School me on KZ1000
- Thread starter lgyee4
- Start date
Randy B
Well-known member
What I know is there are two different motors...a 996cc and a 1015. The 1015 is the more common engine and I think the 996 is the higher HP Z1 engine with a J head. At least that what my friend was always clamoring about looking for anyway.
Anywho... I know there are A LOT of big bore kits out there for the KZ engines up to around 1500cc I believe. It just depends on what you want to get out of it I guess.
Anywho... I know there are A LOT of big bore kits out there for the KZ engines up to around 1500cc I believe. It just depends on what you want to get out of it I guess.
channelcat
Banned
Great idea. I had an 81. I think it was 998cc. bitchin' motor.
I have 4 Vance & Hines filters, and some Magura clip ons that I think will fit for reasonable.
PM me if you go there.
ccat
I have 4 Vance & Hines filters, and some Magura clip ons that I think will fit for reasonable.
PM me if you go there.
ccat
oldapeman
Rookie My A$$!
Check out www.kzrider.com. More info than you could absorb.
RX311
Well-known member
Never had one but always wanted one. Was just looking at the AC-Sanctuary site last night.
http://www.ac-sanctuary.co.jp/english/
http://www.ac-sanctuary.co.jp/english/
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EastBayDave
- Kawasaki Fanatic -
If you can find them, the rare 81'/82' KZ1000J-model has the best chassis, engine, everything. The 82' is the preferred model of the two. I owned & rode street for a year, then raced an 81' for a couple years, & it was the best air-cooled bike I ever owned. It was the basis for the "Lawson Replica" Muzzy racebike that won the AMA Championship w/Eddie Lawson aboard. Lots of pics/info on that ride all over the place...
Cincinnatus
Not-quite retired Army
Paging MaxandGrinch to the white courtesy phone... :teeth
Beauregard
Aut Agere Aut Mori
"See you on the road, skag. See you like we saw your friend, The Nightrider."
EastBayDave
- Kawasaki Fanatic -
Now the differences were not huge until the later models of KZ1000. The earlier models were nice too; my #1 riding buddy had a 78' Z1R (arguably the 1st Japanese "Sportbike"= a "Cafe'" style KZ1000.) It came w/different tank, pegs, larger carbs & had a little more power than the others.
Of course the most desirable for collectors is the 73' Z1 900 (1st year.) The 73' was supposed to be introduced in 69', but HON beat KAW to the punch with the CB 750. So KAW delayed the 900 couple years until they got it's performance over the CB750.
Two years later the KZ1000 came out, more horsepower & different graphics, various improvements each year (mostly styling.) In 1977' all the big IL-4's started to come w/mag wheels. All of the KAW's in 78'
The 79'/80' KZ1000MKII (Mark Two) had numerous upgrades that were mostly cosmetic. A lot of KZ guys really liked the MKII as it looked really good; more "squarish" style rather than the older KZ's "roundish tank" style. KAW switched to a squared-off tailpiece instead of the rounded tailpiece of previous model years.
The LTD came out in 76' & had a 16" rear tire/wheel & different bars/paint/etc. It was the more "chopperish" looking of the KZ's. They added fuel injection I believe in 81' ? The "ST" was the shaftie touring bike & it was almost identical to the J except for the shaft-drive (crankcase & rear wheel differences.)
There's a lot here & I could go on & on...:teeth
Cincinnatus
Not-quite retired Army
MaxandGrinch bought my '83 KZ1100A3 beast, dunno if he's still working on it or might give it up for ya. :thumbup
Cincinnatus
Not-quite retired Army
This is up for sale in Michigan -
http://motors.shop.ebay.com/sch/Motorcycles-/6024/i.html?_vxp=mtr&_nkw=kz1100
One locally, top of the listing. Kinda shiny, tho.
http://motors.shop.ebay.com/Motorcy...pos=94577&_sop=7&_sticky=1&_stpos=94577&gbr=1
http://motors.shop.ebay.com/sch/Motorcycles-/6024/i.html?_vxp=mtr&_nkw=kz1100
One locally, top of the listing. Kinda shiny, tho.
http://motors.shop.ebay.com/Motorcy...pos=94577&_sop=7&_sticky=1&_stpos=94577&gbr=1
channelcat
Banned
the 81 MK 11 had a skinny frame, and begot Kosman bracing kits for frame and swing arm. never 'raced' mine. just had a blast riding it around. #1 bike I wish I had kept.:|
Sharky
Well-known member
As a former GPZ owner....well they generally suck compared to anything within the last 25 years or so. But they suck in a cool way. Old school iron for me is a GPZ900 or 1100. Probably hate it as much as I hate my Ninjette.
If I had more room, I'd get a late 80's or early 90's GSXR. They suck sure, but they got style.
If I had more room, I'd get a late 80's or early 90's GSXR. They suck sure, but they got style.
Randy B
Well-known member
This is my buddies 1980 MK II that I get to ride when I'm back in Illinois for visits.
He's owned it since 1985 and had the custom paint done shortly after acquiring it.
EastBayDave
- Kawasaki Fanatic -
the 79' & 80' MKII's were the last of the "spindly" frames (see "wobbly son-of-a-bitches.")
In 81' KAW finally fixed it by going to a larger frame tube/thicker wall thickness, with added braces (ironically @ the same spot Kosman's braces went...hmmm.) The bracing was in the streering head, tri-tube (under tank), & at the engine mounts f/r.
This vastly improved stability in the 81' KZ1000J, the the ST/LTD/GPz models. I raced a KZ1000"J" & 83' GPz1100a (pic of GPz below or look in my album here) so please, take my word for it. The new J-model & GPz1100 series were tons more stable than any of them from the 70's.
The "J" model & GPz (after fixing suspension-= shocks/fork mods) was the most stable big bore KAW's I ever rode. Both of them were heavy, but didn't do anything funny on the racetrack, so I flat loved them both!
Perhaps that's why Eddie Lawson won the AMA US National Championship on the Muzzy in 81' on the 81' KZ1000J (built to the gills.)
-ebd
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EastBayDave
- Kawasaki Fanatic -
Wow, pretty MKII man. I loved that bike too & almost bought one, but in 1980' I was still racing a FII/750SS built to the hilt KZ650C. The KAW shop owner/sponsor (Richmond Kawasaki) told me to wait for the 81' model & I did. Was I so glad; it was pretty, & more importantly handled so much better w/the new frame & bracing.
After fixing the suspension, I couldn't make the big-KZ wobble in high-speed turns. I'd go into a sweeper @ 80+, then "bang the bars" once to see what the bike would do (before racing it.) It would only "twitch" once from the bar input, & go right back in line no matter what I did to upset it. The new frame I discovered almost immediately was tit's man! (maybe that's why they chose to race it.) It's also why I chose to race it; the KZ after 4 years in the AFM needed a rebuild (mainly f/burnt shift forks-getting hard to shift), had to be retired so the KZ1000J was pressed into service w/the AFM.
I was flat delighted when I found it rode tits at Sears Point in the races, the only limiting factor was ground clearance (dragging the pipes/stator cover), & a slight lack of power from the popular bike of the time, the GS1100E. I just can't say enough about that bike man....was "tits!" :thumbup:teeth:ride