Does anyone know ANYTHING about the 1984 KZ700

Id like to add this to my collection BUT Ive read that parts are hard to find and it has issues. Beautiful bike. It would match my 1982 Honda CB 900F.

Tell me what you know about it...

Well.....?

It was Kawasaki's answer to H-D's request to limit large bike imports to the US. As I understand it, and I could very well be miss informed or recall incorrectly, that it is a normal KZ750 of the time and just called a 700 just to get it in the US under the import, tax or custom laws of the time.

I also remember that it was a response to the import tariff to save HD, but is actually just under 700cc, as it has a 2mm smaller bore than the 750.

Here are some basic specifications.

bikez.com/motorcycles/kawasaki_kz_700-a1_1984.php

azman857 wrote: It was Kawasaki's answer to H-D's request to limit large bike imports to the US. As I understand it, and I could very well be miss informed or recall incorrectly, that it is a normal KZ750 of the time and just called a 700 just to get it in the US under the import, tax or custom laws of the time.

Hi and thanks. I was more curious to know if its a pain in the ass to own since it only came out one year - parts, headaches, issues that ppl have had with the bike, thats sort of stuff.

Like when I bought my 1982 Honda CB 900F ppl warned me the charging system was weak and that the starter clutch was prone to failure. Sure enough, I had to address both of those issues, so I was looking for any info like that on the KZ700

TexasKZ wrote: I also remember that it was a response to the import tariff to save HD, but is actually just under 700cc, as it has a 2mm smaller bore than the 750.

Hi and thanks. I was more curious to know if its a pain in the ass to own since it only came out one year - parts, headaches, issues that ppl have had with the bike, thats sort of stuff.

Like when I bought my 1982 Honda CB 900F ppl warned me the charging system was weak and that the starter clutch was prone to failure. Sure enough, I had to address both of those issues, so I was looking for any info like that on the KZ700

I think that other than the pistons and rings, the rest was standard 750 fare.
I am certainly not the expert on this, but I do not recall reading or hearing about any common weakness or problem with that engine family. I did read that the cases have to be split to repair the starter clutch, but I understand that the clutch itself was not problem-prone.

This could be helpful in identifying differences.

www.manualslib.com/manual/915880/Kawasak...-A1-1984.html#manual

TexasKZ wrote: I think that other than the pistons and rings, the rest was standard 750 fare.

This could be helpful in identifying differences.

www.manualslib.com/manual/915880/Kawasak...-A1-1984.html#manual

Amazing. If you had to choose between this one or a perfect condition 1977 KZ750B Twin, which would you take?

The 700, hands down. I rode a 750 twin for a bunch of years. It was a fine motorcycle, but I often wished for the smoothness, power and sound of the four cylinder model. I'd bet there are at least as many hard to find parts for the twin as for the 700.

A little time spent at Partzilla.com will give youan idea of how many parts are no longer available from the factory. Yes, some will be available from aftermarket suppliers, but you will have some idea what you are up against.

If I already had the 700 I might like the twin, but the 700 would be first.
That color combo (also found on other Kz's) is my favorite.

I don't think it's that hard to get parts for (at least not any harder than any other 30-40 year old Kz). Even if you needed internal motor parts, you could just convert it to a 750.

loudhvx wrote: If I already had the 700 I might like the twin, but the 700 would be first.
That color combo (also found on other Kz's) is my favorite.

I don't think it's that hard to get parts for (at least not any harder than any other 30-40 year old Kz). Even if you needed internal motor parts, you could just convert it to a 750.

Would a 750 airbox and carbs fit? And if so from what year? The one I am looking at buying has airpods on it. Yuck