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Possible new KZ owner
- Rainfox
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Went into a motorcycle shop a couple months back; fell in love with all the bikes on the showroom floor. A visit back to reality and i quickly realized that even the "starter" bikes ran around $5000 USD. Wife wasn't going to have 2 cars, a house AND a motorcycle financed.
Fast forward a month or so; many hours of research on motorcycles has been done. Real people will never use what a modern 600cc I4 bike has to offer, even the 500 and 650 twins are more than legal. My dream bike has dropped from a Hyabusa (waay too big a bike) to an R1 (100mph in 1st?!) to a ZX-6r (when do i need to go 150mph?) to either a Ninja 650r or SV650SF (dream bike being what i want to work up to and EVENTUALLY own). So armed with knowledge of current motorcycles i hit craigslist and dealerships.
Couple weeks later it is painfully apparent i am NOT getting much for my wife's $1000 price limit. Back to the drawing board for me [quick rewind: several years ago when i was a young(er) lad my father owned a 1980's KZ650 Custom. My first bike was a Honda CT90, so i have a slight soft spot for "vintage" bikes"]
About a week ago, reality is setting in again. Scrubbing through craigslist and local papers i see that sportsbikes are out of the question for the price as most are totaled and/or "stunt" bikes. Cruisers (Harleys, Honda Shadow) just look so darn big. Then the sub $1000 "classic" bikes start showing up. Honda CBs, Yamaha XJs, Suzuki GSs and Kawasaki KZs.
Now to the current-Armed with little to no knowledge of late 70s and early to mid 80s bikes, i hit Google on research about the big 4. Yamaha is poor quality, check. Honda has bulletproof engines, check. Suzuki is shaft driven, check. Kawasaki looks the best (and seems to be kept the best) check.
*Breath* Ok, so here's the "beef" you've all probably not been waiting for- the choices I have. With a cool $1000 comin my way soon i'm looking at a
1983 KZ550-looks good and runs, close by. $900
1978 KZ650-supposedly runs, looks good in pictures, about an hour away $900
1983 CB450-looks damn good in the pictures, 2 hours away $800
1984 GS850L-only bike ive seen in person, looks alright (could use some lovin) runs $800
You guys are the knowledge of older bikes im looking for, so which would make a better bike. it's going to be my first "street" bike/commuter and i do need it to do interstate. (dont worry about the MTF and gear shpeal- heard, will obay and preach regularly to others looking to get into the sport)
Thank you for any help you guys can offer
-rain
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- 650ed
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1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
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- Rainfox
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KZ650
Nighthawk 450
The Zook is being sold by a guy at work so i dont have a link for it. (and the honda is 900, not 8...)
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- vintagestyle7
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Check out www.bikez.com for specifications to compare the two.
Hope this helps.
Brian
1979 KZ650 B
1975 CB500 T
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- donthekawguy
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Rathdrum Idaho
1971 Kawasaki g3ss
1972 Yamaha R5 350
1965 Suzuki Hillbilly
1964 Yamaha 125
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- 9am53
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- homebrew, and some bbq
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'84 GPz900r
'71 CB350
s289.photobucket.com/albums/ll231/9am53/
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- Bluemeanie
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1980 KZ650F1, Bought new out the door for $2,162.98!
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- Rainfox
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- Mcdroid
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- Gone Kwackers
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So far it seems like the 650 is winning (but im not ruling the 550 out) And i know this is a KZ forum, but there is a chance some of you have owned other bikes than kawasaki and may be able to tell me why NOT a honda or suzuki.
Many of us here are biased...unnaturally biased. I am no different but I have owned Hondas and Kawasakis. My cash flow is currently tied up in Kawasakis and I really don't see that changing anytime soon...I like the history of the company and I think they make (made) a quality product. At the time (late 70's and early 80's) the big Japanese 4 were fiercely competitive and if one manufacturer were markedly worse than the others, then they wouldn't have sold as many bikes as they did. So, bottom line being, they were all roughly equivalent ... personal choice plays a role. That said, I'd rate (for the 1970/1980 era) Kawasaki first, Suzuki second, Honda third, and Yamaha last in terms of desireability. Quite frankly, if I fell into a sweet deal with a GS1000 or a CB750F, I would not hesitate. There is a strong support group (in terms of advice and parts) for antique Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Honda...less so for Yamaha. This last factor should also play a role in selecting your bike...for example, I might really desire a Benelli 900 Sei...and I know where I can get one (and I really do desire one) ...but parts and manuals are damned rare. It should all boil down to which bike will require the least amount of post-purchase work and which bike will maximize your pleasure.
Michael
Victoria, Texas
1982 GPz750
1977 KZ1000A
1978 KZ1000A
1982 GPz1100
1975 Z2A
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- 650ed
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Cycle World KZ650 Road Test
BTW, donthekawguy, I don't know of any inline-6 Chevelles that will run the quarter mile in 13.2 seconds. :laugh:
The stock KZ900 and KZ1000 were faster in the quarter mile by a little over 1 second (a lot if your goal is to drag race stock bikes) and their top speed was about 132 mph vs. 119 mph for the KZ650. Nonetheless, the KZ650 is plenty quick. Most folks don't run above 119 mph on a regular basis or have a need to run a quarter mile from a dead stop in less than 13 seconds very often. Ed
1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
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- Locozuna
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KZ900LTD, KZ750LTD, KZ650, 72'Triumph Trident
"Over the Mountains
Of the Moon,
Down the Valley of the Shadow,
Ride, boldly ride,"
The shade replied
"If you seek for Eldorado!"
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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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