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Hello All!
I am a new member and I have just decided that I would like to built a street fighter/Rat bike from a KZ1000. After looking around at some of the many pics of bikes on this site, (nice I may add)!, I am a bit confused on what year (thinking 77 or 78) model I should start with. I recently just turned down a 82 LTD which was out of my price range and did not have the look of some of the racier bikes I've seen. I understand that the earlier bikes are where I should start my project bike. CSR, B, A1, A2?? I'm lost and I would like to have a clear picture of the difference between models and which has the better engines to start with. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and I look forward to some day posting my project bike. ....Alan

Post edited by: KZ1000RAT, at: 2006/06/28 13:18

Post edited by: KZ1000RAT, at: 2006/06/28 13:19

Welcome bro! Post in your signature line where your from and maybe some one in your area will give you a buzz or hand. These Kats are great here! feel free to ask anything!

Alan...I think you scared everyone away with such a broad-based question. I don't think many folks want to sit down and try to regurgitate Kawasaki history.


Five milestones to consider (with respect to 900cc+ bikes):

1972-introduction of the 903 cc Z1
1977-introduction of the 1015 cc motor
1979- modification of the 1015 powerplant-designated MKII motor
1981-introduction of the 988cc J motor
1981-application of the J model head to 1100cc motors

i'm only familiar with the late 1970s KZ1000, A and B models, and like them cause:

- they have kick starters (phased out about 1980)

- the A models were the standard road bike (flat seat; sleek tank and sidecovers; low handle bars, headlight and turnsignals; large slim rear tire; black gauges and chain guard) while the B models were a cruiser style (stepped seat; pudgy tank and sidecovers; high handlebars, headlight and turnsignals; small pudgy rear tire; chrome gauges and chain guard). not sure, but i think the A has a single front brake (B has a double) and the A has wire wheels (B has mag wheels)

- a lot of A and B parts are interchangeable between the two bikes, which lets you personalize/customize the bike. a lot of bikes on the internet (like redlinecycle.com)are hybrids of the two models

- the B models were often made from the parts of the prior year A model (my 1979 B is based on the 1978 A2A)

- emissions controls were introduced about 1978/79 (maybe the 1978A2A and the 1979B )

i like the muscular look of my 1979 B model (cause of the mag wheels and fat rear tire), but the rest of the bike is morphing to an A.

Post edited by: duncan, at: 2006/06/28 20:15

this is not a RAT ,

Post edited by: wireman, at: 2006/06/28 20:50

this is a RAT

Post edited by: wireman, at: 2006/06/28 20:52

ok,this is a RAT!

Post edited by: wireman, at: 2006/06/28 20:53

Welcome aboard I think you'll like it here ! By the way ! You should have seen the huge chunk of cheese Wireman used to capture that rat in the pic!

its an alcoholic rat,weve tried counciling but it just wont run on anything else!

Duncan what size rim was on the 79B. 2.15"x18"?

Thanks for the info Duncan. This is the type of info I was looking for . It will help me greatly in deciding what bike to pursue. Again much appreciated. Alan

Welcome, this place is a great resource if you have green blood.

Do you have any pictures of a bike that is in the direction you would like to take your project?