TOPIC:

Apologies if this is in the wrong location.  So being new to vintage bikes etc...I'm just curious about mileage per tank.  My '79 KZ 650 which is 100% factory stock, recently (professionally) tuned up and just got it on the road a few weeks ago (new plugs, wires, ign coils, carbs set, new fuel filter, new chain/sprockets) and is running very very well.  My question is; is ~180km to a tank what is to be expected for mileage range?  That would be very standard (as in not pinned and hard riding) 60/40 highway/city cruising.  I have read people are getting 200-250km/tank and that's on bikes with pipes, pods and other modifications.  In any event, I was just curious if this is typical for these bikes.  I know mileage varies given conditions etc...but I just feel like what I'm getting is on the lower side. 

40-45 miles per UK  gallon. 

Very nice clean looking bike!

There is a lot of variation in tank sizes, so best to talk in miles per gallon or liters per 100 km.  My Z1 gets about 50 to 60 miles per imperial gallon.  My KZ1000 gets about 40.    I would say you should be doing better than 180 km per tank.  Have you looked at your plugs lately?  Maybe you're running rich?  Are your carbs original to the bike, with the same internals?  

Thanks.  That would indicate I am def getting below the average if I'm barely squeezing 180km out of a tank...

The plugs are brand new, the bike was just fully tuned up less than 2 weeks ago.  It runs amazingly well, I'm quite surprised actually at how good it runs, pulls, handles etc (this is my first old bike like this). To my knowledge the carbs and internals are all original, however I cannot say that with certainty (however I did buy the bike off the ORIGINAL owner who told me he never modified a thing in 43 years), I will have to call the shop where I had it to ask them if they noticed anything, but they didn't do any carb work as far as replace anything.  

wrote:

Thanks.  That would indicate I am def getting below the average if I'm barely squeezing 180km out of a tank...

That depends on which model you have. The different 650 models had different size tanks. For example, the LTD and CSR models tend to have rather small capacity tanks, while the other modes usually have significantly larger ones.

The original owners manual that came with it says; 1979 KAWASAKI KZ650 C3 

It should also list the fuel tank capacity. I would double check to be sure you have a C3.

in the event the manual is not correct to the bike, is there any other way to verify the actual model?  Is it stamped anywhere on the bike itself by chance?  

Yes. Look at the frame number. It is stamped on the headstock. That is a vertical tube just behind the headlight assembly that the steering  stem goes through. There should be a white decal beside the stamped number that has the frame number and date of manufacture on it.

You should be able to find it on this list.   www.kzrider.com/filebase?task=download.s...id=1178&catid=64&m=0

Oh, carp.

I am missing the 1978 and 1979 KZ 650 numbers, so I guess you can ignore the list. The frame number should begin with KZ650CXXXXXXXX.
 

Thanks, based on that info it is 100% a 650 C.