KZ650B2 1978 Red

Hi all, I am restoring my 1978 KZ650B2 and its in its final stages now, paint shop want to paint tank and panels. it was originally red , Luminous Burnt Red I think? anyone got paint codes?? Help much appreciated.
Thanks Jon

"luminous burnt red" was a fancy name for orange. You can see a picture of Kent's bike in the gallery and get a general idea of the color. There are other orange ones there too.
kzrider.com/index.php?option=com_ponygal...=6&func=detail&id=55

The color is really more orangey than red, and unfortunately for us Kawasaki does not provide paint codes for the KZ line. The companies that have paint for older bikes seem to be hit or miss on the KZ's too. I have not found any codes or paint for Luminous Burnt Red.

If you have any original paint left on it, maybe the paint shop can work something up. I do know there is metalflake in it, and it may be 3 layers; with a primer, a gold flake in the orange color (very small flakes), and a clear or tinted clear topcoat.

There is some guy in Japan doing original paintwork, but I think he is more Z1 geared and expensive.
On my home computer I have a link to a website from Japan that had the paint breakdown for the two stroke triples of the late 60's early 70's. If I remember to look tonight I can post that, it may help show how the factory laid down the paint. I found it! Project H-2, www.project-h2.com/works/ws_mod13e.html
I bet you can come close once you find the closest color orange/red!

Maybe you can search ebay for a 78 sidecover to get a sample?

Post edited by: OKC_Kent, at: 2007/04/03 11:19

The bike has been in the family for 15 years since my uncle imported it from california. Trouble is he wanted it black and it has been painted black 3 or 4 times in the last 15 years and now it is my possession I want it back to its proper colour, Red. Which apparently is Candy Red or Luminous Burnt Red???? So I have no panels in original colour to match up.......help????

Well, that leaves ebay. Your best bet is buy a set of sidecovers, or a ducktail and have a painter match it as best he can. If you have a 78 B2 then it's Luminous Burnt Red, not Candy Red.

In the last 3 years I saw one set of NOS Luminous Burnt Red 650 tank-sidecovers-ducktail. It went for a mint.

Post edited by: OKC_Kent, at: 2007/04/04 20:27

On this website at the KZ Information page you can find paint information if you do a Search for Paint. I provided the Lubri-Tech paint charts for all models and had it posted there. Lubri-Tech was the official factory touch up paint for Kawasaki back then, but they are now out of business. The charts show the 78 650 Luminous Red as a tri coat color. The base coat is a solid red, the mid coat is a extra fine metal flake, and the top coat is a Candy Orange. Best to find an old part and sand through the coats to see the true colors used. A paint store computer match only works for car colors, the computer does not understand tri coat candy colors. Good luck!!

So I read about the 3 coats and all.
Does anyone have a close up photo of the original paint that I can take to the shop for them to match?
Seeing as how the codes are not available I figure this is the best route to take.
Thanks very much.
-Bullet

You'll only get a so so match from a photo. To get a good match you need a part to match to.
Mark

A bump here!

I have a '78 650 the same color (Luminous burnt red) and would like to re-paint the tank. Not so worried about obtaining the paint, but does anybody have a source for the "stick on" pinstripes (gold and red) that are obviously applied before the clearcoat is applied.

Many thanks!

Check out Reproduction Decals .

They make stripes for some KZ models.

Great link - yes, they have them.

Thanks!

There is an auto body shop close to work who did some paint work on one of my MG's last fall. He did a very good job at a fair price, and seemed to enjoy doing something different - so I took the bike over yesterday and asked if he could do the tank. He took a look, and asked if I could get the stripes - when the answer was yes, he said sure - we can get a match on the paint, how about $300!

Sounds good to me so I ordered the stripe decals and will take it all over there next week. I'll let you know how it turns out - and the paint codes!