Why don't I see any MK II's for sale?

[Splandman]

When I was about 9 or 10 my neighbors dad bought a KZ 1000 MK II. (1979 or 1980) I can still remember hearing that guy come home from work. We lived out in the country and he would be hammering that throttle. ALways wanted one after that.

I decided to get another bike a couple of months ago and I bought a 1980 KZ 1000 Shaft. To me the bike looked like what I remembered as a kid and truthfully that's probably the main reason I decided on that particular bike.

Since I bought mine I have constantly been looking online at bikes and I have seen a few shaft drives out there but have not seen any MK II's. Did they make fewer of these? Were they all bought up for replicas?

[Jeff.saunders]

The Mk II engines were THE preferred engine for the drag racers. Those engines have a beefier center section to the crank, and most of the engine cases are more heavily braced. The cranks are a compromise between the very light Z1 cranks and the very heavy 77-78 KZ1000 crank.

[Splandman]

Thanks, actually after I asked the question I did a search on here and found a very detailed answer you gave to a similar question a while ago. You mentioned in that thread that you have to count the teeth on the cam sprocket. Should I go check mine or were the MK II motors not put in shaft drive bikes?

I'm curious because mine has 45k on it and I was planning on building a motor in the garage while riding this one. If I have a motor that may be basically better than another (for a starting point), then I should just rebuild this one.

Also can anyone tell me if the black coating comes off that was put on the engine and head? I don't really like the way it looks. Did it serve a purpose other than cosmetic?

[Jeff.saunders]

The 1979 & 1980 KZ1000E shaft drive bikes are Mk II engines. They will have the 16 tooth crank center section (unless someone has pulled the engine apart and replaced it...). The 1980 version will have the heavier ribbing on the crankcases.

The black paint does come off - although it's a very resilient coating. It's cosmetic.

[Splandman]

Thanks, I appreciate the information. I believe this engine has never been opened up but I can't be sure. Guess I will find out soon enough when we open it up.

[kzbatbike]

Hey Jeff,
Why did they make the 77 cranks heavier?

[graham979]

These are popular in australia and there is a number here restored to original

[elr658]

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away, the Z-1 had a pork chop crank. It would grab revs in an instant. BUT it had a slight vibration. So when the KZ1000 came about, Kawasloppy redesigned the crank to incorporate full circle counterweights. It shook less but revved like a diesel bus. Now the Mark II had one of the most CONSPICUOUSLY OVERBUILT motors ever made. Drag racers LOVED these motors because with a change of carbs and cams you could get wicked reliable BIG power out of them. HOWEVER, even God (AKA Eddie Lawson of Upland, CA) couldn't make the barges handle. Which then led to the J. Which was a TON lighter. The J then begat the only Kawasaki which matters. Mine.

[Mike(nj)]

Most have been exported to Japan..........