What year is my \"new\" KZ?

I'm assuming this is an obvious answer but...

I ask because my only experience is with classic VWs and they use a model year release which is based upon August. Thus, a Vdub built in Aug.1969 would actually be a 1970 model Vdub.

Here's a pic of my newly acquired KZ's plate:


Perhaps ironic; it's built in Aug.1978 :lol:

So what year is this bike?
A 1978?
A 1979?

I'm about 99.9% sure its a '79.

Perhaps someone more in the know can help out?

Later, Doug

made aug 78 so its probably registered as a 79

It's probably called a '79 due to the frame number. Check this link out.

models.kz650.info/index.htm

my 76 kz900 was made in "june" 1975....so i'd guess you have a 79.

I have always been told July is the Cut date for the New Yaer ,, Not to say a left over from the previous year could not have been titled in the Current year

It's definitely a 1979 KZ650C3. Here's the breakdown for the Custom Models' frame numbers from the Model Identification page in the Kawasaki FSMs:

C1 1977 KZ650C-000001 ~
C2 1978 KZ650C-010001 ~
C3 1979 KZ650C-022801 ~
C4 1980 KZ650C-033001 ~

Ed

Thanks Gents!

As usual you ROCK

I had such fun with the 440 over the past month and then to happen upon an auction yesterday with this KZ pathetically laying down in the tall grass of a closing biker dealer's "bone yard"... I just couldn't help myself. It was the only KZ street bike in hundreds and noone wanted it?

Just in case you want to see what it looked like by the time I extracted it from the tall grass, grappled with the frozen rear discs, winched it up into my truck and finally got it hauled "home". Here's a few pics to scare ya (actually, it scares me - what am I thinking?):


I think you might be reading more questions from me in the future


Some of those "wires" hanging down are actually tall grass


Dunno exactly what is missing here, but sure looks like "something ain't right 'bout that..."


Reasonably low miles... No?


Trying to drain gas from a locked gas tank :huh:


Rust? Naw!!! That's "patina" :lol: it adds value

You can open that kind if lock with a small screwdriver, you don't need a key.

looks like a 79c3, based on date, twin disks and paint.

If needed and not already located, here's a link to the wiring diagram

wiring diagram

mariozappa wrote:

You can open that kind if lock with a small screwdriver, you don't need a key.

:lol: I figured I'd be smart and instead just use my 440's key to open it... no such luck. the darn thing would just spin around 360 degrees and not "pop" the gas flap?

I finally resorted to using a drift punch and knocking-out the hinge pin and pulling it off. I dismantled the locking cylinder to discover the return springs were all shreaded and the cylinder's pin that operates the locking lever had been sheared-off apparenly long ago

So this KZ will need (amoung many things now) another gas cap too :dry:

It's like the things you'd expect to be a problem aren't and the things you'd never expect to be are baffling. More things to make you go "Hmmmmm?"