Tires for my 1972 KZ400 - help!

Hello fellow KZ riders! I am in dire new of new tires for my 1972 KZ400 - my mechanic said I should buy Avon tires, but I don't know what size I need. I am currently out of town so I am unable to look at my bike, but presumably it shouldn't be difficult to determine what I need to buy? (I'm sorry to be so lame - I find tires to be terribly confusing!) Thank you!

1972 KZ400?  

The Kawasaki KZ400/Z400 is a street  motorcycle  that was produced by  Kawasaki  between 1974 and 1984. 

www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/kawasaki...aki_z400%20%2075.htm

Oops - sorry about that - it's a 1974! (I have two Honda CTs, and one is a '72 - completely spaced out!)

I'm planning on buying this particular tire. I know the size is correct but am unsure if it is for the front or rear - I guess I just need the size of the second tire (yes, I know I am super lame - for whatever reason I find tire size to be inordinately confusing - thanks for your patience!)

 

The answer is in the pic you posted. "110/90 - 18 front or rear."

If you actually have a 1974 KZ400D, I believe it came with 3.25 - 18 front and 3.50 - 18 rear tires. A 100/90 - 18 would likely be ideal, but if Avon recommends 110/90 - 18, then the mystery is solved.

You really need to get a factory service manual. Very few mechanics or parts counter folks have any real knowledge about these old bikes, so owners of such bikes need to educate themselves in order to insure the purchase of proper parts and the smooth, reliable operation of the machine. Even simple routine maintenance is beyond the average bike shop mechanic. They pop up on eBay and similar sites from time to time.

P.S. The Avon RoadRider is an excellent choice.Pirelli also makes excellent tires for classic motorcycles.

Thank you TexasKZ! Fortunately I have a great - but pricey - mechanic who specializes in 1970s Japanese bikes. I DO have a factory manual, but it's at his shop. He's the one who recommended the Avon tires - I think I'll just ask him to deal with it, as I just got off the phone with a "motorcycle technician" from Motosport.com, and he was unable to do the conversion haha