Shaft Drive Conversion

I have a 1980 KZ1000P that is shaft driven and want to know if anyone could give me some insight on converting it to a chain driven bike, thanks!

I can't give personal experience info as to how to change it over, except to say its alot of work and ratios.

But... why??? Chain is loud, dirty, requires constant maintenence... Shaft is oh so quiet and smooth, barely any maintenence at all, and nice and clean.

kz_smurf wrote:

I have a 1980 KZ1000P that is shaft driven and want to know if anyone could give me some insight on converting it to a chain driven bike, thanks!

Interesting...must have been a private conversion to Police status. The 1980 KZ1000C3 bikes produced by Kawasaki were all chain-driven. I'd like to see photos of this bike...the only shaft model produced by Kawasaki in 1980 was the KZ1000-E2

Mcdroid wrote:

kz_smurf wrote:

I have a 1980 KZ1000P that is shaft driven and want to know if anyone could give me some insight on converting it to a chain driven bike, thanks!

Interesting...must have been a private conversion to Police status. The 1980 KZ1000C3 bikes produced by Kawasaki were all chain-driven. I'd like to see photos of this bike...the only shaft model produced by Kawasaki in 1980 was the KZ1000-E2

incorrect the KZ 1300 was shaft driven

stonemaster wrote:

Mcdroid wrote:

kz_smurf wrote:

I have a 1980 KZ1000P that is shaft driven and want to know if anyone could give me some insight on converting it to a chain driven bike, thanks!

Interesting...must have been a private conversion to Police status. The 1980 KZ1000C3 bikes produced by Kawasaki were all chain-driven. I'd like to see photos of this bike...the only shaft model produced by Kawasaki in 1980 was the KZ1000-E2

incorrect the KZ 1300 was shaft driven

I think he ment to say the only 1000 shaft produced in 1980.

never seen a 1300 police issue, every cop bike that I have seen was a chain drive

yea i guess not the official CHIPS version, the one I got was a police bike but maybe not from the factory, they didnt even have to repaint it as the putrid maroon was the office color, (Iredell County NC) :blink: still had a sticker on it even. We pulled into a gas station and some real old cop actually remembered it from back in the day

The title says KZ1000-P and it is shaft driven. The reason I want to swap it is because I will need a wider tire when I put the 1395 cc kit in it, not to mention I am not sure how much power the stock shaft can hold. Heard rumors that the trans shafts can be swapped fairly straight-forward with a new swingarm, was going to have one custom fabbed to fit a 180mm tire and strect it maybe 4 inches. The main thing is to get the parts before I tear into it that way I have a direction to go with it.

OK...I understand better now. Your title is misleading but at this point, for the purpose of ownership, it no longer matters. However, when you begin to rebuild and purchase parts, you need to remember that you own a 1980 KZ1000-E2 model, and order accordingly. There was no 1980 KZ1000P model.

See projects/80 KZ 1000 ST recycled thread

Or if anyone has an idea of how much a stock shaft can handle or if anyone makes a wide tire kit for it would it be more cost effective to keep it shaft driven? Not looking to build an alcohol bike but it should put out some impressive numbers all the same. P.S.- The bike in my pic is the bike in question.

kz_smurf wrote:

The title says KZ1000-P and it is shaft driven. The reason I want to swap it is because I will need a wider tire when I put the 1395 cc kit in it, not to mention I am not sure how much power the stock shaft can hold. Heard rumors that the trans shafts can be swapped fairly straight-forward with a new swingarm, was going to have one custom fabbed to fit a 180mm tire and strect it maybe 4 inches. The main thing is to get the parts before I tear into it that way I have a direction to go with it.

Did you check the vin no. on the title against the no. on the steering stem neck?