[Kawakidtheproject]

Hello, I am new to this forum.

My first bike when I was 16 was a ninja 250, I do not remember the year, but it was an early 2000's EX250-F. I sold that to get a Suzuki GSX600F at 18. Now, at the age of 25, I just got myself a 1980 KZ440 as a project bike. It's doesn't run [yet], but i was itching for something to wrench on over the winter that wasn't my 600.
This is my first non-runner project bike, so I thought it would be a good idea to join this site so I could ask questions and answer stuff and just be a part of the Kawasaki scene.

 

[WFO-KZ]

Hey Kawakid, welcome to the forums.

It seems there are a lot of KZ400's and KZ440's out there in need of a rescue. You can start your own restoration and Q&A thread in our Vintage Bikes forum.

Before you sink too much into it, you should investigate what critical parts are no longer available. Is it a belt drive?

 

[Kawakidtheproject]

Hey Kawakid, welcome to the forums.

It seems there are a lot of KZ400's and KZ440's out there in need of a rescue. You can start your own restoration and Q&A thread in our Vintage Bikes forum.

Before you sink too much into it, you should investigate what critical parts are no longer available. Is it a belt drive?

Thanks for the welcome.


I've been doing my research since a couple of days before I bought the bike, when I first saw the posting and felt my interest in it. It is indeed a belt drive, which is what it is. I've seen (on here) the suggestions of changing over to chain drive, and all the work that could be involved in that. I have time and love learning and doing, so if I go that route, then I do. The belt seems in working order and lacking cracks or dryness. The person I bought it from thought it was being ridden up until 2018.
I also have already created a spreadsheet for cost, total cost into it, cost of things to look into, all of that.

 

[WFO-KZ]

Excellent. Sounds like you are going into this having done your due diligence first. Keep us posted.

If you ever decide to do a chain conversion, could you start a new thread in our Vintage bikes forum?
You would be the first person (that I am aware of) to document the process and it would be very valuable for others that would follow in your footsteps.

 

[Kawakidtheproject]

Excellent. Sounds like you are going into this having done your due diligence first. Keep us posted.

If you ever decide to do a chain conversion, could you start a new thread in our Vintage bikes forum?
You would be the first person (that I am aware of) to document the process and it would be very valuable for others that would follow in your footsteps.

Sorry for the super late reply, busy week. If I end up doing (or having to do) a belt to chain conversion, I will definitely be sure to document and post it.

And again, thanks for the warm welcome!