Lester Mags

I am going to look at some Lester Mags next weekend. The price is $400. That seems high to me considering one is painted yellow and one black. My real questions are: Is it better to paint or powder coat? I want them to look original. I have never bought mags before. Can I get some advise on what to look for. I have a 1976Kz900A4 these came off a 1975 Z1.Thanks in advance.

well i too bought a set for 400 and they were original. Check and make sure there is nothing the seller is trying to hide by the paint such as cracks or tire iron marks. Look over the wields for stress fractures and if you have an axle with you put up a couple of milk crates or totes and give them a spin and watch for run out. also they should say "lester" on one of the mag spokes. Powder coat requires all the bearing to be driven out and the wheel to be baked in a oven. powder coat can and will still chip off just like spray paint. it costs quite a bit of money. I would give them a good coat of paint, using a paint gun. touching up spray paint is easy if it does chip. any color you want the choices are endless; where as the powder coat shops ive seen only offer limited colors. Chances are they might have roughed up the surface to get the paint to stick, but i would see what is underneath incase you would like to polish them! check the gallary for photos of my kz900...the front is sprayed and the rear is still original.

Check the drum for cracks and the wheel for cracks. Spin them to make sure they spin true. Make sure they are set up for the correct rotors (Z-1 has wide 6 bolt rotors, KZ had 4, Shafty had 7)
Also check the sizes. 16 rear was popular, but some prefer 18 rear. The Lester fronts also came in 18 or 19 (19 is correct for the A4).
$400 is a good price for a GOOD set.Make sure they are for the Kawasaki (some people just assume they fit the Kaws) Put new wheel bearings in to be safe.

BTW, I paid $35 for my set (just bragging- :whistle:)The front is a 6 bolt Z-1 and the speedo drive had to be altered to get the wheel to fit the A4 forks.
Fish

Post edited by: The Fish, at: 2007/03/05 07:09

The ad says dual front disks and drumb rear. I do have a 900LTD front end. Hope they are in good shape. Can cracks in the drums be fixed. Also when I spin it, if it is out can that be fixed

flhwesty wrote:

Can cracks in the drums be fixed. Also when I spin it, if it is out can that be fixed

For the price, they shouldnt need to be fixed.
They can be fixed, but it will be pricey.
Fish

flhwesty wrote:

I do have a 900LTD front end.

At the risk of offending, the 76 LTD mags are true Morris mags...might it be easier to look for a rear wheel from a 76 LTD?

The LTD is a disc brake rear.
They are Morris mags? I thought they were enkei's?

The Fish wrote:

The LTD is a disc brake rear.
They are Morris mags? I thought they were enkei's?

The story I have is that Kawasaki contracted with Morris for the 1976 KZ900B model. In 1977, Kawasaki copied the basic design (=Enkei) for the LTD series and used those on all KZ1000B bikes. Note that Enkei mags very closely resemble Morris mags:)

Post edited by: Mcdroid, at: 2007/03/06 11:12

The Fish wrote:

The LTD is a disc brake rear.
They are Morris mags? I thought they were enkei's?

My understanding is that the 76 KZ900 LTD was the first KZ with mags, and Kawasaki used the Morris mags, the following year they went to Enkei for the mags.

I think the dealer installed Morris Mag option for the 76-79 KZ 750 twins used the same wheels as the KZ900 LTD, 3.00x16 rear, and 2.15x19 front, no hard evidence to back this up though.