'83 kz550 LTD performance

[jbdsigep]

Hello all, I'm new on here, but not new with motorcycles. I've had a KZ 550 LTD for 11 years now and it is in perfect condition. 14,000 original miles. Never been laid down, original chrome headers and pipes, not a scratch on the original black tank.

I've always thought this bike felt faster than a 550 and I wanted to see if anyone know what kind of performance these bikes had compared to other bikes both then and now.

[longbeachgary]

I, for one, would love to see pictures.

[oldcoldankles]

Hi and welcome to the forum - it's great to have another KZ550 rider aboard. When it appeared in 1980 the KZ550 was the first of the really potent middleweights . They are light, quick, smooth and fun to ride.
Klacko posted last year that "' an 83 KZ550 (standard) ran 12.88 @ 101.1 mph in the ¼ mile. LTD would likely be a little slower, especially if it's a shaftie.

[jbdsigep]

Its a chain, I like the chain drive even though it is a little more maintenance, I've heard the throttle response is a little better.

As for the pictures, I'll probably post some this weekend when I get a chance to. I just spent two hours polishing it up the other night, and man was it shining...

What is the difference between the base KZ550 and the "LTD" package?

[oldcoldankles]

Usually not much difference except paint, trim, shaft drive and minor instrumentation differences - does yours have self-cancelling signal lights?

[jbdsigep]

I believe it is a KZ550 LTD C3 which is the designation for a chain drive, correct me if I'm wrong.....Mine does have the auto cancel option on the turn signal. Maybe some other differences are the warning lights like the low fuel and high beem indicator....

[oldcoldankles]

The LTD has low fuel and high beam - does yours?

[dropdfocus]

Standard models had different handlebars. The LTD models had more of a laid back "cruiser" bar for long trips. The LTD models were also more likely to have a rear back rest & luggage rack installed by the dealer. The Standard models were the sport model between the pre-Ninja GPz models and the LTD models. You could still dress them up for long trips if need be.

As for performance, the Standard & LTD's were reported to have almost exactly the same 1/4 mile times. I'm currently (and slowly at that) working on upgrading my '81 KZ550 LTD C2 to be able to turn out 12.88 or lower track times.

[jbdsigep]

thanks for the info dropfocus......I found some more information online and in '83 the standard KZ550 got upgraded to the larger carbs from the GPZ550. I would have thought the '83 LTD would have gotten the same upgraded carbs, but mine does not appear to have the same carbs as the pics of the '83 KZ550 standard. Do you know anything about this?

Mine have a flat oval shaped top and the newer larger carbs have a bowl shaped top to the carbs....

I'm curious if mine has the increased HP.....

[dropdfocus]

I'm sure the jetting & size is likely different on the LTD models for increased gas milage since it was their "cruiser" bike in the 550cc class.

[rickj]

I have a 750 ltd- 1983 and it has a belt drive- also had a sissy bar and luggage rack- which I removed. Ape-hanger style bars are original to mine- don't know if they made it ltd or not...
not sure what exactly made it "ltd".

[elr658]

LTD was the burger bike. I sold hundreds. Stepped seat, round tank, apehangers.

[jbdsigep]

By "burger bike" do you mean is was the most common one sold?

I have since found out through a little research that in '83 the LTD C3 or C4 had the older style 22 mm carbs and the bikes with the shaft drive, the M1 and F1 (Spectre?) styles had the updated 26mm carbs out of the GPZ550. Not sure about the standard KZ550 (A4?) but the shafties had the increased horsepower from the larger carbs with constant vacuum.....

[elr658]

"Burger Bike" Affectionate semiderogatory term used by sportbike riders denoting a motorcycle usually parked in front of a place that serves burgers. Also, a motorcycle whose function is degraded by its form. Not usually ridden by a serious motorcyclist. AKA Disco Bike.

Now it's an old bike which makes it cool.

[dropdfocus]

HA! That's funny. I've never heard that term used before. I've heard of beer collection/beer bikes - all the numerous bikes parked together outside of a local bar.

[jbdsigep]

LOL.....Thats pretty good elr658.....I actually like the style of the LTD better than the regular KZ550, (although my opinion is biased since I own one). It does look better with all the extra chrome trim. I do also like the look of the GPZ550 style as well....

[elr658]

As do I. -

[WHITMAN]

Hello Everyone!!!

I Am New To The Club Of Bikes And Also Owning A Bike. I Bought Me A 1981 Kz 550 Ltd Last Year. I Bought It Thinking I Was Getting A Deal But Nope, I Got Rip Off! Any Hoot I Thought When I Bought It It Just Needed A Tune Up. Because When I Drove It I Had A Hard Time Getting It Up To 45. It Bog's Out Really Bad To The Point It Wants To Stop Running. The Seller Of The Bike Said It Just Needed To Be Run Hard Because It Has Been Sitting For A Couple Of Years. I Thought She Could Of Been Right. So I Tried Running It One Day And When I Got Home Gas Was Pouring Out Of The Carbs. So I New I Needed The Carbs Rebuilt. I Got Re-ferd From Someone At Murray's To Go With A Bike Mechanic That They Knew. Well To Make A Long Story Short, I Don't Know What He Did To My Bike But Now It Went From Bad To Worse! I Got It Back Six Months Later And Three Hundred Dollars Sunk Into It. Only To Have It Still Pouring Out Gas And On Top Of It Oil Coming Out Of It In The Rear End And A Loud Noise Which None Of This Was Like That Before I Drop It Off To This Guy! Does Anyone Know What This Guy Might Of Done To My Bike (with The Oil And The Loud Banging Noise Coming Out Of The Engine Area) Also The Clutch Isn't Wanting To Shift Right Either. And Now It Just Don't Want To Start At All. It Turns Over But It Don't Start. Thanks All, Whitman

[dropdfocus]

The gas pouring out of the carbs means that the floats need to be adjusted down. They keep the gas from filling up too far in the bowls mounted to the bottom of the carbs.

As for the other stuff, hard to say. Get on the phone to the closest Kawi dealer and explain your situation to the service department. See what advice they can offer and what they might charge to fix it if they know what the problem really is.

Just my $.02 worth.

[jbdsigep]

I'd take it back to that guy and tell him to get it fixed right since you already paid him $300 bucks. BTW, they are great bikes once they are in good running shape...