rebuilt 77-78 kz1000 motor $6,000.

Does anyone know what the cost would be to rebuild a kz1000 motor today ? I think this shop in Ohio is asking too much, maybe I am wrong. But he does “SAY” that it is “NICE” about 27 times and that everything is “GEORGEOUS” twice and that the head is “PERFECT” so maybe it is a bargain at $6,000.00 dollars .

I actually love the work that this shop is doing so I am in no way putting him down for his price.

 

Big John does use the word "NICE" quite a bit, haha. Is the price High, Depends on the consumer i suppose. I know JJHooper out of Florida gets similar prices. He paints his engines though, i personally don't like that though. Johnny has been doing this stuff for years so can rest assured he surely knows what to do. His emphasis on that "trans" bearing is funny. Those rarely cause problems, it's the output bearing that takes all the abuse from the all too often owners incorrectly tightening-up the drive chain with swingarm in incorrect location when tightening. I too get similar prices for Friends when doing their engines. And they are still Friends. I re-zinc bits i believe most persons discount like the 8 exposed inner cylinder studs and kickstart shaft. Blasting these bits, will initially look glorious but will flash rust in quick order.      

I also think that $6,000 is quite a heavy load, but there are always people willing to pay that price. (I wouldn't do it in this case because: All engine covers are extremely "overpolished," meaning all edges are "rounded," blurring the original contours.) For $6, I would probably rebuild the engine myself more carefully, with balanced pistons, etc. And there were no painted "silver" engines in the KZ1000...Depends on the donor engine and conditions of the basic parts, but i think, for 6 K´s i can rebuild up maybe 2 ones ?!...But´s that just my 5 cent

BUT:
Assuming he had to equip the crankshaft with new bearings, and perhaps replace all 16 valve guides and the valve seats in the cylinder head, THEN the price of 6 K's might be more justified.
 

Sounds to me the "shiny object" gets the most money. 

LOL on "nice"! 

For $6000, you can buy my entire bike!  It's not a 1000, mind you, but still!  A way better deal than just an engine.  And my engine is just as "nice", plus you get a "nice" bike to go with it. 

If you do the work yourself and just have the shop do the cylinders and head then yes it expensive. I think they are a bit high on the price. I just spent $700 on a head that needed a lot of work and depending on what you need for the cylinders it could be $200- $500 if you need pistons and rebore. What are they doing for the other $5,000 would be the question. I think he gets a $100 for each nice comment.

It is a shop after all and they do have overhead.

Well then Ed, I'll trade You a finished engine for Your 750 then, ha. I'd feel bad because You wouldn't have anything to ride though. Hope You're doing well my Friend, Crazy in California rumor has it from Kansas perspective. I do all kinds of engines, here's one of 3 Suzuki T250-305's i'd finished for a former Vice-President of a Large banking chain here in the metro. Broaching 4KUSD per plant.    

A 6000 USD i a way to much! 4000 USD for a full engine rebuild is okay.
I payed 500 € for a Z1000J cyl. full head rebuild job with new valves, valve seat rings, valve guides and valve seals 10 years ago.
I only provided the spare parts (BMW 2.0 L 6 cyl.engine) = 300 €

I guess if you look at what the previous owner of "Kaw-Boy 900" ride got for a $10k engine build then it's a bargain. I choke when I see prices like that but these days when you factor in labour, outsourced machining, blasting, polishing etc etc then it gets expensive real fast. When I did the timing chains on my diesel Jaguar the dealer quoted $4,200 for the job (labour rate is $240ph + Vat so $286ph ) !!!!

I am in the fortunate position that all german car and engine parts suplier manufacturing in my local area. I´m working also in the same buissenes, high-strength cold rolled steel, like seat belt returning springs. So your life and safety is my daily business.
So getting parts and engine jobs are really cheap to get for me.......

Just a little impression of a normal work day.

 

Provided that you actually can find someone to do the rebuild, price at that point would be negotiated accordingly.