My Kawasaki KZ650

Kawasaki Z650 bouwjaar 1978. prijs 850,00 euro 0222...
0900-0215 code 104### (€ 0,70 p/m)

(the original advert)

09-06-2002
I just bought a Kawasaki KZ 650-B2 from 1978. Yippie! My first motorcycle.

History:

The KZ 650 has been in the possesion of Hans from Den Burg on the island Texel in the north of the Netherlands.
He's owned the bike for 11 years (1991). It's licenseplate is ZL-44-05 which dates the bike to 1978. It was manufactured in 1978.
The K means it's an American model. Japanese and European Kawasaki's we're sold K-less, ie. Z 650, Z 1000, Z 900.
As far as I know there are otherwise no discernable differences between the American and European models except for the modelname on the sidecovers of the bike.

Specifications:

Engine 652 cc four cylinder double overhead camshaft (DOHC) four stroke, maximum output 64 bhp (DIN) at 8500 rpm. Bore and stroke 62x54 mm. Compression ratio 9.5:1. Four 24 mm Mikuni carburators. Kick/electric start.
Transmission Primary drive by chain; final by chain. Five-speed gearbox. Wet multiplate clutch.
Ignition Battery and coil. 12V alternator.
Frame Tubular duplex cradle
Suspension Front telescopic forks, rear, swinging arm.
Tyres Front 3.25x19; rear 4.00x18
Brakes Front 250mm disc; rear; 180mm drum.
Tank capacity 3.7 gallons (16,8 litres)
Weight 487 lbs (211 Kg)
Maximum speed Approxmately 120 mph (193 Km/h)

More soon... (Serial number, details, repairs etc.)

Mileage
14-6-2002 (purchase)
22289,5 miles (35663,2 km)

10-7-2002
22848 miles

Total: 558,5 miles (= 893,6 km)

14-06-2002
Okiedokie, I picked the Kawa up. Helluva time getting it to work after having been idle voor 3,5 years!
In the end we towed it with a Kawasaki Z1000, second gear, let it go and behold: "It's Alive!"
It seems to have liked the ride home, since I could kickstart it after 2 hours. Let's see tomorrow...

16-06-2002
Screwed on some dinky, yet original chrome engine protectors. That looks nice for a quick cheap fix.

08-07-2002
More info and woes. I've found out that it's a KZ650-B2 from 1978. In that year they were only produced in metalic blue with the golden swoosh and in metalic green (swoosh?).
The blue color that I have wasn't popular in the U.K. My luck, because I reckon the golden swoosh is pretty unique. Most Kawa's have a ordinary - yet nice - pinstripe around the tank.
I've driven to Nieuwkoop to buy some mirrors and a new clutch handlebar. The first 2 hours in the rain were O.K. but after that I got too wet.
I've bought some raingear to protect myself from Dutch rainydays (too much per year).
When I went to see Spiderman at the cinema I'd lost a bolt from the battery on the way. Barely made it back home on the bike without lights and a stuttering engine.
Just proves how tough these bikes are, when they can run without a battery!
Then after that incident I haven't had good lighting. No signals, no brakelight nada. Can't wait for the repairbook to come in, so I can check the electrics.
The cable to the speedometer decided to loosen itself before I noticed. Screwed that back in to have a working speedometer.
Man what a freaky day. Too bad something electrical isn't working.

10-08-2002
I've bought yet anoter Kawasaki z 650! I didn't intend to, but the offer was too nice to pass along.
It's a 1978 B1 with twin brakes in emerald green. This model shouldn't have twin brakes and a chrome speedometer (aftermarket add-on?), but the bike is in pristine condition!
Check out the photo of my new Kwaka!

Original Kawasaki part # numbers