KZ1000 valve cover gasket question

if replacing a leaky VCG, is it worth it to go with an OEM Genuine Kawasaki part ? or is a $20 aftermarket online part ok to use ?

(because my local Kaw dealer can get a genuine gasket for $70)

I would go aftermarket. Is it the main valve gasket?

roy-b-boy-b wrote: I would go aftermarket. Is it the main valve gasket?

yes,I am referring to the main valve cover gasket.

Here's a genuine one for $35.00. Ed
www.nwvintagecycleparts.com/search-resul...arch.x=9&search.y=10

Aftermarket works fine.
WITH NO SEALER .
I rub on a VERY VERY thin coat of wheel bearing grease on both sides.
Makes the gasket swell just enough to fill any scratches from scraping old gaskets off.
And makes it reusable many times with just a touch more grease.

My last one lasted over 20 years LEAK FREE .
Until I stepped on it on the garage floor.

Mike

If you have a 1980, be sure and get the correct gasket for the year. A 1978 gasket will not work. Maybe things are better now, but my personal experience with aftermarket gaskets is they never fit correctly. Yes they work sometimes, sometimes not, and I would not be a bit surprised if they pawned off the same gasket as fitting all years 1973-1980 which is wrong.
I always had a feeling aftermarket gaskets were made wrong on purpose as to not violate some patent or similar the original manufacturer used to form a correct shape gasket as all aftermarket gaskets I've ever tried regardless of the brand always fit the same way, and that means 1/4" of paper hanging out here, 1/8" there, maybe 1/2" another place, so it took trimming unless a guy wants to ride around looking like he doesn't care $0.02 about how thing fit. Surely they could make a gasket fit if they wanted to, but they don't. Reasons unknown to me, but buy the original it will fit, the aftermarket? Depends how you define fit. They don't fit in my opinion.