KZ750 Twin Stripe Styles

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KZ750 Twin Stripe Styles

31 Aug 2011 22:36 - 01 Sep 2011 00:24
#473383
I've seen a couple different stripe styles on the 750 twins. I'm wondering if anybody knows what stripes were standard on what years.

Mine's a 1979 750 and part of what I'm trying to figure out is if I've got the factory paint or not. I've got a period looking stripe on the tank, but nothing on the tail.

But beyond my own bike, I'd just like to know what stripes these originally came with.
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1979 KZ750 Twin
2009 Kawasaki Versys
Last edit: 01 Sep 2011 00:24 by Topper.

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Re: KZ750 Twin Stripe Styles

31 Aug 2011 23:54
#473391

Stock stripes on 79 750twin.
80 KZ750 H1 - the Kaw calf
79 KZ750 Twin - Miss Nov 2008 KZR calander
79 KZ750 Twin parts bike
78 KZ650 C2 Parts Bike
75 KZ400 Wife's old bike sold
81 KZ440 A2 LTD Wife's new bike
84 Honda 450 Rebel Wife's newest bike
Jim
Quincy,IL

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Re: KZ750 Twin Stripe Styles

01 Sep 2011 00:29
#473397
Thanks! So mine look pretty different. Is this style from a different year? My bike's titled as a 1979.


Attachment 100_0111_med.jpg not found

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1979 KZ750 Twin
2009 Kawasaki Versys

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Re: KZ750 Twin Stripe Styles

01 Sep 2011 01:25 - 04 Sep 2011 23:50
#473422
Those look like 78 stripes. Check the build date on the VIN tag on the headstock. Mine has a build date of 4-78. VIN and engine serial number ranges can be found under the year models using the KZ INFO tab at the top of the page.

Good Luck,
Jim
80 KZ750 H1 - the Kaw calf
79 KZ750 Twin - Miss Nov 2008 KZR calander
79 KZ750 Twin parts bike
78 KZ650 C2 Parts Bike
75 KZ400 Wife's old bike sold
81 KZ440 A2 LTD Wife's new bike
84 Honda 450 Rebel Wife's newest bike
Jim
Quincy,IL
Last edit: 04 Sep 2011 23:50 by Rainman.

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Re: KZ750 Twin Stripe Styles

02 Sep 2011 09:28
#473742
Rainman wrote: Those look like 78 stripes. Check the build date on the VIN tag on the headstock.

DOH! I should've thought of that. You're right, my manufacture date is 5/78 but the bike is titled as a '79.

My tail piece has no stripes. Were the '78 tails originally striped to match the tank?
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Re: KZ750 Twin Stripe Styles

02 Sep 2011 14:36 - 02 Sep 2011 14:42
#473791
Picture of a 78 from Biquetoast's web site (KZ750dotcom). Looks like the same stripe pattern on the tail.


Notice the tank badge difference, your badge is a 79 but your stripes are 78 (repainted).
Your VIN and engine numbers are the final say as to year for year specific parts.

Jim
80 KZ750 H1 - the Kaw calf
79 KZ750 Twin - Miss Nov 2008 KZR calander
79 KZ750 Twin parts bike
78 KZ650 C2 Parts Bike
75 KZ400 Wife's old bike sold
81 KZ440 A2 LTD Wife's new bike
84 Honda 450 Rebel Wife's newest bike
Jim
Quincy,IL

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Last edit: 02 Sep 2011 14:42 by Rainman.

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Re: KZ750 Twin Stripe Styles

02 Sep 2011 16:15
#473838
You think it was repainted with the wrong stripes? I'll have to check the frame and engine serial numbers. The build date on the VIN tag is 5/'78.
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Re: KZ750 Twin Stripe Styles

02 Sep 2011 20:06
#473896
With a 30+ year old bike and not being the original owner, a lot of things could be changed/replaced thru the years.

For reference fron KZ Info tab above:
78 frame numbers KZ750B025701 thru 033033, engine KZ750BE025701 thru 033074
79 frame nunbers KZ750B033101 thru 046100, engine KZ750BE033101 thru 046086
Frame and engine numbers don't have to match exactly but are usually within 50 of each other.
My engine number is 8 lower than my frame number.

Good Luck,
Jim
80 KZ750 H1 - the Kaw calf
79 KZ750 Twin - Miss Nov 2008 KZR calander
79 KZ750 Twin parts bike
78 KZ650 C2 Parts Bike
75 KZ400 Wife's old bike sold
81 KZ440 A2 LTD Wife's new bike
84 Honda 450 Rebel Wife's newest bike
Jim
Quincy,IL

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Re: KZ750 Twin Stripe Styles

02 Sep 2011 21:37
#473910
Where's the frame #?
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Re: KZ750 Twin Stripe Styles

02 Sep 2011 21:43
#473911
Topper wrote: Where's the frame #?

Same as VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) provided on the white label affixed to right-hand side of the steering neck.

Good Fortune! :)
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Re: KZ750 Twin Stripe Styles

03 Sep 2011 21:35
#474092
Interesting. Both my engine and frame numbers are '79s according to Rainman's post. But they're pretty far apart.

Build date on the VIN tag is 5/1978 Paint stripe on the tank is a '78, it has no stripe on the rear cowl and it has '79 style tank badges.

What do you guys think? Seems like a repaint with the '78 stripe is the most likely explanation on the stripe, especially since there's no stripe on the cowl. Or the tank was swapped with a '78 and the other pieces were painted to match.

The engine # is 388 digits lower than the frame (but both still solidly '79s). Any chance at all it came from the factory that way? Or was this engine swapped somewhere along the line?
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Re: KZ750 Twin Stripe Styles

04 Sep 2011 20:00
#474208
could be a tail repaint only with no striping done to it
Terry Meyer / Wichita KS
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