1983 KZ550 LTD sprockets

Hey, everyone, new to the site and I'm considering picking up a 1983 KZ550. The bike is in pretty good shape, around 6500 miles, but the chain and sprockets need replacing. I was wondering how many teeth the stock sprockets have. Also, are there any common changes to the sprocket sizes that would yield better cruising RPMs?

Thanks.

Insignia 1000,

Welcome to KZR! Hang around and you will find a group of guys with more knowledge of these bikes than you can imagine. And a great group of people to boot...

Stock gearing on an 83 550 is 16/38 (front/rear) You can go up one tooth on the front without any problem and cut your RPM by 400-500 in sixth gear. You can achieve about the same by going down 2 teeth on the rear. The best place to shop for parts you need is www.z1enterprises.com .

I just did my 81 550 and found Jeff's (Z1E) prices the best and you absolutely can not beat their service and valuable advise. (did I mention advise was free?)

Thanks for the reply Vter Bob. I've been checking Z1Enterprises for the past week as I've been searching for my second motorcycle.

They do not seem to carry front sprockets for the KZ550, though. Do you know of any places that carry a front sprocket suitable for the KZ550? I found one that would fit on eBay, but its a 13 tooth sprocket and I don't think that would be a smart move.

If it's not listed on Z1's site I'd call them. I'm sure he can get you one. But in case he can't, I'd say give www.denniskirk.com a try.

That's it! Thanks again!

The website www.gearingcommander.com will help with figuring chain speeds and sprocket ratio's.

Alright, I decided to go with the stock ratios and ordered a 16t front and 38t rear sprocket. I removed the rear wheel today and now I'm confronted with a predicament. How the heck do you deal with the "lock plates" that hold the sprocket nuts in place?

You very carefully bend them out of the way. If you break one they show up on ebay quite often and I believe they are still available from Mother Kaw.

On some of the larger(and older Kawasaki's) two metric bolts held a sprocket locking device on the engine sprocket. You used a 10MM socket,unscrewed the bolts, and pulled and moved the locking washer in a grove until it came off the sprocket.

On some of the later bike's a lock device worked by folding tabs around the engine sprocket. The way I removed mine on my 82 GPZ1100 B2 was to use a hammer and cold chisel and bend the tabs straight.Then get a socket ot fit the sprocket nut and with the drive chain still on the bike have someone step on the brake while applying force with an 18" 1/2" drive breaker bar.

Thanks everyone. I managed to get them bent back with a rubber mallet and an old flat head screwdriver. Just finished repainting the sprocket hub (or whatever the actual name is) and will be putting it all back together later tonight.

AllBalls makes a good wheel bearing kit with seals for your 550. If you don't replace the ones in there, at least service the bearings, unless they are sealed with a metal cover, then they should be replaced after all these years.

Kawasaki still sells the sprocket nut locking plates.