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KZ 650 / 750 opinion
- martyd03
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What do you guys think? Should I start swapping parts and get a Frankenstein, or just stick with factory stuff?
Work and downtime don't intimidate me in the least, I just want something that's a little better than what I got now that I can call my own... I can post pics if you guys want.
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- School Teacher
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1976 kz900 in parts but will be going some day soon
1980 kz1000G1
1976 kz900 parts bike
1979 kz1000 shaftie parts bike
1978 kz1000 33mm smoothies 1075 kit
Troutdale Oregon USA
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- trianglelaguna
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- New and improved - extra strength
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1976 KZ900
2003 ZX12R
2007 FZ1000
2004 ninja 250R for wife
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- 650ed
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1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
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- martyd03
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- cobura
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- forever 2 wheels
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I'd say that customizing and upgrading is fine on old bikes, as long as you dont cut or chop anything, and dont throw any parts away. Make sure everything you do can be reversed. Many people have made the mistake of chopping up their old Z1's and KZ's, dump a lot of money into custom parts, just to later realize when they try to sell it, that the value of their bike has decreased by more than half.
1979 KZ650B3
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- Kawickrice
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- After Monday & Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF
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73 Kawasaki Z1
07 HD CVO Ultra Classic
82 Suzuki GS 1100
74 Yamaha RD 350 (My two stroke toy)
77 Kawasaki KZ 650B-1 (My putt around bike)
80 Indian Moped (My American Iron)
1
Long Gone
75 Suzuki GT550
74 GT 380
79 RD 400 Daytona Special
72 Honda CL 175
74 Honda QA 50
Tampa FL
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- M357.5
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- Kwakas N' lots of em'
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Anytime I build a special, I make notes of which parts are from which year/model donor as after a few years you may forget and it can be a bit frustrating when ordering parts in the future
83 KZ750L X2 + goodies = Project
84 KZ750L the mini ELR replica replica lol
84 ZX750E Turbo modded n' FAAAAASSSSSSTTTTT
85 GPz900r GREEN N' MEAN
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- RetroRiceRocketRider
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- ...bring in the machine that goes PING!
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None of the main parts (ignition & charging components, brakes, wheels, etc) from that 750 are going to be a direct swap to your 650. Some form or another of modification will need to be made. The 750 engine will fit your frame, but you'll need to swap in the afor mentioned ignition and charging components.
The '77 650 had a completely different charging system than the '78~ 650's did, as well as having a seperate regulator and rectifier. All of the 750-4 models are from 198*~, and ran electronic ignition (pulsar coil as opposed to points & condensers).
Swapping the rear swingarm to use the rear disc brake set up will require changing from brass swingarm pivot bushings to needle bearings (MUCH better IMHO), and you will need to find a method of attaching the rear master cylinder to the frame (easy to fab a bracket up).
Like I said, it's do-able. Just don't expect a direct swap on the major parts.
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- Kawickrice
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Anything can be made to fit, it just depends on how bad you want / need it.
None of the main parts (ignition & charging components, brakes, wheels, etc) from that 750 are going to be a direct swap to your 650. Some form or another of modification will need to be made. The 750 engine will fit your frame, but you'll need to swap in the afor mentioned ignition and charging components.
The '77 650 had a completely different charging system than the '78~ 650's did, as well as having a seperate regulator and rectifier. All of the 750-4 models are from 198*~, and ran electronic ignition (pulsar coil as opposed to points & condensers).
Swapping the rear swingarm to use the rear disc brake set up will require changing from brass swingarm pivot bushings to needle bearings (MUCH better IMHO), and you will need to find a method of attaching the rear master cylinder to the frame (easy to fab a bracket up).
Like I said, it's do-able. Just don't expect a direct swap on the major parts.
The charging systems are totally different as stated. As far as parts fitting the frame you should be good.
The 750 swingarm is already bearinged instead of bushed like the 77 650, so it will be a direct swap once you fab a bracket for the master cylinder
73 Kawasaki Z1
07 HD CVO Ultra Classic
82 Suzuki GS 1100
74 Yamaha RD 350 (My two stroke toy)
77 Kawasaki KZ 650B-1 (My putt around bike)
80 Indian Moped (My American Iron)
1
Long Gone
75 Suzuki GT550
74 GT 380
79 RD 400 Daytona Special
72 Honda CL 175
74 Honda QA 50
Tampa FL
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- martyd03
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Kawickrice - the 750 is an 82 I believe, picked it up for 150 on craigslist a little while ago. It's almost complete, just missing a part here and there. I'm hoping the engine is good on it though...
Glad to hear of all the swappable items, now I'm thinking of some ways to put it all together and to get the good stuff working for me. I was hoping to be able to swap out the ignition, stator, and starter, I think all three are suspect on the 650, but it's not looking like that will happen anytime soon. I had to cup my hands over the turn signals when I took my license test because they were so dim, and the testing officer was polite enough to remind me they had to be visible from 300 feet, but since he didn't have a 300 foot tape measure, he let me take it anyway. Oh well, guess I'll just be buying new parts eventually.
One thing that I haven't really thought of is if the chain and sprockets were swappable, and if not, which would be better to use?
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