Best bang for buck mods for 81 KZ550?

My 550 already runs pretty good. Just wondering whats the best bang for the buck mods to really make as much power as possible with this bike.

Anyone running the Web Cam #86 in their 550's?

Web Cam

1981 GPz cams would be a better value.

Nessism wrote: 1981 GPz cams would be a better value.

If I can find some.

Wildman1024 wrote:

Nessism wrote: 1981 GPz cams would be a better value.

If I can find some.

Ebay. Less than $100 shipped for a set.

Nessism wrote:

Wildman1024 wrote:

Nessism wrote: 1981 GPz cams would be a better value.

If I can find some.

Ebay. Less than $100 shipped for a set.

Do you have a link cause I must have missed them.

If you start making more power, you will want a gpz oil pan so you can add an oil cooler.

Best bang for the buck using bolt-on parts, "to really make as much power as possible with this bike", would probably be a used gpz motor, though. A used 82 to 85 gpz motor will allow you to use the bigger CV carbs, and of course would already come with the cams, pistons, and oil cooler, (or at least the place to hook up the cooler) you would want. That's if you can find a deal on a motor. $200 tops for a decent one.

I would first make sure your current motor is tuned properly, and ride it, and just wait for the right motor to come your way. I've ended up getting entire gpz's for next to nothing, but just had to be patient.

Nessism wrote: 1981 GPz cams would be a better value.

IIRC the KZ heads aren't quite the same as the GPz heads. If that's the case, there would be some improvement but he wouldn't get the full benefit of the GPz cams without additional head work.

loudhvx wrote: If you start making more power, you will want a gpz oil pan so you can add an oil cooler.

Best bang for the buck using bolt-on parts, "to really make as much power as possible with this bike", would probably be a used gpz motor, though. A used 82 to 85 gpz motor will allow you to use the bigger CV carbs, and of course would already come with the cams, pistons, and oil cooler, (or at least the place to hook up the cooler) you would want. That's if you can find a deal on a motor. $200 tops for a decent one.

I would first make sure your current motor is tuned properly, and ride it, and just wait for the right motor to come your way. I've ended up getting entire gpz's for next to nothing, but just had to be patient.

Didn't the later year gpz550's make like 65hp? Does that motor still bolt right in?

Nerdy wrote:

Nessism wrote: 1981 GPz cams would be a better value.

IIRC the KZ heads aren't quite the same as the GPz heads. If that's the case, there would be some improvement but he wouldn't get the full benefit of the GPz cams without additional head work.

According to the OEM parts fishe the head is the same in 1981, thus the reason for my suggestion about the cams. Personally, I'd just leave the KZ engine alone though. We are talking about a 35 year old motorcycle that is running well. Just ride and save for a faster bike if that's what one wants. This approach would be different if the engine was in need of work though.

Wildman1024 wrote:

loudhvx wrote: Didn't the later year gpz550's make like 65hp? Does that motor still bolt right in?

Yes; 65 hp. See link below. Ed

www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/kawasaki/kawasaki_gpz550_83.htm

I never noticed any difference between the gpz head and a kz head, but maybe there is some porting done (that was the rumor according to magazine articles, but I don't give that much weight considering how much else they get wrong). Obviously, since the gpz and kz use the same carbs, the inlet of the intake ports have to be the same. Maybe Kawasaki ported the heads on the bike that was lent out for reviews (the kz came out 1 year before the gpz, so magazines would have been able to inspect/compare the gpz test bike against a showroom kz).

The Zx 550 motor uses the same Kz550D (81 gpz) cases. The motor mounts are different on the Zx. It has more rubber mounting, but I think the motor is compatible to a Kz frame. Either way, the 82/83 motor bolts in. That's what I have in one of my 81's.

But I am also of the opinion you should keep the bike with the good motor in it. Once you change the motor, you will want the gpz brakes/wheels.

If your bike is running perfectly, I (like Nessism said) would leave it in tact. Just look for a hashed out project bike to play with. There are always plenty of bobbed/chopped incomplete bikes on craigslist for cheap. It would be great to see a chopped up Ltd become a decent gpz replica.