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Project Sharkey, 1978 KZ650C2 14 Apr 2021 06:22 #846668

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I've had this KZ650 since 1984, buying it off a buddy I knew since Kindergarten.
She had 16,000 kms on her:



I made changes right away, rear fender removed being one.
Over the years she has seen some different set ups;





2006 I found a Rickman Fairing.




Painted blue;



 
Rob
CANADA

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1978 KZ650 C2, 130K kms, Delkevic ex, EI, CVK32, PMC easy clutch, ATK fork brace, steering damper, braced swingarm, 18" Z1R front wheel.
2000 ZRX1100
2011 Ninja 250R
2005 z750s

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Project Sharkey, 1978 KZ650C2 14 Apr 2021 06:31 #846670

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In the '80s she got repainted Candy Apple Blue.




Having the teeth on the lower fairing, she got the nicname Sharkey.
The last five years she has been sitting, since I bought a ZRX1100.
125,000 kms on her, so far.



This past Winter, I started doing some maintenance to her, and getting new parts where needed.
A compression check gave readings of 150 psi across all four, so I'm not opening the engine.
Valve clearances will/have been checked and adjusted, as well as more...
 
Rob
CANADA

Need a key for your Kawasaki? PM me

1978 KZ650 C2, 130K kms, Delkevic ex, EI, CVK32, PMC easy clutch, ATK fork brace, steering damper, braced swingarm, 18" Z1R front wheel.
2000 ZRX1100
2011 Ninja 250R
2005 z750s

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Project Sharkey, 1978 KZ650C2 14 Apr 2021 06:40 #846671

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Part of the project this past Winter was installing a set of Keihin CVK32 carbs off a ZX600 Ninja.
I bought the carbs thinking they were ZR7 carbs, which was what's needed.
Thankfully the ZX600 carbs are the same size.
I followed Pablo's/z650Spirit's tutorial on installing the CVKs.

Also will use the stock ZRX shocks I have.




VM24SS carbs and air box removed.


Rob
CANADA

Need a key for your Kawasaki? PM me

1978 KZ650 C2, 130K kms, Delkevic ex, EI, CVK32, PMC easy clutch, ATK fork brace, steering damper, braced swingarm, 18" Z1R front wheel.
2000 ZRX1100
2011 Ninja 250R
2005 z750s

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Project Sharkey, 1978 KZ650C2 14 Apr 2021 06:44 #846672

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I used a spare air box with a bit of damage around hole #2;





Used some JB Weld to repair the damaged bit on the air box;



 
Rob
CANADA

Need a key for your Kawasaki? PM me

1978 KZ650 C2, 130K kms, Delkevic ex, EI, CVK32, PMC easy clutch, ATK fork brace, steering damper, braced swingarm, 18" Z1R front wheel.
2000 ZRX1100
2011 Ninja 250R
2005 z750s

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Project Sharkey, 1978 KZ650C2 14 Apr 2021 06:50 #846673

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While having the valve cover off to check the valve clearances, I also replaced some of the rubber bits while in there.
Had an extra cylinder head, so checked what shims were in it, and was able to use a few;





ZRX1100 rear shocks on.
They are about two inches longer than the Konis currently on there.
I will bring the front end back up to stock level, as I've had the forks slid up in the triple trees for ages.





 
Rob
CANADA

Need a key for your Kawasaki? PM me

1978 KZ650 C2, 130K kms, Delkevic ex, EI, CVK32, PMC easy clutch, ATK fork brace, steering damper, braced swingarm, 18" Z1R front wheel.
2000 ZRX1100
2011 Ninja 250R
2005 z750s

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Project Sharkey, 1978 KZ650C2 14 Apr 2021 06:56 #846674

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CVK carbs got Ultrasonically cleaned, and all new rubber o-rings and jets.





The current Auto cam chain tensioner rigged up to be a manual locked set up, was replaced with an Ape cam chain tensioner;





 
Rob
CANADA

Need a key for your Kawasaki? PM me

1978 KZ650 C2, 130K kms, Delkevic ex, EI, CVK32, PMC easy clutch, ATK fork brace, steering damper, braced swingarm, 18" Z1R front wheel.
2000 ZRX1100
2011 Ninja 250R
2005 z750s

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Project Sharkey, 1978 KZ650C2 14 Apr 2021 07:03 #846677

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The clutch, having over 100,000 kms on it, is getting some attention;
New friction plates.
New basket, as the old Cir Cycle clutch used an extra set of plates.
The plates being thinner, have grooved the basket fingers.
The clutch release mechanism got all new parts too.








 
Rob
CANADA

Need a key for your Kawasaki? PM me

1978 KZ650 C2, 130K kms, Delkevic ex, EI, CVK32, PMC easy clutch, ATK fork brace, steering damper, braced swingarm, 18" Z1R front wheel.
2000 ZRX1100
2011 Ninja 250R
2005 z750s

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Project Sharkey, 1978 KZ650C2 14 Apr 2021 07:07 #846678

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CVK carbs installed.
New ZR7 carb manifolds and boots used;




A used clutch basket found.


Rob
CANADA

Need a key for your Kawasaki? PM me

1978 KZ650 C2, 130K kms, Delkevic ex, EI, CVK32, PMC easy clutch, ATK fork brace, steering damper, braced swingarm, 18" Z1R front wheel.
2000 ZRX1100
2011 Ninja 250R
2005 z750s

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Project Sharkey, 1978 KZ650C2 14 Apr 2021 07:12 #846680

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New battery and coils;




Coils and wires installed;



Fork oil changed.
Last time I did it I had to slot the drain screw.
Bought new ones, five years ago.
Found them;




Rob
CANADA

Need a key for your Kawasaki? PM me

1978 KZ650 C2, 130K kms, Delkevic ex, EI, CVK32, PMC easy clutch, ATK fork brace, steering damper, braced swingarm, 18" Z1R front wheel.
2000 ZRX1100
2011 Ninja 250R
2005 z750s

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Project Sharkey, 1978 KZ650C2 14 Apr 2021 07:17 #846681

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I'm so excited to read this! This bike was always so cool to me, I didn't know it was sitting this whole time. 
1982 KZ750 Spectre - 6 speed swap, BS34s, 18" rear wheel

2001 ZX-6R

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Project Sharkey, 1978 KZ650C2 14 Apr 2021 07:18 #846682

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ZX600E tail light with integrated signals installed.
So rear signals have been removed;



Have had issues with my horn for ages.
Finally found out the horn was tempermental, so bought a new one;



Got an Ape bearing clutch pusher as well;




 
Rob
CANADA

Need a key for your Kawasaki? PM me

1978 KZ650 C2, 130K kms, Delkevic ex, EI, CVK32, PMC easy clutch, ATK fork brace, steering damper, braced swingarm, 18" Z1R front wheel.
2000 ZRX1100
2011 Ninja 250R
2005 z750s

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Project Sharkey, 1978 KZ650C2 14 Apr 2021 07:24 #846683

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Rear wheel off for new rubber.
Continental Conti-Gos:




Then a new front,
Hoping it will not cup as bad as the old tire.
Tread pattern being much different, with no alternating small blocks of rubber, should help;


Rob
CANADA

Need a key for your Kawasaki? PM me

1978 KZ650 C2, 130K kms, Delkevic ex, EI, CVK32, PMC easy clutch, ATK fork brace, steering damper, braced swingarm, 18" Z1R front wheel.
2000 ZRX1100
2011 Ninja 250R
2005 z750s

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Last edit: by rstnick.
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