My 20-year owned KZ650

Hi,

Here's my 650 that I've had for about 20 years. It's an ongoing project in the sense I'm always fixing or upgrading it. I bought it not running and got it going and now running like a beast with the help of this forum.

My goal has always been to upgrade it and increase performance while maintaining a pretty stock look. Luckily, when I got it, all the major parts were there. The tank, wheels, and seat were in really good shape.

The stock look has been leaned with the help of low rise bars, short signals, a cropped front fender and rear fender delete, some frame trimming including the rear peg perches, and a custom chain guard. Rear fender is replaced with an zx-11 taillight and plate mount.

Suspension is an upgraded but fairly stock front with progressives in the rear. Drive train is all new sprockets, seals, chain, and hardware.

Brakes are rebuilt stock with stainless lines, modern master, and polished calipers.

Ignition is all dyna with slightly overgapped stock NGKs and copper wires. It also has the coil relay to provide better spark.

Carbs are rebuilt stock with uni pods and more fuel to accommodate the increased airflow. I think it's running 2 sizes up on both pilot and main jets with the needle on the third setting.

Pretty much everything else has been rebuilt or upgraded as well through the years.

Most importantly, it starts instantly, doesn't stumble or backfire, and once warmed up, it rips. It's pretty amazing how much pep these motors have and how much power they make even at high rpm. It runs a tad bit lean at high speeds but only when it is windy and getting a bunch of air turbulence but otherwise about as good as it gets. I'm thinking of building an airbox to replace the pods.

The delkevic pipe is a nice piece of craftsmanship and fits and sounds great. I made a custom stainless steel hanger since the bike has no rear peg perch. I ran the pipe without the baffle a few times which was fun but not good for the hearing.

I'll post some more detailed photos soon.

It's a great looking bike. Still looking for my KZ650...

Nice looking bike, clean and simple.

I've read on the 650.info forum where kz 750 heads with the larger valves and bigger carbs. Up to 29mm cabs. GPz cams was the hottest set up.

What year is this bike

Looks like '78 or '79 to me, but I can't say for sure. The motor is later than '77.

Judging by the foot peg mounts (1 hole in each mount) it is a 1978. Ed

Your 650 looks very nice.
I'm sure your well attached to her.

Others here, and myself included, have also owned a KZ for many years and would not like to be without one.
Great bikes.

Hi guys,

VIN says it's a78. When I got it, it had a non-recirculating valve cover which I can't remember if was stock for 78. It also came with a spare motor that has the re-breather valve cover.

PURDY :evil:
Steve

Yes your bike looks very nice.
Frame is a '78, and the motor would not have the head with emissions crap.
The '79 models got the emission stuff.
Brake rotor looks 1979 or later.
That's when holes started appearing in the rotors.

Do you know what the tail light came off of?