77 KZ750 BACK on the ROAD

SWest wrote: If your rear sprocket is smaller, your takeoff will suffer but the RPM's will be lower at speed. Same as if you had one tooth larger front sprocket. On my bike (630 chain) stock is 15/35. It was great for takeoff but at 70 I was at 5000 RPM's. With the 16 countershaft I';m at 4000 .or a little over. I didn't like taching at 7000 at 90-100. Now it purrs at 90 with more to go,:woohoo:
Steve

Well after riding it this weekend I noticed nothing different on takeoff. To be honest this isnt the bike i intend to go fast on, though I did get up to 70 today. I dont like high speed on this bike because of the vibration. Its YUCK!
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Believe it or not my 77 Yamaha XS650 is QUICK though not as torque-y as the Kawa. Ive done 115 on that yamaha and my god its magnificent. Of course on my Honda CB750 I did about 120 and its SO smooth. On my 73 500F i did about 105. I will leave the "speeding" to the other bikes. The KZ is nice cruising bike, to be looked at when I pass by. I think today when I was doing 70 I was at like 5000 RPM. Cant recall and cant recall what gear I was in either.

If i wanted to make it go FAST (in the future) what sprocket setup do you suggest?

The larger rear sprocket will improve takeoff. What do you have front and rear?
Steve

SWest wrote: The larger rear sprocket will improve takeoff. What do you have front and rear?
Steve

Stock. 14 upfront, 38 in the rear.

If you can take a link out, it would be best for adjustment range. Still have the old chain?
Steve

SWest wrote: If you can take a link out, it would be best for adjustment range. Still have the old chain?
Steve

I appreciate the advice but im leaving it as it is.The bike runs well enough and to be honest, though Ive only had it for a month, Ive had enough with this bike. I have three bikes. Only one other one has seen a tow truck and that was my 72 Honda CB 750 when my throttle cable snapped on a restricted highway. In the past month, this bike has been on a tow truck 3 times: once when one of the brass floats developed a hole and took on gas. 2nd time when the chain broke. and a 3rd to get it to the shop after I had it towed home (at first). Thankfully my insurance covered all tows. Its a great bike and is running great now, so more research no more changing anything. Im done.
When the chain is too long and cant be adjusted I'll swap it out for the proper chain.The previous owner tried adding and removing links on the old chain, which caused it to break while I was riding it. Im not about to repeat his mistake by dabbling with links, link removals, half links, etc on this new chain.
Im not taking out any links or even thinking about it. It will stay as it is.
However I am thinking forward about sprocket tooth options for the next time the chain needs to be changed

I was thinking of using the old chain to take a count of links. If your chain is one full link too long it could be taken out and a new master installed. That way you would have full range of adjustment and "ride the piss out of it." It's your call.
Steve

SWest wrote: I was thinking of using the old chain to take a count of links. If your chain is one full link too long it could be taken out and a new master installed. That way you would have full range of adjustment and "ride the piss out of it." It's your call.
Steve

When the old chain fell apart on my bike i left it in the street where it was. I have no idea what the previous owner had on the bike in re sprockets or chain. I do recall when I posted a pic of the broken chain, more than a few ppl said it was "junk" put on by the previous owner. So, i have no idea if that chain and its link count was the "standard" i should follow. Not only that, but when it broke some of the links came off. So looking to it for answers would have been a mistake. It was the wrong chain by all accounts.
So I did research, checked the manual, and it seems to be the correct setup is 530 chain, 14T front sprocket and 38T rear, and thats whats on the bike. Like i said, when I cant adjust it anymore I will then put a new sprocket on or a better chain with the proper length. For now Im just going to ride it.