[kimsmith4807]

Trying to build instead of buy but need a little guidance on what year(s) of
KZ1000 engines will work in what year(s) frames. I see lots of stuff on ebay and my local craigslist (NH) with great prices but much of the time it will be a 1977 frame and a 1980 engine for example. I know I can change wheel styles, seats, even tanks to suit my liking but need to start with a good frame/engine combination.

For instance, what engine(s) could I fit into this Kawasaki KZ1000 KZ 1000 KZ1000G1 Factory Bare Frame : eBay Motors (item 380183477848 end time Mar-30-10 18:19:41 PDT)


Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[zoro]

Any 1015cc engine will fit that frame, thats what was in it. In my opinion which means almost nothing, the 1015 is the one you want. They make more stock horsepower and parts are readily available at reasonable costs. The 1015 is the MKII engine and is very tunable with the VM28mm Mikuni carbs. Wheres the swingarm? If your just building a bike and factory correct is not important, no swingarm is no big deal because a later model aluminium swingarm would be a very nice upgrade for for perfermance and looks, front forks too. :wink: The G1 bike was the first fuel injected KZ1000, stay away from that engine.

 

[StarGate]

Besides being overpriced IMO, it doesn't even mention if it's got a title with it.

 

[Mcdroid]

Any 1973-1980 Z1/Z1A/Z1B/KZ900A,B/KZ1000 (A,B,C,D) motor will drop right in. However, the G model frame does not accomodate a 'duck tail' so you'll have to fabricate mounts

 

[steell]

In my opinion which means almost nothing, the 1015 is the one you want. They make more stock horsepower and parts are readily available at reasonable costs.

What stock 1015cc motor made 102 hp like the KZ1000J 998cc motor did? Or even 92 hp like the KZ1000M, K, and P, 998cc motors??

 

[kimsmith4807]

Awesome info fellas. This was what I needed to get started. I only posted the ebay link as an example. I will definately shop around, try and get one with a title even though one isn't required where I live (NH). ZORO - factory correct isn't important and anything you have as far as recommendations on swingarms and forks would be appreciated.

FYI, this is the look I'm going for.
Kawasaki : KX : eBay Motors (item 170460196710 end time Mar-23-10 13:49:24 PDT)

Would I be correct in saying that a build will cost more than purchasing one outright? A build would be good therapy for me right now.

Thanks to all for their input. Any other guidance or recommendations is always welcomed. Photos or what ever. email would be great too.
[email protected]

 

[zoro]

What stock 1015cc motor made 102 hp like the KZ1000J 998cc motor did? Or even 92 hp like the KZ1000M, K, and P, 998cc motors??

Thats an 80 frame, and he was talking 70s engines and bikes. No pre 82 998s made 102 hp, not stock anyway. And chew on this little fact. The 1015s were detuned to meet emissions standards, rejetted and piped, they make well over 110 hp and thats a conservative seat of the pants estimate. I know my stock 1015 is making more ponies than even that, all you had to do is let em breathe! :wink: Heres two different Kawasaki manuals that show that the 1015 makes "93" stock horsepower. Somebody squirt somethin yellow in yur Cheerios? :lol: Oh yeah, These numbers are @ 8000rpms, what do you think another 1500rpm makes? :wink: :biggrin:

 

[Mcdroid]

Awesome info fellas. This was what I needed to get started. I only posted the ebay link as an example. I will definately shop around, try and get one with a title even though one isn't required where I live (NH). ZORO - factory correct isn't important and anything you have as far as recommendations on swingarms and forks would be appreciated.

FYI, this is the look I'm going for.
Kawasaki : KX : eBay Motors (item 170460196710 end time Mar-23-10 13:49:24 PDT)

Would I be correct in saying that a build will cost more than purchasing one outright? A build would be good therapy for me right now.

Thanks to all for their input. Any other guidance or recommendations is always welcomed. Photos or what ever. email would be great too.
[email protected]

YES! A build will cost more than buying a rebuilt one out-right...unless you purchase from someone like Redline Cycle Service, Inc. - Homepage in which case you'll be paying top dollar for a rebuild...but they appear to be quality.

 

[kimsmith4807]

Any 1973-1980 Z1/Z1A/Z1B/KZ900A,B/KZ1000 (A,B,C,D) motor will drop right in. However, the G model frame does not accomodate a 'duck tail' so you'll have to fabricate mounts

If I understand this correctly, any of the engines you mentioned will fit into and of the same year frames except the G model. Is this right?

 

[Mcdroid]

If I understand this correctly, any of the engines you mentioned will fit into and of the same year frames except the G model. Is this right?

Including the G frame (except the stylish 'duck tail' is not accommodated on the G frame...it is a matter of looks 8) ). Avoid any of the E bikes (1979 and 1980 KZ1000E1/E2 aka Shaft bikes) not because they are bad, but only because the swingarms, etc are designed for shaft-driven motors. Personally, I'd jump on a E shaft model without hesitation.

 

[Mcdroid]

Thats an 80 frame, and he was talking 70s engines and bikes. No pre 82 998s made 102 hp, not stock anyway. And chew on this little fact. The 1015s were detuned to meet emissions standards, rejetted and piped, they make well over 110 hp and thats a conservative seat of the pants estimate. I know my stock 1015 is making more ponies than even that, all you had to do is let em breathe! :wink: Heres two different Kawasaki manuals that show that the 1015 makes "93" stock horsepower. Somebody squirt somethin yellow in yur Cheerios? :lol: Oh yeah, These numbers are @ 8000rpms, what do you think another 1500rpm makes? :wink: :biggrin:

More grist for the mill...A3/4 made 93 claimed horsepower

KZ1000D3 made 94 horsepower...

KZ1000H1 made 96 rompin' stompin' horsepower

 

[zoro]

Thats a good looking bike Kim! Hey, Welcome to the forum! That is a good look but there are no "KX" KZs. Id go with SuperBike Bars and a Corbin Gunfighter seat on it and shed be show ready! :wink: Although those LTD step seats are comfy for the laidies.:wink: That frame your looking at would be rather high in price....."but" free shipping and a clean solid foundation, I say go for it. Lots of guys have installed Suzuki GSX swingarms and forks to end up with some fine handling and very stout looking bikes! Check out kz rider.com, youll see some nice bikes and get some good ideas from the gallery! :wink: Lots of good input there too!

 

[zoro]

If I understand this correctly, any of the engines you mentioned will fit into and of the same year frames except the G model. Is this right?

They will all fit. The G1 engine had the fuel injection ports on the head. The G1 was Kawasakis first fuel injected 1000 and they were very problematic. Kawasaki was aware of the failures and offered retrofitted carbs for that bike, right out of the factory in Lincoln and dealers across America. I read that somewhere....

 

[kimsmith4807]

ZORO, you're my new best friend. I think the KX in the link was a typo,
(I hope!!). Agree.....superbike bars and a corbin seat. I have been re-thinking the build and after making a quick list of items to purchase ($$$), I might want to find a bike, maybe not whole, maybe a 'project' type bike and start from there. Replace or upgrade as I can. In the meantime I'll keep searching ebay, craigslist, etc. My fear is I will find exactly what I'm looking for and it will be either; out of my traveling range or the seller won't ship. The funny thing about all of this is I have had so many bikes over the years my last one being a V-Max, none of them being 'step-daughters', but my first one I had in high school was an S1. Oh to have it back now!

Here's another KZ that I just fell in love with.
http://www.pedenent.com/media/Kaw_Z1R1.JPG
http://www.pedenent.com/media/Kaw_Z1R2.JPG

 

[steell]

Thats an 80 frame, and he was talking 70s engines and bikes. No pre 82 998s made 102 hp, not stock anyway. And chew on this little fact. The 1015s were detuned to meet emissions standards, rejetted and piped, they make well over 110 hp and thats a conservative seat of the pants estimate. I know my stock 1015 is making more ponies than even that, all you had to do is let em breathe! :wink: Heres two different Kawasaki manuals that show that the 1015 makes "93" stock horsepower. Somebody squirt somethin yellow in yur Cheerios? :lol: Oh yeah, These numbers are @ 8000rpms, what do you think another 1500rpm makes? :wink: :biggrin:

http://zedder.com/Info/81 KZ1000-J1.htm

Asking what 1015 motor made more than 102 hp stock indicates something yellow in my cheerios??
You're weird! :lol:

81 KZ100J is pre 82.

Year & Model '81 KZ1000-J1
Color(s) Luminous Ruby Red
VIN Range JKAKZCJ1vBA000001 - 007900
Engine No. Range KZTOOJE000001 - 019200
Engine No. Location RH top crankcase, below carburetor
Cylinder Mark 0.998L
Cylinder Mark Location Front RH corner
Engine Type 4-stroke, 4-cylinder, DOHC, Air cooled
Bore X Stroke 69.4 X 66.0 mm
Compression Ratio 9.2:1
Maximum HP 102 at 8500 rpm
Maximum Torque 9.3 kg-m at 7000 rpm

And you did specify "stock".

 

[steell]

Including the G frame (except the stylish 'duck tail' is not accommodated on the G frame...it is a matter of looks 8) ). Avoid any of the E bikes (1979 and 1980 KZ1000E1/E2 aka Shaft bikes) not because they are bad, but only because the swingarms, etc are designed for shaft-driven motors. Personally, I'd jump on a E shaft model without hesitation.

Except I heard somewhere that those E models were so slow a Volkswagon Beetle could beat them in the quarter mile. Something about when you dropped the clutch on the green light on Saturday night the sun would be coming up Sunday morning before you reached the traps.
























I think maybe it was Zoro telling me that.
:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

 

[zoro]

These older bikes require alot of attention even after you get them restored. Be patient and you'll find a nice running KZ1000 for less than $1500. I picked mine up for $1400 two years ago and have spent well over another $4000 in tools and upgrades. The STs (KZ1000 shaft drives) are dirt cheap and are the unsung monsters of the KZ1000 family. They are shaft drive MKIIs, the MKIIs are the premier KZ1000s, they all run the 1015cc beast. The minuscule loss of horespower to rear wheel, is regained with a 1/2 turn of the air screws. You cant change sprocket ratios with them, but if theyre running right , you dont need to, and they're cleaner,smoother and require way less maintenance. :wink: I wouldnt trade my ST for no two other bikes out there! Well, I would consider two pristine Mach IIIIs or Z1s! :lol:

 

[zoro]

:lol: Maybe, but my 1015 with my 180lbs will smoke that little 750 with your what, 280lbs, 6'6" frame on it? I bet that looks weired! Is that what a "pocket rocket" is? ROFLMAO! You kill me steell, why dont you quit playin with them mini bikes and get you a 1000? You know you want one! :wink: Then you wont feel so compelled to split hairs and correct typos, aye big guy? :wink:

 

[Mcdroid]

Except I heard somewhere that those E models were so slow a Volkswagon Beetle could beat them in the quarter mile. Something about when you dropped the clutch on the green light on Saturday night the sun would be coming up Sunday morning before you reached the traps.
























I think maybe it was Zoro telling me that.
:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Agreed...heard that too...but I just like the lines of the E models :lol:

 

[zoro]

What stock 1015cc motor made 102 hp like the KZ1000J 998cc motor did? Or even 92 hp like the KZ1000M, K, and P, 998cc motors??

Its all in the jets and the tune,you know that! :whats up? I showed two Kaw manuals, not somebody elses or my ideas or typos. besides I can reply from first hand ownership experience, how many liters is your bike?.....speak up, :lol: Get a 1000! And a life!