Saving Kay Zed (1979 KZ650 SR)

Yesterday I got my first KZ after years of dreaming about then in the pages of my dads old Cycle, Motorcyclist, and Cycle World magazines from the 70s. I've solely been refreshing old two stroke and honda XRs since I was 17. And now at 31 owning a full race motocross is pointless. So I posted up my last refreshed bike a 2002 Honda CR250 on my locks Facebook garage sale site. Didnt have much luck selling it so I added that I'd be open to trades. Then I saw her while surfing the bikes for sale. The add read 1979 Kawasaki 650SR didnt run right and guy was frustrated with it. So I set up a time to come look at it. When I questioned the history he said he had only owned it for a year and that it didnt run right so he barely rode it. I asked different he messed with the carbs or had them cleaned as he said it had set for 17 years and the old guy sold it to him as is. Well he hadn't cleaned the carbs at all just tried to run so fuel cleaner through it and just ride it. So no wonder it runs like crap. I'm amazed it even starts. Anyways he asked about my CR250 and we came up with a deal where he gave me the KZ and $250 in trade for the CR250. So here she is. At first glance I seen he modified the kerker exhaust by taking off the megaphone cuz he though that was plugged up and making it run crappy and tack welded the turn down tip on. Luckily he kept the megaphone so I can reverse his engineering feat. Also he took off the rear rack and sissybar it had. I'll leave the sissybar off but can put the rack back to use. And I little wear on the seat cover but foam looks good still. So follow along as I return it back to its former bolevard cruiser glory and take it to the local vintage bike show in August here. I'll post updated pics and youtube videos as I go.

Check the valve adjustments. Too often bikes like ours are sold with carb problems when the PO's were too lazy or cheap to do them and then sell it .
Steve

For sure I'll make note of that on my list of things to do/check. Thank You

Here is Ep. 1 please like and subscribe if you want to follow along. I'll try to post all the videos on here but. I get carried away and dont turn on the camera.

It's just broken in. You may have to change the valve seals if you start fouling plugs. Don't post this until you get your parts.
Steve

First do a good tank/petcock clean, rusty particles in the carbs can be a PITA.

I purchased a seat cover from this guy. Great prices. Not sure if he has one that will fit your bike. But it would be worth for you to shoot him message. I think if you ship him your seat, he would use it as template and make you one. Helps him by being able to offer the cover for sale to others.

KZ650 ebay seat covers

Scirocco wrote: First do a good tank/petcock clean, rusty particles in the carbs can be a PITA.

Ya it's not too bad I've cleaned far worse on old metal tanks on mx bikes. But ya was just going to rebuild the petcock anyways it turns like the rubber is pretty hard. And just you be safe gonna run a inline filter too after it's all clean.

Little bit of an update here. I finally got around to getting the carbs cleaned. The carb on bank one is corroded pretty badly around the main jet. But on a better note I did get the exhaust that was originally on the bike from the previous owner. It ended up being a R.C. Engineering. 4to1. So kinda stuck at a stand still until I can get that carb replaced be it finding another set to use or just replace that one.

Is it a VM 24 style or the CV carbs? I might have a spare body if it's the VM model. The SR model is my 2nd favorite after the "B"s for the KZ. Get a pic up of what you have and see what's going on.