- Posts: 40
- Thank you received: 0
New 81 KZ550 LTD owner in NE Ohio! new to KZs!
- wakeboardr42393
- Topic Author
- Offline
- User
Bought a Non-running KZ a few months ago with about 7000 miles. Supposedly all it needs is a battery and tune, and some basic cosmetic stuff. I also noticed that the steering bearing is very loose. I haven't started it yet, it's sat in my parent's over-crowded garage because it's snowing. haha.
I plan to make the bike my DD starting this spring throughout the summer!
Anyone else in the Northeast Ohio Area? I'm in Garfield Heights.
1981 Kawasaki KZ 550 LTD
1987 BMW 325is
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- 650ed
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 15344
- Thank you received: 2829
kzrider.com/forum/10-new-members/589649-...r-savannah-ga#594587
1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- martin_csr
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 8068
- Thank you received: 1656
You may already be aware of this, but if you don't know the age of the rear brake shoes, replace them. The adhesive that binds the linings to the shoes can fail, so a lining can come loose & get jammed between the shoe & drum, locking the rear wheel. It happened to me, so it does happen. It is an age issue, so you can't tell by looking - my 30 yr old shoes looked good.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- wakeboardr42393
- Topic Author
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 40
- Thank you received: 0
and also thanks for the tips! I thought this forum was more dead but I already have realized the opposite- there is a wealth of useful information to be had! And many knowledgeable and helpful members I'll check out those brake shoes. do the kawasaki dealers still sell parts for these bikes?
thank you again for the good information!
1981 Kawasaki KZ 550 LTD
1987 BMW 325is
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- lightitup
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 236
- Thank you received: 10
here is a link brake shoe
and just in case u want to do the front ones too here are the pads
81 kz 550 ltd
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- wakeboardr42393
- Topic Author
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 40
- Thank you received: 0
im finding this site, and the kawi service manual to be very helpful when used together thank you all.
1981 Kawasaki KZ 550 LTD
1987 BMW 325is
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- wakeboardr42393
- Topic Author
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 40
- Thank you received: 0
1981 Kawasaki KZ 550 LTD
1987 BMW 325is
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Patton
- Offline
- KZr Legend
- Posts: 18640
- Thank you received: 2098
wakeboardr42393 wrote: cool stuff! i'm doing a bunch of preventitive maintainance before I run the bike it's coming along good, but dang OEM part take a long time to receive. I've already ordered from partzilla and bike bandit, and actually got my package faster from partzilla. Which still took ten days, that's a long time. haha. bike bandit took 12 days. oh boy. lol there has to be a better way.
im finding this site, and the kawi service manual to be very helpful when used together thank you all.
The better way:
Click here > www.z1enterprises.com/
Good Fortune!
1973 Z1
KZ900 LTD
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- loudhvx
- Offline
- KZr Legend
- Posts: 10868
- Thank you received: 1616
And photos are alwyas appreciated!
and if you can afford it, get a Scorpion AGM battery from batterystuff.com. That's probably the best battery for that bike... no vent to spew acid and no maintenance.
1981 KZ550 D1 gpz.
Kz550 valve train warning.
Other links.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.