Desperate for 78 kz650 rings!!!!!!

I have a beautiful 1978 KZ650 that has a .50mm overbore and it needs new rings. AND I CAN'T FIND THEM! I've look on every motorcycle parts site on the web. I cant find anything. I would even be happy with used stock pistons and rings because I have a nice set of stock jugs. I've been lurking around Ebay but I haven't found anything yet. Has anyone ever had custom rings made?

This shouldn't be that hard of a problem to solve. is the kz650 piston and ring that rare. Are there any substitutes? Any pistons from new models that have the same pin height and diameter?

Any help would be great.
Matt-

I too am in need of .25 oversize pistons and rings. I dont want to pay the arm an leg prices for what the shops want! Good luck on your search.

Yeah they are hard to find, and when you do.... prepare to pay :pinch:

It was a factor when I decided on a Wiseco overbore kit. They are 2 mm oversize which is about .080" oversize. Or you can even go to an 810cc if you want to put some more work into it.

The other thing to do is replace your cylinders and go back to std. pistons. Cylinder banks are around $50 and somtimes you even get pistons too for that price. You still need oem rings which are easier to find but still not so cheap.


One more thing, if you want to try that route I have some std. pistons with rings and cylinders that are in good shape thet still clearly show honing marks from the last teardown. Send me a pm if you want some pics.

Kawasaki.com still shows your std rings (13008-059) as active = available. Order them through www.z1enterprises.com for a better price than through a kawasaki dealer...but they are still rather expensive.

They are still available for about $51 per one set $204 for the 4 WOW. :blink: :ohmy:

You can get the entire Wiseco 700 kit for that bike for about $580

otakar wrote:

They are still available for about $51 per one set $204 for the 4 WOW. :blink: :ohmy:

Not really that steep considering everything that goes on a motorcycle is about 3X what it's worth (like shocks and tires). What's wierd is there are OEM piston/ring sets in all overbore sizes available for the twins at very cheap prices. makes no sense because there are a lot more of the fours around, seems like they would supply parts for them in greater quantity.

bountyhunter wrote:

otakar wrote:

They are still available for about $51 per one set $204 for the 4 WOW. :blink: :ohmy:

Not really that steep considering everything that goes on a motorcycle is about 3X what it's worth (like shocks and tires).

You can get the same rings threw Hastings for a 750 and 900 (66.5 bore) for half of that price RETAIL. Unfortunately Hastings has no rings for the 62.5 MM bores. Even the 700 rings are available threw Hastings in the 64mm size.

Thanks for all the helpful hints guys. I wound up buying a set of pistons (with rings... only 16k on them) and I already have a stock set of jugs. So I'll be ready to put it all back together once they arrive.

It is bothersome that the great Kawasaki doesn't support its older bikes... the bikes that made kawasaki what they are. Honda still supports its old CB line. I'm a huge Kawi fan and I hate that I can't get something as simple as rings for this great old bike.

Well my next Kawi will only be a KZ1000. From what I understand its like the small block Chevy of inline four's... parts are everywhere!

I'll post up when I put her back together.

Thanks, Matt-

You have to realize that the powersport division of Kawasaki is only an afterthought to the Kawasaki corporate picture. Kawasaki started by making train engines at the begining of the last Century and makes everything from Trains, to Bridges, Fighter jets and supertankers. Unlike honda which relys on cars and motorcycles to be in business.

Oh- I forgot, Kawasaki also makes over-road trucks and builds skyscrapers. :blush: I may be wrong but I believe they own or have something to do with Nissan Motors.

zeiss150 wrote: "It is bothersome that the great Kawasaki doesn't support its older bikes..."

Holy cow (Kaw)! I have found that it is surprising that Kawasaki offers so many parts for old bikes. Obviously, not all parts, as they must have produced a zillion different models since my 1977 was built. Still, the fact that they offer some is a blessing. If you try to buy parts for some cars that are just a few years old you would be shocked at how little support there is from car manufacturers. I needed a couple things for my '89 Allante while it was still under warranty (it was only 3 - 4 years old at the time) and they were no longer available, so I had to modify parts from a later year model that were provided by the dealer under the warranty. By the time my Allante is, like my bike, 32 years old GM (if still in existance) will probably not remember ever building that model. Ed