1978 KZ1000 LTD nut and bolt resto

Going to start a nut and bolt resto on this 78 KZ1000 LTD B2 at the beginning of 2024. I will post progress as I go. I have done a lot of work already and I think that it deserves a complete restoration. Current milage is 28,995 and it runs well.
 

NICE LTD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, looks great!  Are the front signals on the headlight!  I thought LTD signals were on the bars.

hardrockminer wrote:

Yes, looks great!  Are the front signals on the headlight!  I thought LTD signals were on the bars.
 

Thanks Hard Rock Miner, Everyone else's turn signals are mounted to the handlebars but I tend to be, not like everyone else. Did not like the stock LTD bars back in the day and I don't care for them today. They are mounted to the headlight and they are stock "Honda" turn signals. This resto will Not be a back to stock resto, it will be a what I like resto. I will keep all the stock parts just so when I die my son will get more $$$ for the bike with the original parts and pieces.

Bike looks great now, looking forward to seeing what you do with it 

That is one beautiful machine right there!

great looking bike! 

Great start for a restore, she don't look like she needs it. Sweet bike!!

Wowsers nice bike! At 28k it’s just getting broken in. If you have the itch to tinker think about finding a cheep good bones new bike and have at it. That’s to nice of a bike. 

Mikaw wrote:

Wowsers nice bike! At 28k it’s just getting broken in. If you have the itch to tinker think about finding a cheep good bones new bike and have at it. That’s to nice of a bike. 

Thanks Mikaw, I don't think there is such a thing as "Cheap good bones" early KZ's anymore. Absolute junk is selling for more than I paid for this LTD 4 years ago. And as far as this being too nice of a bike to restore the main reason is because the Japanese  manufacturers back in the 70's and 80's built good quality machines and the paint jobs where for the most part quality as well but the painting on their frames was sub par, at best IMHO. They never intended it to last 45-50 years. I have access to commercial vapor blasting and powder coating at no charge to me other than my labor and that's free.  So, I figured if I was going to powder coat the frame I should also replace the other wear and tear items such as bearings, seals, and so on. All the other parts that where never intended to last 45+ years. And it's just fun to do. 

Nothing wrong with making a nice motorcycle better.
So you could say you're starting with REALLY good bones.  And you're right - it's fun to do !

SavageKZ wrote:

Mikaw wrote:

Wowsers nice bike! At 28k it’s just getting broken in. If you have the itch to tinker think about finding a cheep good bones new bike and have at it. That’s to nice of a bike. 

Thanks Mikaw, I don't think there is such a thing as "Cheap good bones" early KZ's anymore. Absolute junk is selling for more than I paid for this LTD 4 years ago. And as far as this being too nice of a bike to restore the main reason is because the Japanese  manufacturers back in the 70's and 80's built good quality machines and the paint jobs where for the most part quality as well but the painting on their frames was sub par, at best IMHO. They never intended it to last 45-50 years. I have access to commercial vapor blasting and powder coating at no charge to me other than my labor and that's free.  So, I figured if I was going to powder coat the frame I should also replace the other wear and tear items such as bearings, seals, and so on. All the other parts that where never intended to last 45+ years. And it's just fun to do. 

Frame paint is weak , but the real issue for me was  ugly welding  
I fixed all my welds and when I braced the frame  I made it stronger and the welding is flawless.
Ask Mikaw  about my frames  welding  , Welds looked ground  and smoothed..but are not.. Painted frame in epoxy chromate primer  and  paint is black gloss Imron 
Here's my LTD