in last. Yes the J was the fastest, but also the most fragile and weakest of the KZ1000 line in the real world.

I agree with Ron about the 79-80 shaft motors. They seem to have the thickest castings and more "ribs" in the lower case. You just need to convert them to chain drive and you can go as big as you want. Or you can just a set of these and make all the power you can afford.

RonKZ650 wrote:

I'll insert my personal opinion on the 1000s. The 79-80 is the strongest, best KZ1000 engine. This includes the MKII and shaft, 1980 only on the LTD and Z1R. The 77-79 LTD and 77-78 KZ1000s and 78 Z1R were second best, the 81-up J coming in last. Yes the J was the fastest, but also the most fragile and weakest of the KZ1000 line in the real world.

Ron what about the J is fragile? I have an 82 KZ1000ltd and would like to know.

theres nothing wrong with any of them including the j-motor,itjust depends onwhat you have to workwith and what you want to spend.remember the best motor is worthless without a good chassis!