New rider, first bike, 1982 KZ1100

SmokyOwl wrote:

swest wrote: Maybe I'm jaded. I got my bike running again and went to the shops that are still open. Same thing, "we can order parts for you." SO CAN I, I said. I can see the $$ signs in their eyes. Old bike, old guy, perfect candidate for a GANK. When I tell them I've had and been wrenching on this bike for 40 years, I can see the disappointment in their faces. I move on.
Steve

Yeah I've been there. Just on the opposite end of age.

So what are your thoughts of just 'leaving it be" and not restoring it? Waxing okay? Touch-up paint okay? I don't know how to move forward with this. I've never had a vehicle this old that I planned on keeping a while.

After fifteen years with mine, I can assure you that the bike will suck-up every ounce of attention you offer it. The cool part is whenever you do something for it, she'll give you a little more to come back for. Before long, the honey-do list will go up one arm and down the other. Be sure to bookmark kz1100, on ebay!
My advice on riding: Don't be too careful. :ohmy: There are a lot of crazy and distracted drivers out there, and you must be a half-crazy rider to handle some situations they unexpectedly will provide you.
Here's where my girl is now...never been better!!!

Oh, btw...Progressive fork springs and rear shocks made a world of (good) difference. These are 1" shorter rear shocks (1207) than the 13.5" original air-ride, and love em! The handling is far-superior, in my experience.

They sure beefed up the frame. Nice bike.
Steve

OK I finally got the oil changed, that was fun burning my arm a dozen times on the exhaust...good times.

My current issue is the gear oil being changed. I believe it hasn't been changed out in a 10 years, as the previous seller responded with "uuuuuh" when I asked him how often it was changed out. So my issue isn't changing the gear oil out, that's a fairly straightforward process. My problem is that the manual says to use SAE 90 gear oil, and it's no longer typically used anymore short of marine use. What do you guys use for gear oil in shaft drive bikes in this era? Is it safe to use gear oil designed for marine use?

I'm glad you changed your avatar. It made me feel uneasy.
You changed it hot? WHY?
You can still get gear oil at AZ/OR. I do.
Steve

swest wrote: I'm glad you changed your avatar. It made me feel uneasy.
You changed it hot? WHY?
You can still get gear oil at AZ/OR. I do.
Steve

I thought oil should always be changed when the engine is warm. Like cars. So it can be done when it's stone-cold?

What/where is this AZ/OR....? I've never heard of it. Autozone? Tried there and they didn't carry it (not SAE90 anyways).

So 85/90 or whatever.
Steve

Welcome Smoky, gorgeous bike and congrats on getting into it! I too am just starting out and went through my Abate course a few weekends back and riding my 1981 Kawi KZ440 LTD with 11k org miles.

Best advice I have heard yet is to ride at your own skill level, don't be pressured into riding beyond what you are capable of due to others or even other riding buddies if you are going to be doing that. The course is great and should help a lot especially with that confidence. Best of luck and ride safe, all the gear all the time!!

- Irish

SmokyOwl wrote:

swest wrote: I'm glad you changed your avatar. It made me feel uneasy.
You changed it hot? WHY?
You can still get gear oil at AZ/OR. I do.
Steve

I thought oil should always be changed when the engine is warm. Like cars. So it can be done when it's stone-cold?

Warm yes, cold no. Just not when the oil is frick'n +240 degrees, boiling ass hot!!! Luke warm to 100degrees after a cool down is good.

I think I found my gear oil....

www.amazon.com/Oil-Gear-90-SAE-Grade/dp/...ords=sae+90+gear+oil

Unless anybody objects this is what I'll be buying tomorrow.

Oh the reason I ended up changing the oil out hot was essentially because I didn't know how long it took for the engine to cool, and due to my struggle with using the centerstand. I did get the centerstand figured out and could set it up in a couple minutes, but I didn't know I could do it that fast at the time because the previous time it took me about an hour of experimentation. Of course it was also the first time changing the oil on any motorcycle, so I figured I might screw something up and have to start over. So essentially I was in a rush and anticipating encountering a setback that would cause enough lost time that the engine would cool completely in the middle of the oil change, and I didn't want that to happen.

Any Walmart sells 85/90 gear oil, by the regular motor oils, & you wont have to wait for it & no shipping charges
Pete

Another thing ...unless your manual calls for synthetic oil, like the one you plan on buying from Amazon you should NOT use it, It's not a good idea to mix synthetic with regular oil
Pete

pete greek1 wrote: Another thing ...unless your manual calls for synthetic oil, like the one you plan on buying from Amazon you should NOT use it, It's not a good idea to mix synthetic with regular oil
Pete

Well I plan on cleaning it all out really really good as it hasn't been changed out in over a decade. I don't know what kind of oil is in it right now though, so I'm going to clean it out really well regardless due to the very high probability of a lot of cruddy goo on the bottom. I think I saw somebody recommending using diesel fuel to clean it out really well on YouTube, that's my plan on it (I'll double check of course before I do anything).

The manual doesn't specify anything other than SAE 90 gear oil.