kz650 vs kz1000 triple difference

Anyone know if a 79 kz650c3 has the same triples and stem as a 1977 kz1000a1??

Mainly i need to know if the stems are the same in diameter and length.

Post edited by: galaxian, at: 2007/07/18 17:04

The stems are the same diameter and use the same set of tapered bearings, but I don´t know for sure if they´re the same length.

Here´s a link to a steering stem bearing list I compiled a while back, hope it helps you some:

Kawasaki steering stem bearings chart

As for the triples I believe the forks (inner tubes) are different diameters which would make the triples different, the 650s have 36 mm inner tubes, not sure about the 1000s, but off the top of my head I think they have 41 mm inner tubes?

Post edited by: OnkelB, at: 2007/07/18 19:08

77-80 KZ1000, 76-80 (and maybe later) KZ650, and 76-80 (and maybe later) KZ750 twins, all have 36mm fork tubes, as does the 80-83 KZ750 four.

There are probably others that I missed.

According to my former mechanic (he closed up his shop years ago) the geometry of both triple trees is slightly different. He used to say that a fitting a Z650 tree to a Z1000 would significantly improve handling.
I've got both sets lying around somewhere. If I can find them (tomorrow, 'cause its getting rather late), I'll check them for differences.

Post edited by: Zthou1977, at: 2007/07/18 19:43

steell wrote:

77-80 KZ1000, 76-80 (and maybe later) KZ650, and 76-80 (and maybe later) KZ750 twins, all have 36mm fork tubes, as does the 80-83 KZ750 four.

There are probably others that I missed.

Ok, my bad, thanks for clearing that up, Steell.

guys thanks for your replies. Really i just need to know if the length of the stems is the same. The reason is that i pressed in my kz650 stem into the zx9 triples but now want to fit that to the kz1000 instead.

confussed???

Just checked a Z650 triple with a Z1000A1 triple: the stems are identical, so you should be okay.
With regards to the other stuff:
- fork tube diameters are the same
- steering stops match
- trail is different. According to my former mechanic it is 90mm versus 108mm. His bike is featured in the 'Specials' section of the Dutch Kawasaki club:
www.kawasakimerkclub.nl/
goto Specials -> Specials 1 t/m 10 -> Big Z Z1000
It's an awesome bike.

zthough1977,

Big thanks for checking!!

Can you fit kz650 fork bottoms to kz1000a tubes 
reSamantha

wrote:

Can you fit kz650 fork bottoms to kz1000a tubes 
reSamantha

Yes! 
 

The post eludes me but this was discussed just recently. The 650 has more offset, or something. The OP (in the post that eludes me) was trying to figure out why the fork tubes didn’t line up. Turns out he had one 650 yoke and one 1000/900 yoke (don’t remember which was which). A member here mentioned that switching a 1000/900 to a 650 upper and lower was an old road racing trick to help handling. 


EDIT, Found the post.  www.kzrider.com/forum/5-chassis/616347-s...d-head-issues#853318

They are the same diameter.  The total length of KZ1000 vs KZ650 forks is the same but the 650 has longer lowers and shorter uppers.  You will have to check the dampers to ensure they will work.