whats the diffenences in 73-80 and 80-82????

ok so i have an 82 kz1000ltd. my tank was toast so i ordered a 79ltd tank off ebay. i knew the rear mount was different but it still had the really large tunnel and i liked the shap better. got it in and still wasnt large enough. big bummer.it hits the outside rails of the backbone. and all parts i find list the 81-82 in a diff catagory. so what are the diffences? body,frame,engine? that way maybe i can save my self some hard luck. wish there was a general discussion forum for this. thanks for the help in advance.

Here's one option --- Zedder's Kawasaki Part Cross Reference Software. $24.95

Click > www.zedder.com/

Good Fortune!

There were basically three different versions 1973-1978 was pretty much identical with the only exception of the bore being bigger on the 1015 bikes over the 903 bikes. In 1979 -1980(81)the MKII came out and there were a few changes to the engine but the frame and most other stuff stayed almost the same, with the exception being the shaft drive. That had more engine changes, wheel and swing arm changes but many if not most parts were still interchangeable with the earlier bikes, with the main notable exception being the crank shaft and cam sprockets in the engine. In 1981 the "J" series was introduced and that was a completely different animal all together. Almost nothing is interchangeable with the earlier bikes.

on an '82 LTD, you can only run a KZ1100 shaft tank and the stock tank. Hardly any parts from 80 and earlier will fit.

what about engine, drivetrain, sprockets and thing like that?

Sorry the tank didnt fit, but if you want to sell it let me know.

bdydrppup wrote:

what about engine, drivetrain, sprockets and thing like that?

Every one of those parts you mentioned is completely different between the Pre & Post 81 engines.

This might explain the engine differences:

www.aperaceparts.com/tech/techkz1000.html