Oh NO! What have I done! My new KZ1300

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14 May 2010 07:50 #367864 by Tyler
I just couldn't resist, I had been talking with a local guy who has a 1980 kz1300 he wanted to sell. We settled on a price and I get to pick it up tonight. I have a bit of work on my hands, it has 65,000 miles on it and hasn't run in a few years, the coils are no doubt the problem, but the mechanical condition of the bike is a crap shoot at this point.

Here is my game plan

1. Take it to the car wash

2. Buy a manual (factory kawasaki if I can find one)

3. Mechanical evaluation - it had a compression test done by the guy who has it now and that looks good, but the cam chain tensioner should be replaced before it try and start it. The radiator looks nice and clean but I will flush it anyways. The carbs need to be cleaned I am sure, also the usual maintinace stuff needs to be done. The final drive should be checked and greased.

4. Evaluate the ignition - the coils will need to be replaced. There are a number of possibilities here, Dyna and Nology coils will work, but other types of OEM Kawasaki coils and even a 6 cylinder coil pack form GM can be used. I need to figure out the best option form a cost and simplicity stand point.

5. Cross fingers, push "start button".

Once it get it going I will have to decide what I am going to do. I may be looking at a top end overhaul this winter if I decide this bike is a keeper. I will post some pictures tomorrow, its a nice looking machine. I can only hope it will run as good as it looks.

If I knew what I was doing all the time life wouldn't be any fun.

'80 KZ650 E 700cc, dyna ignition and coils, frame up restoration, daily driver
'81 KZ1300 A3 full restoration, custom big bore pistons, 1400cc 6 cylinder super bike
"77 KZ650 B1 - Barn Find, work in progeress
"74 Yamaha DT 400 Enduro

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14 May 2010 07:56 #367868 by timebomb33
Replied by timebomb33 on topic Oh NO! What have I done! My new KZ1300
if i were you i would just try and get it to run without putting any parts or money into it then try and figure out what it needs from there. i dont like to spend extra money on something that may or may not need major work.

1973 z1 2-1974z1-a,2-1975z1-b dragbikes1015cc+1393cc, 1977kz1000,1978kz1000,1981kz1000j, 1997 zx-11, 2000 z12r,1428turbo nitrous pro-mod and a shit load of parts thats all for now leader sask.,CANADA
I THINK MY POWERBAND BROKE

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14 May 2010 09:33 #367885 by Tyler
Replied by Tyler on topic Oh NO! What have I done! My new KZ1300
The ignition is suspect, so if this is a typical 1300 there are coil issues, I will try to get it going with as little cash outlay as possible, but I want to avoid any prevenatble damage. It turns over, thats all I have at this point.

If I knew what I was doing all the time life wouldn't be any fun.

'80 KZ650 E 700cc, dyna ignition and coils, frame up restoration, daily driver
'81 KZ1300 A3 full restoration, custom big bore pistons, 1400cc 6 cylinder super bike
"77 KZ650 B1 - Barn Find, work in progeress
"74 Yamaha DT 400 Enduro

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14 May 2010 09:44 #367886 by Mcdroid
Replied by Mcdroid on topic Oh NO! What have I done! My new KZ1300
Tyler if you want a Kawasaki FSM, PM me.

Michael
Victoria, Texas

1982 GPz750
1977 KZ1000A
1978 KZ1000A
1982 GPz1100
1975 Z2A

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17 May 2010 00:17 #368446 by Tyler
Replied by Tyler on topic Oh NO! What have I done! My new KZ1300
Well here she is....


If I knew what I was doing all the time life wouldn't be any fun.

'80 KZ650 E 700cc, dyna ignition and coils, frame up restoration, daily driver
'81 KZ1300 A3 full restoration, custom big bore pistons, 1400cc 6 cylinder super bike
"77 KZ650 B1 - Barn Find, work in progeress
"74 Yamaha DT 400 Enduro
Attachments:

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  • Kawickrice
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  • After Monday & Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF
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17 May 2010 05:54 #368469 by Kawickrice
Replied by Kawickrice on topic Oh NO! What have I done! My new KZ1300
Thats a good looking monster. I wish you the best and I am sure it will be a blast to ride

73 Kawasaki Z1
07 HD CVO Ultra Classic
82 Suzuki GS 1100
74 Yamaha RD 350 (My two stroke toy)
77 Kawasaki KZ 650B-1 (My putt around bike)
80 Indian Moped (My American Iron)
1
Long Gone
75 Suzuki GT550
74 GT 380
79 RD 400 Daytona Special
72 Honda CL 175
74 Honda QA 50
Tampa FL

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17 May 2010 10:10 - 17 May 2010 10:12 #368516 by OKC_Kent
Replied by OKC_Kent on topic Oh NO! What have I done! My new KZ1300
That mudflap cracks me up :laugh:

Nice looking bike. Did you get the cam chain adjuster replaced?

Oklahoma City, OK
78 KZ650 B2 82,000+ miles
Last edit: 17 May 2010 10:12 by OKC_Kent.

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17 May 2010 11:54 #368536 by Tyler
Replied by Tyler on topic Oh NO! What have I done! My new KZ1300
Monster is right! This thing is freakin huge! I am 5'-10'' and I am on my tip toes when I sit on it. I am excited to make it run.

At this point I haven't done anything yet other than give it a good look over.

The good: Tires are excellent, the paint, seat, and controls are fanatastic for the age and milage. The chrome exhaust is near perfect, the engine covers are starting to peel, but they aren't too bad. Over all its hard to beleive the milage on a bike in this shape in North Dakota, it must have been from down south. I also have reason to beleive the engine may not be original, and the signs of regular maintinence and repairs are promising. I have yet to see anything that makes me cringe, thats always a good thing.

The Bad: The suspension is toast, it needs new shocks and the forks rebuilt. The carbs need a tear down and cleaning, the tank has some rust in it, but I have cleaned out far worse. There are a ton of unkowns, so I just need to stay optimistic.


I have never seen one of these bikes expept in books and online. It is an awesome machine, as an engineer I am just plain fascinated by it. I am just beside myslef to actually own one. Around here old KZ's are hard to find, and a 1300, local in town, is a real find in any condition. I paid too much- $800. But if it is a complete loss I am sure I can make most that back from parts.

I am going to drain the oil and coolant, and then trouble shoot the ignition, once I get spark I will start cleaning the carbs, then its gonna get real interesting.

Sorry to rant, but like I said, I am a little excited....

If I knew what I was doing all the time life wouldn't be any fun.

'80 KZ650 E 700cc, dyna ignition and coils, frame up restoration, daily driver
'81 KZ1300 A3 full restoration, custom big bore pistons, 1400cc 6 cylinder super bike
"77 KZ650 B1 - Barn Find, work in progeress
"74 Yamaha DT 400 Enduro

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17 May 2010 12:06 #368539 by otakar
Replied by otakar on topic Oh NO! What have I done! My new KZ1300
That is beautiful. I have two thirteens and I love mine. They do have some inherent problems but I have learned to work on them quite proficiently and so the problems a re easily solved.

74 Z1-A stock
76 KZ-900 Totaly stock vice MAC pipe
77 KZ-1000A stock
78 Z1-R 100%MINT 500 original Mi.
78 Z1-R Yoshi 1103 kit stage 1 cams Yoshi pipe. Etc
79 KZ-1300 (1400)
80 KZ-1300
81 Scratch built GPz1150R
82 KZ1000

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  • Skyman
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  • 1978 KZ1000-B2 LTD 1982 KZ1000-M2 CSR
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17 May 2010 12:22 #368540 by Skyman
Replied by Skyman on topic Oh NO! What have I done! My new KZ1300
That's a nice looking bike. As for the price, if there are no major problems that need fixing, I'd say it was a steal. Hopefully, that is the case. Good luck.

West Linn, OR

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  • hocbj23
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17 May 2010 13:44 #368550 by hocbj23
Replied by hocbj23 on topic Oh NO! What have I done! My new KZ1300
please replace the cam chain tensioner before u even think about starting it.That is their weakest point especially if they have been sitting up awhile.bj

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  • hocbj23
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17 May 2010 13:46 #368551 by hocbj23
Replied by hocbj23 on topic Oh NO! What have I done! My new KZ1300
bump.800 pesadas? Man u stole that bike.good luck.The Kawi dealer here in Chatt had a 1300 manual for sale a few weeks ago.If u still need one let me know, I will go get it and send it to u and u can pay me back.bj

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