New to Forum, New to KZ's, dumb questions follow..

Hi all, recently purchased a KZ1000P of unknown year ('82+, J-motor) for a budget 'dream bike' build. Right off the bat, I've got some important-ish questions:

Who has experience with a magneto-fired KZ1000? I'd like to run as few electronics as possible. Which leads me to...

Who has experience converting to a kickstart? Are any bolt-on swaps available for the electric motor itself, or are there any companies making such a product?

Thanks in advance!

If the engine is an 82, you're probably stuck with the starter. The 81 and earlier KZ-1000 cases had a provisions for a kickstarter on the right side of the engine just behind the clutch basket housing. The kickstarter shaft engaged the clutch basket. The starter motor is on the left side of the engine and engages the flywheel via a clutch. I've never seen a starter motor to kick-starter conversion kit. It would be very difficult if not impossible. I'm not sure you could even generate enough rotation to engage the clutch with a kick.

Welcome.
Why just kick start?
Steve

swest wrote: Welcome.
Why just kick start?
Steve

Swest, Because he wants to get rid of the alternator, starter, battery and such, and convert to a magneto system.

Well, I said battery, but obviously there has to be a storage system of some sort to power the ignition during startup.

To the OP, search for some old threads by user Loudvx. Lou has designed what is probably the most minimalist electrical system that is practical for a street bike. You will also need to consider legal requirements where you live. There's really no point to building your dream bike if you get a ticket every time you roll it out of your driveway.
You may also want to consider the Moto Gadget M- unit.
revivalcycles.com/collections/motogadget-motorcycle-parts

A true magneto system needs no battery. I guess it's possible but I don't think it's worth the time and expense. Older dirt bikes had a exciting coil/points system. They also had a lighting coil. Just a small battery for the indicator lights. What would be the point if the kick starter has been done away with? I have both and thought it was stupid for them to remove the option. I've needed it countless times in 40 years.
Steve

If you want kickstart, buy a kickstart bike. Don't know why you would though, the J models are more powerful, lighter, have much beefier trannies, and are an overall better design (minus some snafu's they may have) kick start does come in handy, but whenever I do another kz build, the kickstart motor in my shed isn't going in, a J model is

I am no electrical expert like Lou and some of the other members here, but I am pretty sure the only way to get a single-coil ignition system to work on a 4 cylinder kz engine is to invent or adapt some device that performs the role of a distributor. I remember seeing a device like that that replaced the ignition cover. I suspect one would be really hard to find these days.

silly me :silly:

Though this is not for J engine...

These folks may be able to chase down a magneto system if one was ever built for the J engine...

www.classiccyclecity.com/gallery/index.php?cat=4&page=1

I remember that. Didn't make sense to me. Had points at the time and they worked well. Bragging rights. :whistle:
Steve

I suppose you could contact Bill Hahn Jr.'s company to see if they might have an old magneto system lying around in some dusty corner...

hahnracecraft.com/

You can use a magneto system on a KZ, but they have to be a specially made contraption, that is single-coil with distributor, or dual magnetos and dual coils. Magnetos are not great at producing a long duration spark, so they might not run too well at idle or mid range on a motor with suspect jetting, but they usually have good voltage so they might help out a high compression race motor. They are not usually worth the hassle for a daily driver (you can see how much hardware they require), and are mostly used for coolness points at bike night. MSD has replaced the use of magnetos for firing a high-compression (or turbo/supercharged) motor. (MSD and magnetos both work by feeding a short-duration, high-voltage spike to the coil.)

But most KZ's have a permanent magnet alternator which delivers a lot more energy than a magneto, so the simplest thing is to just replace the battery with a capacitor. This requires keeping the reg/rec and requires a few minor wiring mods, but is pretty easy to do.

The big question is starting the thing. Also, the bike needs to be in good tune. If it's hard to start with a battery, it will be harder without.