Just picked this up

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10 Aug 2019 09:54 - 10 Aug 2019 10:54 #808991 by riturbo
Just picked this up was created by riturbo
Well my friends had this bike in his garage owned it since high school . He hasnt ridden it since 1984 when he bought his gpz 1100 . Ive been trying to get it for years and he finally gave in and sold it to me . He kept the tank topped off all these years and kicked it over a few times a year all these years . I turned the throttle and it snapped back just like it had been ridden yesterday so I think it will run without to much fuss . Anyway heres the pics . Its a 76 kh 400.

Gpz 750 turbo The one I ride
Gpz 750 turbo Not finished
Gpz 750 turbo Not started
Gpz 550 1981
Gpz 550 1983
Bunch of other junk
Last edit: 10 Aug 2019 10:54 by riturbo.

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10 Aug 2019 10:01 #808993 by SWest

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10 Aug 2019 10:03 - 10 Aug 2019 10:06 #808994 by riturbo
Replied by riturbo on topic Just picked this up
He said he might have it but should be able to find one if he doesnt .

He said his friend painted the tank when he was in the navy in the late 70 s . Said they bought a brand new tank and sanded it down .

Gpz 750 turbo The one I ride
Gpz 750 turbo Not finished
Gpz 750 turbo Not started
Gpz 550 1981
Gpz 550 1983
Bunch of other junk
Last edit: 10 Aug 2019 10:06 by riturbo.

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10 Aug 2019 10:18 #808996 by old_kaw
Replied by old_kaw on topic Just picked this up
Nice find! It looks good too. There was a guy her in the lou that had been advertising a old 2 stroke triple on CL for ages. It didn't look half that good in the pics, and I doubt it ran . He advertised it for ~$9K firm. I imagine he still has it.

1981 Kawasaki Kz1000K1
Located in the Saint Louis, Missouri Area.

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10 Aug 2019 13:25 #809002 by Scirocco
Replied by Scirocco on topic Just picked this up
Withs ome elbow grease and fab skills it could be look like this:

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11 Aug 2019 20:19 #809053 by riturbo
Replied by riturbo on topic Just picked this up
Ha Ha A little elbow grease . Not sure if my elbow or my wallet has that much grease . Those are some nice bikes . Not sure what direction Im going with this one . Thinking about just getting it running .making it safe and cleaning it up for now .

Gpz 750 turbo The one I ride
Gpz 750 turbo Not finished
Gpz 750 turbo Not started
Gpz 550 1981
Gpz 550 1983
Bunch of other junk

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12 Aug 2019 07:19 - 12 Aug 2019 07:21 #809060 by kzsolo
Replied by kzsolo on topic Just picked this up
Nice pipes. I know that tank picture from somewhere. I think it was an album cover from the 70's? Molly Hatchet?
Last edit: 12 Aug 2019 07:21 by kzsolo.

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12 Aug 2019 08:51 #809067 by ThatGPzGuy
Replied by ThatGPzGuy on topic Just picked this up
Cool. Triples are loads of fun when running and frustrating when they are not. The smell of two-stroke exhaust makes it all worthwhile :)

Jim
North GA
2016 Yamaha FJR1300ES
1982 GPz750 R1
1974 Kawasaki H1
1976 Kawasaki KZ400
1979 Yamaha XS650 cafe'
2001 KZ1000P
2001 Yamaha YZ426
1981 Honda XR200 stroked in an '89 CR125 chassis
1965 Mustang
1967 Triumph GT6
1976 Bronco
"If you didn't build it, it's not really yours"

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12 Aug 2019 14:51 - 12 Aug 2019 14:54 #809078 by Dr. Gamma
Replied by Dr. Gamma on topic Just picked this up
GREAT FIND!!!!!!

The KH400 and the S3-400 triples were the best handling of all the Kawasaki triples. The '76 KH400 was the first of the small triples to have electronic ignition instead of those poor performing points ignitions!!!! I used to production road race a '76 KH400 back in '76 to '78. I still have a notebook full of things that worked, and things that did not. I was one of the few people that raced the KH400 instead of the very popular Yamaha RD350 and RD400 in the 410 Production class. There would be 25 to 40 or so RD's and me on my KH400 at most races back then!!!

A few small hints for you on the KH400. Ditch the clubman bars, and go for a set of Superbike bars instead of those bars. The closest I ever came to crashing without actually hitting the ground was when I had clubman bars on my 400. I went into a lock to lock high speed wobble and I just did not have the leverage with those bars to stop it!!!! A steering damper is a MUST on any triple too!!!! Switch to a high quality synthetic two stroke oil, and stay with that brand. Don't go mixing different brands of oil. You can back the oil injection pump way off when you use synthetic oil instead of cheapo two stroke oil. NGK spark plugs only. I ran B9HS on track, and B8HS when I rode it on the street. Transmission oil, I used Ford type ATF just like Denco recommended so your clutch doesn't slip at high rpm's. If you use a heavy gear oil, I guarantee the clutch will slip!!! Been there, done that!!! With those chambers you should have heavy duty clutch springs too. I ran the H/D clutch springs even with stock pipes. My little "stock" KH400 ran at best 13.71 to 13.91 at 102 to 104MPH in the 1/4 mile back in the day.

Good luck with your new find. The 400 is a real gas to ride fast through the twisty roads!!!


This photo is me going through the flat out Turn 2 at the now gone Mid America Raceway in Wentzville, Mo back in 1977.

1972 H2 750 Cafe Racer built in 1974.
1976 KH400 Production Road Racer.
1979 Kz1000 MK. II Old AMA/WERA Superbike.
1986 RG500G 2 stroke terror.
1986 GSXR750RG The one with the clutch that rattles!

Up in the hills near Prescott, Az.
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Last edit: 12 Aug 2019 14:54 by Dr. Gamma.
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13 Aug 2019 05:42 - 13 Aug 2019 05:43 #809096 by riturbo
Replied by riturbo on topic Just picked this up

kzsolo wrote: Nice pipes. I know that tank picture from somewhere. I think it was an album cover from the 70's? Molly Hatchet?



Yes Molly Hatchet Flirting with disaster . His friend in the navy painted it . He said they bought a brand new tank and sanded it down . He signed it on the tail section .

Gpz 750 turbo The one I ride
Gpz 750 turbo Not finished
Gpz 750 turbo Not started
Gpz 550 1981
Gpz 550 1983
Bunch of other junk
Last edit: 13 Aug 2019 05:43 by riturbo.

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13 Aug 2019 05:48 - 13 Aug 2019 05:50 #809097 by riturbo
Replied by riturbo on topic Just picked this up

Dr. Gamma wrote: GREAT FIND!!!!!!

The KH400 and the S3-400 triples were the best handling of all the Kawasaki triples. The '76 KH400 was the first of the small triples to have electronic ignition instead of those poor performing points ignitions!!!! I used to production road race a '76 KH400 back in '76 to '78. I still have a notebook full of things that worked, and things that did not. I was one of the few people that raced the KH400 instead of the very popular Yamaha RD350 and RD400 in the 410 Production class. There would be 25 to 40 or so RD's and me on my KH400 at most races back then

A few small hints for you on the KH400. Ditch the clubman bars, and go for a set of Superbike bars instead of those bars. The closest I ever came to crashing without actually hitting the ground was when I had clubman bars on my 400. I went into a lock to lock high speed wobble and I just did not have the leverage with those bars to stop it!!!! A steering damper is a MUST on any triple too!!!! Switch to a high quality synthetic two stroke oil, and stay with that brand. Don't go mixing different brands of oil. You can back the oil injection pump way off when you use synthetic oil instead of cheapo two stroke oil. NGK spark plugs only. I ran B9HS on track, and B8HS when I rode it on the street. Transmission oil, I used Ford type ATF just like Denco recommended so your clutch doesn't slip at high rpm's. If you use a heavy gear oil, I guarantee the clutch will slip!!! Been there, done that!!! With those chambers you should have heavy duty clutch springs too. I ran the H/D clutch springs even with stock pipes. My little "stock" KH400 ran at best 13.71 to 13.91 at 102 to 104MPH in the 1/4 mile back in the day.

Good luck with your new find. The 400 is a real gas to ride fast through the twisty roads!!!


This photo is me going through the flat out Turn 2 at the now gone Mid America Raceway in Wentzville, Mo back in 1977.



Thanks for all the info . I had never heard of the atf thing . Makes perfect sense though . Its got the B8HS plugs in it now .

Great Pics Thanks for posting them .

Gpz 750 turbo The one I ride
Gpz 750 turbo Not finished
Gpz 750 turbo Not started
Gpz 550 1981
Gpz 550 1983
Bunch of other junk
Last edit: 13 Aug 2019 05:50 by riturbo.

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13 Aug 2019 11:49 - 13 Aug 2019 12:41 #809127 by Dr. Gamma
Replied by Dr. Gamma on topic Just picked this up
I was looking at the different ATF's at Wally World today, and I didn't see any Ford Type ATF. Not sure if they even make it anymore. Just make sure you don't use anything like 80/90w gear oil, or even 20w/50 motor oil. Your clutch will slip worse than a worn out old Powerglide!!!!! The KH400 has a tiny clutch compared to the H1'a and H2's. They use the very same clutch plates as a KE125 dirtbike!!! Two of my friends have been running 10w/30 in their H2 750 transmissions without any slippage so far!!!

One more thing to watch on your KH400. Those clevis pieces and their pins in your shifter linkage wear out and then it gives you massive amounts of play in your shifter pedal. That and the shifter piece that bolts to the shifter shaft always loosens up and then you start missing gears big time!!!!! Been There, Done That!!!

1972 H2 750 Cafe Racer built in 1974.
1976 KH400 Production Road Racer.
1979 Kz1000 MK. II Old AMA/WERA Superbike.
1986 RG500G 2 stroke terror.
1986 GSXR750RG The one with the clutch that rattles!

Up in the hills near Prescott, Az.
Last edit: 13 Aug 2019 12:41 by Dr. Gamma.

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