KZ650 with RC Pro Stock on side covers

  • pinballrunner@yahoo.com
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03 Jun 2024 06:39 #900155 by pinballrunner@yahoo.com
KZ650 with RC Pro Stock on side covers was created by pinballrunner@yahoo.com
Many moons ago (2006) a member mentioned owning a KZ650 with the words RC Pro Stock on the side cover. I own one exactly like it.  Bike was black with what appeared hand painted pin stripes very well done. Chrome RC header and the saddle was low profile none like I’ve never seen on a KZ650. It fit the bike perfectly and even had the usual labels on stock seats. Was there a limited run on this specific bike?  Any input much appreciated. 
 

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03 Jun 2024 07:59 #900164 by Wookie58

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03 Jun 2024 08:40 #900166 by pinballrunner@yahoo.com
Replied by pinballrunner@yahoo.com on topic KZ650 with RC Pro Stock on side covers
Currently no
Owned for years and just pulled out of storage 
Getting her ready for the road once again 

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03 Jun 2024 09:48 #900167 by martin_csr
Replied by martin_csr on topic KZ650 with RC Pro Stock on side covers
It may have been done aftermarket.  The RC may be RC Engineering. I've seen some of their old ads.

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  • gd4now
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03 Jun 2024 10:26 #900169 by gd4now
Replied by gd4now on topic KZ650 with RC Pro Stock on side covers
It appears the member who posted the topic back in 2006 has not logged on with that user name (puckaveli) since Feb 3 2012 so I doubt you will get a response from them. I will say I have never seen or heard of RC Pro Stock labels on the side covers before now. Not saying that means they never did exist, as I certainly do not claim to know all there is to know regarding (K)Z650s.  Once you get your machine pulled out of storage post some pics, as I for one would like to see what it looks like.

1977 KZ650 B1
Pods and Denco header


OLD KAW OWNERS SMILE ALOT

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04 Jun 2024 05:52 #900209 by pinballrunner@yahoo.com
Replied by pinballrunner@yahoo.com on topic KZ650 with RC Pro Stock on side covers
No doubt the bike is aftermarket 
Pulling the tank the tunnel shows the bike was originally blue. I’m just curious what dealer or origin was producing these aftermarket KZ650
And the orange hand painted R C Pro Stock on side cover. Painted black someone did a handsome job pin striping the tank. 

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04 Jun 2024 06:56 - 04 Jun 2024 07:19 #900212 by Injected
Replied by Injected on topic KZ650 with RC Pro Stock on side covers

No doubt the bike is aftermarket 
Pulling the tank the tunnel shows the bike was originally blue. I’m just curious what dealer or origin was producing these aftermarket KZ650
And the orange hand painted R C Pro Stock on side cover. Painted black someone did a handsome job pin striping the tank. 



 
It did not work like that as far as vintage Japanese bikes, nothing like the car world special build houses. No Kawasaki 650 was ever done up like that from a dealership. Some previous owner had it done to match the RC pipe or whatever else they had done to the engine after they bought it. Is it "aftermarket" yes, I attached a picture of what a stock one looks like below as it would have sat in a Kawasaki dealership.



Usually you would order or purchase the stock bike from the dealership. If you wanted aftermarket parts you could purchase them and have the dealership mechanics install those parts before you took ownership. Very rarely would the dealership repaint the bodywork, that would be done at a outside shop.

RC and other companies were making aftermarket parts for the 650 but it was mostly exhausts, cams, piston kits. A lot of those company's no longer exist and there are very few aftermarket parts still available.

RC did more with Honda's then they ever did with Kawasaki's.
 
Last edit: 04 Jun 2024 07:19 by Injected. Reason: pic

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04 Jun 2024 07:27 #900214 by pinballrunner@yahoo.com
Replied by pinballrunner@yahoo.com on topic KZ650 with RC Pro Stock on side covers
I undoubtedly agree
but the fact that another rider had one identical just has me intrigued 

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04 Jun 2024 07:53 - 04 Jun 2024 08:03 #900217 by Nessism
Replied by Nessism on topic KZ650 with RC Pro Stock on side covers

I undoubtedly agree
but the fact that another rider had one identical just has me intrigued 
Any chance it's the same bike?  The world is small sometimes...

Story...one of my other hobbies is playing golf and golf clubmaking.  I bought a set of graphite iron shafts that were all scratched up, so I broke out some leftover paint used to paint a Kawasaki EX500 fairing, and used that on the shafts to make them presentable again.  Some time later, I sold the clubs on ebay.  A couple of years later, a guy posts on the GolfWRX.com forum inquiring about a special set of shafts he had, with a custom paint job.  My old shafts!  What's the chances?  Bigger than one may think...
Last edit: 04 Jun 2024 08:03 by Nessism.
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04 Jun 2024 08:19 #900218 by pinballrunner@yahoo.com
Replied by pinballrunner@yahoo.com on topic KZ650 with RC Pro Stock on side covers
I was just recently thinking the same thing. 
Then I remembered he had to trash his 4 into 1 because it was bent. 
This exhaust is in perfect condition 

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  • DOHC
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04 Jun 2024 10:01 #900219 by DOHC
Replied by DOHC on topic KZ650 with RC Pro Stock on side covers


It did not work like that as far as vintage Japanese bikes, nothing like the car world special build houses. No Kawasaki 650 was ever done up like that from a dealership.
 


The only exception to that I can think of is the Z1R-TC, where an independent company added the turbo kit and paint, but it was then sold through Kawasaki dealers.

'78 Z1-R in blue , '78 Z1-R in black, '78 Z1-R in pieces
My dad's '74 Z1
'00 ZRX1100

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04 Jun 2024 11:18 #900223 by pinballrunner@yahoo.com
Replied by pinballrunner@yahoo.com on topic KZ650 with RC Pro Stock on side covers

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