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1981 Kawasaki KZ750 Resurrection

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    Ohlins look great on the bike. Looking forward to your report on how it improves the ride and handling.

    Comment


      You have spent a lot of money on that bike.But the overall look is worth it.Cheaper than a 20,000 dollar diavel.
      future owner of some year and displacement GS bike,as yet unclaimed and unowned.

      Comment


        Originally posted by Vmass View Post
        Ohlins look great on the bike. Looking forward to your report on how it improves the ride and handling.
        Haven't had a chance to hit the mountains yet but I love these shocks for normal riding and commuting. The ride is smooth and rolling over rougher surfaces like railroad tracks is almost a pleasure. I find myself looking for rough pavement to blast over just because.

        I took my GS1000 out for a ride the other day and while I really enjoy it, I like riding this KZ more. It's just so much smaller and lighter. A real pleasure to ride.
        Ed

        To measure is to know.

        Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

        Top Newbie Mistakes thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=171846

        Carb rebuild tutorial...https://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac...d_Tutorial.pdf

        KZ750E Rebuild Thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Resurrection

        Comment


          As expected...Nice work, Ed!

          Comment


            Nice Ed! I wonder if those shocks will show up the front end now? You might need to invest in a set of cartridge emulators.....
            1980 GS1000G - Sold
            1978 GS1000E - Finished!
            1980 GS550E - Fixed & given to a friend
            1983 GS750ES Special - Sold
            2009 KLR 650 - Sold - gone to TX!
            1982 GS1100G - Rebuilt and finished. - Sold
            2009 TE610 - Dual Sporting around dreaming of Dakar..... - FOR SALE!

            www.parasiticsanalytics.com

            TWINPOT BRAKE UPGRADE LINKY: http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...e-on-78-Skunk/

            Comment


              Originally posted by salty_monk View Post
              Nice Ed! I wonder if those shocks will show up the front end now? You might need to invest in a set of cartridge emulators.....
              Thanks for reminding me Dan. Need to set up an ebay search to find some...
              Ed

              To measure is to know.

              Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

              Top Newbie Mistakes thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=171846

              Carb rebuild tutorial...https://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac...d_Tutorial.pdf

              KZ750E Rebuild Thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Resurrection

              Comment


                Aren't they 35mm forks? I bet the MikesXS one will work most likely....
                1980 GS1000G - Sold
                1978 GS1000E - Finished!
                1980 GS550E - Fixed & given to a friend
                1983 GS750ES Special - Sold
                2009 KLR 650 - Sold - gone to TX!
                1982 GS1100G - Rebuilt and finished. - Sold
                2009 TE610 - Dual Sporting around dreaming of Dakar..... - FOR SALE!

                www.parasiticsanalytics.com

                TWINPOT BRAKE UPGRADE LINKY: http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...e-on-78-Skunk/

                Comment


                  Originally posted by salty_monk View Post
                  Aren't they 35mm forks? I bet the MikesXS one will work most likely....
                  36mm

                  There is a set of Race Tech's on ebay for $95 shipped. I'm tempted...
                  Last edited by Nessism; 02-28-2016, 09:33 PM.
                  Ed

                  To measure is to know.

                  Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

                  Top Newbie Mistakes thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=171846

                  Carb rebuild tutorial...https://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac...d_Tutorial.pdf

                  KZ750E Rebuild Thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Resurrection

                  Comment


                    My 83 GPZ750 has 36mm forks,of course the KZ may be different.Tried my PDF manual but fork size wasn't in the spec's
                    Edit:yeah the KZ is 36mm to.
                    Last edited by Guest; 02-28-2016, 09:33 PM.

                    Comment


                      Hi Ed
                      I've been away from the forum for a few months so haven't seen the pics of the finished bike before today... so just wanted to say amazing work!

                      BTW, interesting comment you made that the bike handles like a scooter compared to the GS...
                      GS850GT

                      Comment


                        Originally posted by psyguy View Post
                        Hi Ed
                        I've been away from the forum for a few months so haven't seen the pics of the finished bike before today... so just wanted to say amazing work!

                        BTW, interesting comment you made that the bike handles like a scooter compared to the GS...
                        Thanks Ivor! The scooter reference is in large part because the KZ is so much lighter than my GS1000. GS's for the most part are superior handling bikes compared to KZ's, but I think the 650/750 KZ's are the exception. They can hold their own.

                        My next project for this bike is painting and installation of a GPz style Maier faring. I want to fabricate some nice mounts so it doesn't look cobbled together. Coming soon...
                        Ed

                        To measure is to know.

                        Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

                        Top Newbie Mistakes thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=171846

                        Carb rebuild tutorial...https://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac...d_Tutorial.pdf

                        KZ750E Rebuild Thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Resurrection

                        Comment


                          Haven't gotten around to looking at the fairing yet but pulled the trigger on some Race Tech emulators. Got a good price on a set off ebay, plus there is a $20 off coupon right now. Hoping the suspension compliance will improve a little up front. At any rate, something more to play with.

                          And speaking of playing, the valve train on this bike was a little noisy so I want through the valve clearances again and tightened things up. The speced clearance is quite a bit wider than the Suzuki GS's (.10-.18mm vs. .03-.08) even though the designs are very similar. Tightened them all up to target the lower half of the spec range. Not worried about them being too tight considering the considerable clearance. After tweaking the clearances engine sounds less clattery. Good stuff.
                          Ed

                          To measure is to know.

                          Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

                          Top Newbie Mistakes thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=171846

                          Carb rebuild tutorial...https://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac...d_Tutorial.pdf

                          KZ750E Rebuild Thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Resurrection

                          Comment


                            Ed, have you noticed any gear train whine that seems loud compared to a GS? I've owned three of these bikes now ('82 750E, '84 GPZ750, '84 KZ700A, all of them under 25,000 miles)) and they all have exhibited a bit of whine to the tranny, particularly noticeable on downshifts.
                            sigpic

                            SUZUKI:
                            1978 GS1000E; 1980 GS1000G; 1982 GS650E; 1982 GS1100G; 1982 GS1100E; 1985 GS700ES
                            HONDA: 1981 CB900F Super Sport
                            KAWASAKI: 1981 KZ550A-2; 1984 ZX750A-2 (aka GPZ750); 1984 KZ700A-1
                            YAMAHA: 1983 XJ750RK Seca

                            Free speech is the foundation of an open society. Each time a society bans a word or phrase it deems “offensive”, it chips away at that very foundation upon which it was built.

                            Comment


                              Originally posted by Griffin View Post
                              Ed, have you noticed any gear train whine that seems loud compared to a GS? I've owned three of these bikes now ('82 750E, '84 GPZ750, '84 KZ700A, all of them under 25,000 miles)) and they all have exhibited a bit of whine to the tranny, particularly noticeable on downshifts.
                              Brett, Kawasaki uses straight cut gears between the secondary shaft and clutch, and straight cut gears make some whine noise. Suzuki GS's use helical cut gears, which are quieter. Problem with helical gears is they causes a thrust load, that's why some of the GS drag racer guys convert their clutch hub gear to straight cut like a KZ uses. Guess what I'm trying to say is yes, my bike makes that same noise. I sort of like it.
                              Ed

                              To measure is to know.

                              Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

                              Top Newbie Mistakes thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=171846

                              Carb rebuild tutorial...https://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac...d_Tutorial.pdf

                              KZ750E Rebuild Thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Resurrection

                              Comment


                                It certainly lets you know when you've shifted gears.
                                sigpic

                                SUZUKI:
                                1978 GS1000E; 1980 GS1000G; 1982 GS650E; 1982 GS1100G; 1982 GS1100E; 1985 GS700ES
                                HONDA: 1981 CB900F Super Sport
                                KAWASAKI: 1981 KZ550A-2; 1984 ZX750A-2 (aka GPZ750); 1984 KZ700A-1
                                YAMAHA: 1983 XJ750RK Seca

                                Free speech is the foundation of an open society. Each time a society bans a word or phrase it deems “offensive”, it chips away at that very foundation upon which it was built.

                                Comment

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