TOPIC:

I hate to ask this but can you guys tell me if the 1979 KZ1000P police was a shaft drive???

And were all the police bikes shaft drive???

Also was there really any difference in engine parts from 78 to lets say the 90's police bikes???

Thanks Joe

That's an easy one
No KZ1000P police bikes were shaft drive.
78-81 P models used the early KZ1000 motor, 82 till 2005 used the J model 1000 motor.

Thanks... is the older motor better or the J motor???

any opinions please

You posted the same question in two different threads that you started, that's double posting and a no-no here, so I deleted the other one

As to which is better, better for what?
Conventional wisdom says the early motor has stronger cases and a better bottom end, while the J has a better head. But then the J model motor was in production for 25 years, and I think that's a record in the motorcycle world.

I'm just curious about why they kept the police bike a chain drive over all those years? Is there any reliability issues with either shaft or chain?
(my bike is in the shop today getting new chain and sprockets installed)

Kawasaki-designed drive shafts were particularly reliable. However, I suspect it was/is related to model choice (and price) and not whether a chain drive is better/cheaper than a shaft. Other police bikes (models) have been shafts (Motoguzzi's, BMW's, various Honda's and GT750's, etc.)...I think it is matter of economics and what's on sale when fleet purchases occur.