Oh NO! What have I done! My new KZ1300

Beefy.
Steve

Yeah she ain't no delicate flower.... appropriate nicknames for 1300's would include Bertha and Big Rhonda! :laugh:

Bossie's already taken but something like that. Beef/Kaw. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Steve

congrats Tyler, bike looks awesome! I was looking at the front wheel thinking it looked really small and then realized the bike bike was just that big. Nice work, enjoy the summer.

BIG BUBBA!!!!

Please don't go with the Hulk. Too obvious.

Your bike looks really great! Ed

Nice job. I'm with you when it comes to green and black on a Kawasaki. There is just something so right about it.

EXCELLENT SAVE!!!!!!!!!!! I dig the 6 into 1 :lol: Back in my day, friend had CBX 6 cly with 6 denco pipes! When he opened them up!
Sounded like nothing else I ever heard you could hear him all over the neighborhood.
I am partial to the green! Throw an off-white stripe on there Synergy green camaro also. AA/ Al and myself still working out suspension

z1kzonly wrote:

Attachment photo.JPG not found

Woah, that's is a sweet machine you have there! Short wheel base must be a handful to get down the strip :evil:

Tyler wrote:

z1kzonly wrote:

Attachment photo.JPG not found

Woah, that's is a sweet machine you have there! Short wheel base must be a handful to get down the strip :evil:

A/A nostalgia gassers. As ran in the 60's Heads up, no electrics, magneto's only. OEM cast iron blocks and heads, Blowers on alcohol!
1/8 mile only. Jim Oddy (Hall of Fame Drag Racer's car Junkyard Dog. Tuned in the best record 4.70's 145. Most Guy's average 5.0's -5.30's
Green caged heat 10 year Hand Built project. Still tuning in suspension. Only out 3 times. We were at the "Rock" North Carolina Apr. 26-27
Check out promo video, on facebook too.
nostalgiaaagassers.com/

Bike looks amazing Tyler, thanks for sharing some "show" pics and she came out gorgeous! I can't even imagine trying to pull that thing up onto the center stand though :S

Brett

So after a few weeks of driving the 13 around I have few observations.

The Bad:

It's heavy, and its top heavy. No way around it the 1300 is a big heavy bike. It sucks to man handle around, there are times where most bikes could be rolled when sitting on saddle,but you would have to dismount and push this pig around. Maneuvering at slow speed is cumbersome, and it can be handful at times with seat so high off the ground. The weight means breaking is more of a chore, combined with almost surreal and effortless way the 13 builds speed and you need to stay farther ahead of the bike the you normally would. The breaks are not as bad as I anticipated, actually they are pretty good for a machine of this vintage and I'm sure my pads are still bedding in.

The Good:

For all the mass this thing carries, once your moving it is astonishingly well mannered, it is a very easy bike to drive. The ride is fantastic and the seat has to be among the best from the late 70's early 80's. I am still in disbelief how well this pig goes around a corner, it is just as sure footed in a turn as a straight road, rough pavement in corners, gravel, wind, no problem. Breaking in the bends is no big deal either. Throttle control in the corners is nice, the shaft doesn't upset the bike as you roll on or off the throttle in a turn. Perhaps I was expecting the worst and discovered the best when it comes to how this thing drives. There are modern touring/cruising bikes that don't handle this well.

The Best:

The engine is an absolute work of art. It makes the bike what it is. It produces instant power on tap in any gear, at any speed. Throttle response at 2000 rpm or 7000 rpm will put a smile on your face. This thing will never win any races, but it can get up move when you want it to. I've spent some time with a v-max (the first gen one), and they have some similarities being heavy shaft driven bikes. They are similar in weight and power, but Yamaha is completely bent in the head. The v-max is just more insane in the acceleration department (really they are completely bonkers when you drop the hammer down), where as the 1300 is much more forgiving to drive. I will say that roll-on acceleration in top gear is pretty close between the two. (the V-max is probably faster but they feel the same.)

All the fun and games aside, simple lazy driving around town on the 1300 is an experience. The engine is so smooth, all those complicated shafts and chains whirr and whine in perfect harmony, add in that exhaust note and it becomes something special. It's a sound and feel like none other.

I am finishing up the total project list for this bake with costs. I post it up when I'm sure I've got everything I did listed out.