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A KZ in England! 18 Apr 2019 00:46 #802332

  • Limey
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  • 3 Years in the U.K. - Brought the KZ with me!
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Well, the wife got a job with DoDEA for 3 years in England - so the government kindly shipped my KZ650 here with our household goods. It is now insured, registered, MOT'd and ready to go! I should add that, although I have lived in the States since 1978, I grew up in England and owned my first bikes here.

It's strange being back - driving on the left isn't really a problem, but there is a LOT more traffic. However, there are also some excellent roads for riding a motorcycle! I have joined the local VJMC chapter and look forward to hanging out with them. Over here there are no KZ650's - they are simply Z650's all imported directly from Japan. I am led to understand the the KZ prefix was only applied to bikes assembled in the USA - not sure if this is correct - but it does make mine different!

Bike is old enough to be considered a "Historic" vehicle, so is tax exempt, and next year will not need an MOT (it did need one for registration). I wish they would do something similar inn Michigan without the severe restrictions they apply - no such use restrictions here, except I can't use it for commuting!

Would be interesting to hear from any other KZR members over here!
Eric
Newmarket, England (for 3 years)
Pentwater, Michighan (Home)
1978 KZ650
2000 ZG1000
2006 Suzuki Burgman 650

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A KZ in England! 18 Apr 2019 10:48 #802346

  • KZQ
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Welcome to KZR Limey,
Yes the US Kaws were labled KZs however there is a cultural connection between the initials "KZ" and the past German Nazi regime so Mother Kaw dropped the "K" for European markets.
Bill
www.KZ1300.com
Riders:
1968 BSA 441 Shooting Star, 1970 BSA 650 Lightning, 1974 W3, 1976 KZ900, 1979 KZ750 Twin, 1979 KZ750 Twin Trike, 1981 KZ1300, 1982 KZ1100 Spectre, 2000 Valkyrie, 2009 Yamaha Roadliner S. 1983 GL 1100
Projects:
1985 ZN1300

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A KZ in England! 20 Apr 2019 17:34 #802495

  • loudhvx
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Nice... free shipping! It's always good to be back in the "old country"(... that's Japan for me).
Hope you get some good miles in there. Maybe it's different since you grew up there, but I always find myself looking the wrong way when I'm dealing with traffic in left-driving country. Luckily, I've only been on foot.

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