- Posts: 3
- Thank you received: 0
New KZ rider
- Refurbished
- Topic Author
- Offline
- User
I've been trolling the forums for quite a while and figured It'd make me feel less creepy if I introduced myself. I split my time between Seattle, WA and Portland, OR. Recently I decided to get my motorcycle endorsement as my civic is far too easy to steal given what I've done to it.
That leads me to my first acquisition, a '83 KZ550h2 (GPZ). It turned out that it needed more attention than I wanted to give a bike seeing as I wanted something that I could commute on in the near future. As the GPZ was relatively cheap and only took up a portion of my budget I happened across a bike far closer to what I wanted, a '81 KZ550a2. Stylistically I always loved the late 70's mid-sized 4 cylinders but seeing as they're the popular bikes to rip apart I had to compromise with something that had similar looks but was newer.
Originally I had the idea to make a cafe styled bike but after pursuing the forums/ craigslist and seeing so many basket cases with cut up frames I gained a great appreciation for the stock appearance of my bike. Seeing as my driving is primarily around town I've been enjoying having a mid-sized bike that I can take higher into the revband without taking flight (not that it doesn't get where it's going very quickly).
I now plan to move the more desirable parts of my GPZ over to the KZ once I get basic maintenance squared away. Short term I plan to upgrade the front to the GPZ's dual disk brakes and swap out the rear for the GPz's rear disk. Long term I plan on rebuilding/ modifying the GPZ's engine and swapping it into the KZ. I'm sure there could be better speed gains elsewhere but like the idea of slowly taking something apart and making a nice around town bike that resembles what someone might have done in the 80's if they had a regular kz550, a modest budget and wanted to make it faster.
Anyways, the project is a ways from starting and right now i'm just enjoying my bike. The tachometer housing came loose at the block so it has been leaking a little plus the valve cover leaks slightly (both contribute to approx. 1/8-1/16 a qt every 1-2 weeks). it has it's quirks, and things that need to be sorted out but it gets me past 80 real quick and hasn't had a problem putting a wide grin on my face.
Look forward to joining the forum,
Joshua
Attachment pic2.jpg not found
Attachment pic3.jpg not found
Attachment profile2.jpg not found
1981 KZ550a2 (commuter project)
1983 KZ550h2 (GPZ-the guts for the project)
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- SWest
- Offline
- Sustaining Member
- 10 22 2014
- Posts: 22994
- Thank you received: 2753
Steve
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Mcdroid
- Offline
- User
- Gone Kwackers
- Posts: 6636
- Thank you received: 318
Michael
Victoria, Texas
1982 GPz750
1977 KZ1000A
1978 KZ1000A
1982 GPz1100
1975 Z2A
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- pete greek1
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 1510
- Thank you received: 185
Pete
1980 LTD 1000..,1976 LTD 900, have the 1000&900 now. the rest are previous= 1978 KZ 650 B.., 1980 Yamaha XT 500..,1978 Yamaha DT 400.., 1977 Yamaha yz 80..,Honda trail ct 70.., Honda QA 50...5-1/2 hp brigs & straton CAT chopper mini bike...3-1/2 hp mini bike (WHEN GAS WAS ABOUT 45 CENTS A GALLON)!!!!
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Refurbished
- Topic Author
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 3
- Thank you received: 0
Luckily the person I bought it from collected/ sold old dual sports so he wasn't much interested in it.
1981 KZ550a2 (commuter project)
1983 KZ550h2 (GPZ-the guts for the project)
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- pete greek1
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 1510
- Thank you received: 185
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:Refurbished wrote: What sold me was the Bud Light can used to patch an exhaust leak.
Luckily the person I bought it from collected/ sold old dual sports so he wasn't much interested in it.
Pete
1980 LTD 1000..,1976 LTD 900, have the 1000&900 now. the rest are previous= 1978 KZ 650 B.., 1980 Yamaha XT 500..,1978 Yamaha DT 400.., 1977 Yamaha yz 80..,Honda trail ct 70.., Honda QA 50...5-1/2 hp brigs & straton CAT chopper mini bike...3-1/2 hp mini bike (WHEN GAS WAS ABOUT 45 CENTS A GALLON)!!!!
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- wrenchmonkey
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 568
- Thank you received: 75
I'm looking forward to your customization and glad you were able to see the stock beauty in the beast; sparing it ftom the knife.
Welcome!
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- ThatGPzGuy
- Offline
- Sustaining Member
- More Sparky than Speed Racer
- Posts: 1489
- Thank you received: 385
I gotta find me one of those...
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"
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- rstnick
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 4373
- Thank you received: 377
Nice 550!
Rob
CANADA
Need a key for your Kawasaki? PM me
1978 KZ650 C2, 130K kms, Delkevic ex, EI, CVK32, PMC easy clutch, ATK fork brace, steering damper, braced swingarm, 18" Z1R front wheel.
2000 ZRX1100
2011 Ninja 250R
2005 z750s
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Davidkz1r
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 36
- Thank you received: 4
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.