Airbox ducts/boots

I recently purchased an 81 kz1100 and having issues getting ducts/boots back on the airbox. I have three out of four on and they are not "good" fits and will certainly leak air as they are not lined up and dont touch in some areas. I've tried to snug them up to the back of the carbs with hose clamps but so far not soo good. I've cracked the fourth trying to get it in and seem impossible to soften them up (been soaking for a week).

I've looked up these on ebay and they seem to go for an arm and a leg , anyone have any suggestions? I've thought about going to home depot or auto zone and finding some tubing and making my own.

Z1Enterprises.com has them for about $89 (set of 4), but they are out of stock. Assuming you have you KZ1100-A1 Shaft.
Partzilla lists them as well, at a discount off the Kawasaki dealer price, but I would contact them to make sure they actually have them.

1981 KZ1100-A1 Shaft >> DUCT,AIR FILTER,OUTLET>> 14073-1055

Just saw that , and sold out.

what about just putting pods on instead of using the airbox?

Warm them up with a hair drier and keep them warm whilst fitting.

jeremyk855 wrote: Just saw that , and sold out.

what about just putting pods on instead of using the airbox?

You will become either a jetting expert or a raving lunatic. Ok, maybe both. There are a billion threads about this. The short version is that it is really difficult to get the early cv carbs to run at all well with individual filters. With a great deal of fiddling, it may run almost as good as with the factory set up. Expensive new boots will suddenly seem like the bargain of the century.