Time to Play: What is THAT??

Hey everybody. Just picked up this bike last night, and the only thing I am 100% sure of is that it is a 1978 Kawasaki KZ1000, as far as sub-model, I am clueless.
I do know that the motor number is KZT00DE ......
Frame number is ZIF 1170

Some preliminary research, the number point to a Z1R, which I do not think this bike is. Aftermarket fairing, Corbin Gunfighter seat, motor painted black. spoke wheels, yet it has dual disc on the front.

I dunno, I have only owned one Kaw, a 1996 KZP, and it was *nothing* like this one

Any ideas?

Kz1000A due to rear passenger peg mounts. Front forks don't appear to be original as the 1000's all had the calipers behind the fork legs as far as I know.

Later, Doug

From the numbers you posted it would appear that the frame began its life as a 1973 Z1 900. As here is the frame range for that model/year from Zedder
Year & Model '73 Z1 900
Color(s) Candytone Brown
Frame No. Range Z1F-00001 - 19999
Engine No. Range Z1E000001 - 19999
If I am not mistaken it did have the caliper in front of the fork.

The engine number with the DE in it would indicate it began its life on a D model which are the Z1s. So depending upon the actual number you should be able to determine which year it came from on the Zedder site.

Thanks for the replies. Yeah, I looked at the Zedder site and according to the numbers, you are correct about the frame, which leaves me kinda going WTF because I have a title that says 1978 Kawasaki on it!


*Update* I went out this morning and looked at the neck of the bike again, guess I never continued looking after I saw the ZIF 1170 on the right side. On the left side is another number KZT00A-003475, which according to the website www.z-power.co.uk is a 1977 A1 frame, which would make sense because of the location of the front calipers.

I have a *franken-bike* :woohoo: I am not even sure what to do with this information and where to go from here...

I do have another question; the engine serial number puts it at a 1978 D1 Z1R motor. Is there any way, besides the black paint job, to tell if the motor is indeed from a Z1R, as opposed to a LTD or A model?

ANOTHER reason PO's SUCK.
Steve

Frame looks like my 77kz1000A ...by the looks of the rear pegs( think only the 77kz1000a had rear pegs brackets like those) and the front forks are from a 76Kz900 LTD with duel front brake calipers. Or the second caliper was added to the original forks. The 77 Kz1000A only came with one from factory.
As far as the motor all 77-79 look the same ...only different were the carbs..Z1R came with 28mm not 26mm.

Nice frankin bike. :lol:
Steve

Thanks....I think Ill mount a lug (like Franky had) on either side of the tank and call it good :laugh:

Didn't the Z1R also have a different crankshaft? Of course no easy way to check that...

Hey, my bike isn't bone stock ether. I put on all the goodies I ever wanted and still am. It's all mine.
Steve

StreetfighterKz wrote: Kz1000A due to rear passenger peg mounts. Front forks don't appear to be original as the 1000's all had the calipers behind the fork legs as far as I know.

Later, Doug

77 a1 had calipers in front of forks,its a little of this and that bike that began its career as a 77-78 kz1000a as far as the chassis goes.