Obscure 77 kz1000 Tach Question.

So I drove to Montana from Vancouver BC on the Labour Day weekend to pick up a 77 kz1000. I took some pictures to show an acquaintance who knows a bit about 77 kz1000's. He noted that the tach on my bike has a redline of 9000 rpm. He says that the 1000's have a redline of 8500 rpm.

Th build date on my bike is 09/76, and the serial # is KZT00A-005231. I'm reasonably certain that the tach is original, and not a replacement from a kz900.

Any thoughts from anyone?

Thanks in advance,

Ross

I am not an expert(several here come close) but I believe only the KZ-1000LTD model had the 8500rpm tach. The KZ1000 had the 9000 rpm tach. I am sure someone else will chime in with the info you need.

78 had a 9000rpm red line,dont have a 77 handy to look at though.guessing probably the same as 78

Just wondering why only the LTD would have 8500 rpm redline and the kz 9000?

Different overall gear ratio on the LTD cruisers.

4.64(KZ/LTD) vs. 4.92(KZ)

I just checked and the '77KZ ratio was the same as the '79LTD(the ones I have always owned) ratio so you may have to do some more checking. Ma Kaw did lots of things we don't really understand.

I think that explains it. I'll check, but I believe my friend's bike is an LTD.

Thanks guys.

My 77 is 99% stock and it has a 9K redline.

For the KZ, Possibly the cams had more lift, with a higher rate valve spring, than the LTD? Surely this info is out there from a lot of guys. Some FSM's to compare?

My original '78 KZ1000 A-2 has a 8500 tach. In the owners manual some of the tach pics show a 8500 tach, other pics show a 9000 tach. I suspect maybe they changed mid-year. Hard to say.

I'm the second owner of my 77' (bought it in 84') so I'm positive the tach is the original 9000 rpm unit.

I own Z-resto and i've met a lot of folks that swear they have original gauges.....but they don't.
The KZ1000's didn't rev as high as a 900 did so Kawasaki lowered the redline 500 rpm. In other words....no matter what year it was...or when it was built,....all KZ1000's were sold with an 8.5 redline tach.
Bob
Z-Resto

canyondancer wrote:

I own Z-resto and i've met a lot of folks that swear they have original gauges.....but they don't.
The KZ1000's didn't rev as high as a 900 did so Kawasaki lowered the redline 500 rpm. In other words....no matter what year it was...or when it was built,....all KZ1000's were sold with an 8.5 redline tach.
Bob
Z-Resto

I bought my 1000 from the original owner. I knew him when he bought the bike and I rode with him often. The only modification he did was a V&H pipe and the bike was never crashed. Not sure if Canadian models came with 9k tachs but this one has one and it was never touched.