stock '73-'74 z1 seat will go on my '78 kz1000-A2?

Bought a '73-'74 Z1 stock seat.
And I have a 1978 kz1000 A2 standard model (not LTD).

Well, it *kinda* fits -- except the seat latch!

This z1 seat I have just has a little 'nipple' that I suspect was the old-style seat latch on the older Z1 bikes.

This little arrow-shaped metal nipple is a machine-thread bolt at the end where it screws into the stock metal Z1 seat pan.

So I'll just unscrew it so my seat will close correctly, flush onto my 1978 kz1000 A2.

But -- has anyone installed a later-model 1977 or 1978 (believe those 2 years have the same seat latch!)
seat latch on an older '73-'74 Z1-900 seat pan?

Otherwise, I reckon I'll be like a cowboy on a bucking bronco, going down the road there, buckin-an-a-bronc'in,
as I hit some road ripples up come the seat flibbity flobbity.

Ceptin I aint no cowboy, hows I'm gonna get me a '77-'78 seat latch on this here Z1 seat pan...?

My neighbor did this swap on his 77 kz 1000 std, he swapped the kz 1000 lock mechanisin on the frame for a Z1 900 type one, he got his from a scrap yard and had a locksmith make him the key. Im pretty sure Z1 Enterprises has the Z1 seat locks but i don't know if you can buy them sepratly. Or you clould keep your eyes out on e-bay.

newOld_kz1000 wrote:

This z1 seat I have just has a little 'nipple' that I suspect was the old-style seat latch on the older Z1 bikes.

I would be interested in buying the nipple latch if you decide you will not be using it.

i have mounted up early seats on late model 'late model seats on early bikes i dont bother with the latches you would have to be on some really rough road or be a real feather weight to be affected that way by the bumps.and it's easier to get to the battery this as a side benifit.

Okay, still working on this flibbity flobbity situation I have here -- a seat that has a flibbity-flobbity flapping behavior, on a 31-year-old antique, with oh bout 90 hp, on various roads of questionable maintenance and passability (California has a bit of a budget problem, the roads, well, put it this way, a big chunk of metal span of the Bay Bridge fell down the other day onto rush hour traffic and the Bay Bridge was closed for a couple days...)

-- this is a not-too-comforting feeling for 50-year-old shigga-doo type of individual such as m'self.

I reckon a big concern would be 'style points', as in, a bunch of youngsters passing by and pointing and laughing 'hey look at the old man with a flibbity-flobbity seat', then there's me, a source of ridicule and laughter. Despicable.

So I will, with encouragement from you folks, seek out a modern '77-'78 seat hook to attach to my old seat pan...this is a work in progress.

I'm sorry for putting this in 'Electrical', meant for it to go in 'Chassis'

how did you ever make out with the seat problem?

I set it aside for now. I had other issues come up on this machine: valve adjustment and finding shims at a *reasonable* price, back brake master cylinder piston is stuck in its bore (not the *caliper* piston, the piston that sets in a cylindrical bore adjacent the master cylinder on the rear brake).

I still need a keyed latch with the key for the kz1000 as I have no latching mechanism. Once I acquire a seat latch with key, I will install that, then the next step I reckon will be to locate/acquire a hoop-style hook from a 77-78 kz1000, line it up with the latch mechanism then bolt it on to the seat pan...

Nearly every bike i own has the seat lock removed. Too much hassle.

If you own a true Z1 seat pan it would bring you some good money if it is in good shape. Roy

roy-b-boy-b wrote:

Nearly every bike i own has the seat lock removed. Too much hassle.

If you own a true Z1 seat pan it would bring you some good money if it is in good shape. Roy

PM me if you want to sell the Z1 pan.

Jack wrote:

roy-b-boy-b wrote:

Nearly every bike i own has the seat lock removed. Too much hassle.

If you own a true Z1 seat pan it would bring you some good money if it is in good shape. Roy

PM me if you want to sell the Z1 pan.

Well I bought a Z1 seat with good pad and good no-rips original-and-used cover, it was not in NOS condition but no tears for $55, and as I am doing a 'vagabond restoration' on this kz1000 '78 that one hurt, $55 for a seat on a free bike kinda hurt, and yet as you say I see z1 seats going for $150, $200 on rapebay. I would certainly sell it but I cannot bring myself to pay $200 for a seat for free bike. I can tolerate the 'broken in' look of this one. Would otherwise love to help, and sorry I can't at this time.

A Z1 seat pan will fit 73-75 tailpieces only. The tailpiece changed in 76 with the KZ 900.

Jack wrote:

A Z1 seat pan will fit 73-75 tailpieces only. The tailpiece changed in 76 with the KZ 900.

Must be a 76 kz900 pan then? It has a little missile on the underside of the pan that is not shown on my '77-'78 parts list. The seat latch (which I'm still working on) for the '78 bike does not use the shiny missile appendage. It uses a hook.

Although the pan fits fine on the hinges on my '78, after your '73-'75 comment I'm a bit concerned as to fitment on it -- it clears the rear tailpiece (I think, leastways I have been riding it fine) but I'm going to double-look it over. I couldn't find a '77 or '78 standard model 'vagabond restoration grade' seat for any reasonable deal so I bought the older one. The vinyl pattern looks like a Z1 pattern, coulda been changed I reckon.