my 81 kz650 nightmare

Ok well I have started my 1st project bike. I got the bike monday, and nothing was working on it. I redone some wireing, and now all lights work as they should. Now for the nightmare!! When I got this bike, it didn;t have a seat, chain, shifter, or clutch handle. And it still doesn't. I need to know where the best place to go to get parts would be on a small budget. Also any and all info you can give me about these bikes would be great, as I know very little about them. I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to try my hand at fixing one up. Well thanks for the help.

Google "download haynes kz650 manual" and about 4 listings down is a way to get it for free till you can find a hard copy. You will have to go through some post to find it. Wish I could put the link in here but I'm not exactly sure what it is.

Z1 Enterprises has great parts and prices. I have used Bikebandit.com too. They have great diagrams to find what part you need. There's always ebay too. Not sure where you live, but I bet there's a salvage yard not too far away.

Thanks, I am sure I am going to need the manual being my 1st project! I just found a place in Indy that has some of what I need. Maybe some swap meets or something. Haven't had much luck buying on ebay, so I leave that alone. Once again thanks for the help.

I Hope this will help....... www.frameworkmx.com/search.php?q=Kawasak...50+Four+Haynes+Servi

Good to hear another person trying their hand at restoring a Z650. I'm well on my way into fixing up my '77 C1, and for whatever it's worth, would be glad to share my knowledge with you. www.kz650.info/ is another great resource for this bike. Between KZrider and kz650.info and a decent manual you should have all the help you need to get your bike going.

I'm sorry you had some bad experiences with ebay, but they're really the best place to go for cheap and abundant parts for your bike (JMO). I've done alright buying from them as long as I stay away from untested electronic parts with no return/exchange policy (found this out the hard way). If you're dead set against ebay you could try the forums for your used parts needs.

I've posted a picture of my project. It was a filthy, beat $100 non-running basket case when I bought it. I've put some new Uni foam air filter pods on it and a new right rear blinker since this picture has been taken. Also on order from ebay is a used gas tank, and rear cowling in great shape, just needs painting. She's still pretty rough looking, but she runs great and sounds incredible with a 4-into-1 header and will hit 12000 RPM. So far I've got about $370 invested in it. She's ready for the street.

By most accounts these are tough bikes and were built to last with a minimum of maintenence (adjusting the valves is kind of a pain as you have to remove the camshafts to do it, but it is much easier than it sounds and is within the skill set of most backyard mechanics).

I love my KZ650 and so far it's been a rewarding experience bringing her back from the dead and I intend to complete the restoration a little bit at a time as my schedule and budget permits. Keep us posted with your progress, and hope you have fun with it.

Thanks for the info and words of encouragement. The only bad part to trying to fix up this bike, is they are few and far between around here. Would like to find a parts bike for it, but all anyone is getting rid of around here are Honda cb's. Well anyway just thought I would say thanks, and here is a pic of my Nightmare.

Hey Dave, were are you located?Those rims are looking awful rusty!Pm me your address I'll see what I can come up with for some parts.

later, Boots

Ebay is definitely the place to buy any parts you need, you just need to keep looking. I bought a 1981 CSR650 a while ago & parts are hard to find here in the UK. I bought a load of parts for it from the US. Also bear in mind that a lot of the parts are common to many models eg KZ750 H2.

Start by giving it a good clean so that you know what you are working with. You should pick up a seat no problem, apart from that the bike looks pretty complete and is not a real nightmare- enjoy fixing it!.
Tommotbird

I forgot, those are ally rims with steel spokes and the spokes discolour really quick but the rims should polish up fine.

E-Bay would be the way to go for used parts. You can shop from your living room and not waste gas searching salvage yards. Unless you have one close by. Z1 enterprises would be the place for new parts.

I am in Indiana, and I found a cycle recycle in Indianapolis. I just have to get time without the kids to get down there. The rims are not in bad shape, but the spokes are. Was thinking of going with a different type of rim. Anyway any and all help is appreciated... Thanks

I bought a corbin seat from cycle recyle off of ebay last year. Check out thier ebay store to see if they have parts you could use.