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KZ Engine & Frame numbers

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10 Feb 2024 08:21 #895077 by martin_csr
Replied by martin_csr on topic KZ Engine & Frame numbers
By Bounce: As you can imagine I am now a bit confused as your list shows the 1979 KZ750B4 starting at KZ750BE033101 & mine is KZ750BE039465 & 1978?

As with most if not all vehicles, the year of mfg isn't necessarily the model year. 1979 models would have been made in the last half of 1978 or the first half of 1979.  
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10 Feb 2024 08:30 #895079 by Bounce
Replied by Bounce on topic KZ Engine & Frame numbers
Ah ok, so you dont think Kawasaki have made a mistake then.

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10 Feb 2024 08:59 #895081 by TexasKZ
Replied by TexasKZ on topic KZ Engine & Frame numbers
What sort of mistake? Is the vin decal still attached to the steering head? If so, I bet it has a November or December 1978  manufacturing date, which would make the bike a 1979 model.

1982 KZ1000 LTD parts donor
1981 KZ1000 LTD awaiting resurrection
2000 ZRX1100 not ridden enough

www.kzrider.com/11-projects/620336-anoth...uild-thread?start=24

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10 Feb 2024 09:43 #895082 by Bounce
Replied by Bounce on topic KZ Engine & Frame numbers
There is no date sticker on the headstock only the Vin No & Kawasaki Japan are saying according to their records it is a July1978 manufactured B4.

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  • SWest
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10 Feb 2024 10:16 #895085 by SWest

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  • gd4now
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10 Feb 2024 10:47 #895086 by gd4now
Replied by gd4now on topic KZ Engine & Frame numbers
As I said in the past  I have attempted something like this but with only the (K)Z650 machines.  I could only find certain info and none of it from Kawasaki. I was able to find info from micro fiche that limited B3 numbers to a point and there have been several different vin numbers posted that fall outside the info I could find the B3 and before the info I could find for the B4. .I became clear that I did not have all the info I was seeking. I would suggest this it what has happened here.  I do tip my hat to the attempt to pull this info together. It is much harder than you may think. 

1977 KZ650 B1
Pods and Denco header


OLD KAW OWNERS SMILE ALOT

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10 Feb 2024 11:23 #895088 by Bounce
Replied by Bounce on topic KZ Engine & Frame numbers
Anyone can see there is a lot of hard work gone into this & I bet it wasn't easy finding all the information, I suppose there will always be a few irregularities with any manufacturer.

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10 Feb 2024 13:48 #895097 by Wookie58
Replied by Wookie58 on topic KZ Engine & Frame numbers
VW always start the next model year following summer shutdown in July, I seem to remember seeing on the forum that Kawasaki's switch over was even earlier in the year (poss June/July)

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10 Feb 2024 15:09 #895101 by Bounce
Replied by Bounce on topic KZ Engine & Frame numbers
That would certainly explain things.

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10 Feb 2024 16:00 #895104 by TexasKZ
Replied by TexasKZ on topic KZ Engine & Frame numbers

I don't see the early police bikes.
i have not been able to find any reliable info on either series of copcycles.

1982 KZ1000 LTD parts donor
1981 KZ1000 LTD awaiting resurrection
2000 ZRX1100 not ridden enough

www.kzrider.com/11-projects/620336-anoth...uild-thread?start=24
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10 Feb 2024 16:04 #895105 by TexasKZ
Replied by TexasKZ on topic KZ Engine & Frame numbers

As I said in the past  I have attempted something like this but with only the (K)Z650 machines.  I could only find certain info and none of it from Kawasaki. I was able to find info from micro fiche that limited B3 numbers to a point and there have been several different vin numbers posted that fall outside the info I could find the B3 and before the info I could find for the B4. .I became clear that I did not have all the info I was seeking. I would suggest this it what has happened here.  I do tip my hat to the attempt to pull this info together. It is much harder than you may think. 
For some reason the 650 info is harder to come by. Even the back cover of the shop manuals for them have limited info.
In compiling the list posed here, I stuck to Kawasaki publications, mostly factory service manuals and the model identification booklets.

1982 KZ1000 LTD parts donor
1981 KZ1000 LTD awaiting resurrection
2000 ZRX1100 not ridden enough

www.kzrider.com/11-projects/620336-anoth...uild-thread?start=24

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  • Kelly E
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10 Feb 2024 20:04 #895111 by Kelly E
Replied by Kelly E on topic KZ Engine & Frame numbers

VW always start the next model year following summer shutdown in July, I seem to remember seeing on the forum that Kawasaki's switch over was even earlier in the year (poss June/July)


I remember it was someone that worked in the Nebraska plant. He said that they got the first two weeks of July off and then came back and started the next year's production run.

I could be wrong, sometimes I get CRS.
 

The Rust Bros. Garage Collection
1974 Honda CB 550 K0
1975 Honda CB 400F Super Sport
1977 Kawasaki KZ 1000 LTD
1980 Suzuki GS 1100E
1982 Honda CB 900F Super Sport
1983 Honda CB 1100F
1984 Honda Sabre 700
1984 Honda Interceptor 1000
1990 Moto Guzzi 1000
1994 Kawasaki ZG 1000 Concours

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