KZ550 A3 MODS

Hello all, I have a kz550 A3. Performance wise it is all stock. I would like to do some mods to make it faster. What performance mods are available for this model? I think I want to stick with the stock air box to avoid re-jetting. However if re-jetting could gain some substantial power than I would consider both mods. Also was thinking about the 4 to 1 exhaust. Does this change the sound of the bike and performance? Other than that I don't know what can be done to squeeze out a little more power. How about drilling a few holes in the baffles? Does this make the bike sound any tougher or does it just kill back-pressure? Thanks guys!

nobody?

mseems wrote:

nobody?

Tell me the year and I will check it out for you??????

Any good mods (pistons, cams, pipe, etc.) will require rejetting the carbs. A 4 into 1 pipe will give you better performance and a better sound.(and may require a jetting change even with the stock air box)

Okay, I see that you have an 82.
Wiseco has the 615cc kit, 61mm (3mm oversize, stock 58mm) #4185m06100
Camshafts can be found at:
megacycle cams (page 42) and web camshafts
Exhaust pipes - MAC

There is still alot of stuff on the market, for the 550.

mseems. I have an A1.and offer these. Pods and 4-into ones yeild little, mostly re-arrange where power is made. If exhaust is in fair to good cond,DON"T DRILL!! your' stock exhaust could be worth more than the bike. moderate gains in the day were to add Kehin carbs., True gains were with Moriwaki heads/cams, tho I haven't seen any in 20+ years. If your'e in the horsepower hunt, start with a bigger gun. the 550 is a great little bike, lite,nimble,and pretty.it's 6 speed allows it to keep pace all day. but will never be a powerhouse. my 2 cents g

Compression test.

Valve clearances to specs.

Combustion in all cylinders confirmed by waterspraying hot headers.

Visual confirmation of fat blue spark on plugs.

Correct sparkplugs, properly gapped.

Clean air filter, and unblocked by anything stored underneath the seat such as shop rag, gloves, etc.

Fuel starvation issue from whatever reason.

Floatbowl fuel level.

Loose sparkplug.

Leakdown test.

Oil level or viscosity too high.

Just some thoughts regarding possibile power leeches, because properly performing KZ550 is no slouch.

Good Luck!

Thanks for the info guys. I don't think my bike is running quite right. My compression is about 150 on all cylinders. I check the head pipes every time I start it because it takes longer for the 2 cylinders on the left to warm up. Sometimes I have to ride it around the block before they heat up. Bike fires up and runs good. Doesn't seem like it looses power, more like it chokes from too much gas when I twist the grip. It only does it from a stop. Have to give it alot of gas to get it going and keep from killing it. Then it runs fast i guess, till I stop again. Don't really have much to compare it to. Can't really get the front wheel off the ground because of this problem and the fork seals are gone. Should a KZ be able to pop up the front wheel pretty easily? If so mine is definitely a turd.
Last time I checked I had good spark on all four. Think I used NGK and I gapped them according to my manual. Also got a new air filter and nothing is under the seat. I'm looking to get some carb rebuild kits and a new petcock to try and get some power back. Yo we gotta take the power back! Any thoughts on that?

Compression test alone is not enough. Should also verify valve clearances being to specs, and would do so before further addressing carbs.

Good Luck!

how hard is to check valve clearances? Do you know a link to a step by step?

mseems wrote:

how hard is to check valve clearances? Do you know a link to a step by step?

Type in valve adjusting in the "search box"

mseems wrote:

how hard is to check valve clearances? Do you know a link to a step by step?

After removing valve cover, easy to "check" with feeler gauge between base of cam lobe and bucket. More difficult to "adjust" where replacing shims becomes necessary.

But perhaps the clearances are okay as is with no adjustments being needed. Whereby valve clearances may then be ruled out as a possible issue underlying the lack of power.

Good Luck!

Cool. Just found a link by wiredgeorge. Thanks