As far as an adventure ride, with your knowledge of old Honda’s I wouldn’t be afraid to set out for anywhere with a rebuilt and reset up Honda 750. The newer bikes may have all sorts of gizmos on them but when some computer in them fails in the middle of nowhere you’re done for. When I was a young guy in the 70’s I put 60K miles on a 450 Honda, riding north to south and east to west and everywhere in between in the USA. Stay off the big roads, stop in all the little towns with diners with names like Ken and Hazels, and don’t be in any hurry. Life goes by too quickly. I love watching your channel. Thanks
I toured all over Britain and parts of Europe on my old CB550 in the late '80s. Simple machine; some old dude in southern France repaired my rear brake (awkward component on these bikes) over a couple of days; he let me sleep in his shed. That's what m'cycle touring's about.
Taylor. Thanks for the ride in this video. You would have to do a ride with an old bike. Just to prove it can be done. Lots of folks can only afford or only want an old bike. You are one of the inspirations for the old bike crowd.
Hi Taylor After watching your video I am pretty sure that your problem doesn't sit only with ignition coils. A more likely suspect is your spark plug leads going to the coils. When old leads get stressed after sustained running they tend to break down under load and arch out. This will cause intermittent loss of spark to the effected cylinders. Once they cool down again they tend to function ok for a while but will definitely repeat the issue once they get hot again. Hope this helps. Nick Bishop Australia
I had a Suzuki 2012 650 v-strom that my wife and I toured for almost a month in Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. It has lots of power and at no time did I feel that it was lacking. Our trip ended when a deer jumped out of a ditch and I hit it at 55 mph. The bike was a write off as were we almost. I have since purchased a 2019 and love it even more. I recommend you check one out, you might like it.
Thanks Taylor for the good videos. I ran a crude test with the tire balancing beads once and I am now a believer. I mounted a new rear tire on a VStrom , took all balancing weights off the rim, stood the bike on the center stand and spun the rear wheel at 60 to 70 MPH. The bike was vibrating bad enough to make it move around in the shop on its center stand. I then added 2 oz of Dyna Beads and repeated the test. Vibration was completely gone. I use the beads on all my bikes now, never had an issue.
If your running original coil odds are pretty good thats your problem. Especially if problem starts at same point in your ride. If your running tubeless tires airsoft pellets work really well for balancing. Glad to see you back.
Oh! Another thing is the hose that connects the intake boots can collapse once the engine heats up making the rubber more malleable and collapsing due to the heavy vacuum the engine pulls. This happened to me. I ended up capping them with rubber caps from an autoparts store and never had the issue again.
Hello. I purchased a 1978 kz650 new in 1980. Put approx. 28,000 miles on it before giving it to my brother. I was out on some country road in Ohio when a coil dropped out kinda like what this one is doing to you. I was caught by surprise when it dropped down to two cylinders firing and even more surprised when all four started firing again. It did that all the way home. On again, off again. I put new after market coils on it and k & n filters after that. No more problems. So that thing about a coil needing to cool down didn’t seem to be the case for my 650 and may not be the case for your 750. Keep up the good work young man.
Coil is easy to bench test . If bad the insulator between the primary and secondary coils had deteriorated and they "short" out when hot then as you state when cold will operate. To eliminate / confirm swap the coils and if it misses on the other cylinder you'll know for sure
Love your 750, I rode a 77 for a couple years in the 80's in phoenix. That bike was a true example of bullet proof, change oil, plugs and ride...for years
Hi Taylor: I agree that the old coils may be suspect - BUT - I suggest you also check the vent in the fuel tank lid. If it is partially blocked, the bike would run ok for quite some time before the fuel supply began to choke off. The next time it happens, just stop and open the lid for a second. If the problem clears - there’s your answer.
Your reasons for not taking the KZ are the exact reason why I think you should take it. Plus I have one and it’s why I started following your channel to begin with.
So i also have a KZ750 twin, previous owner basically turned into a scrambler, your KZ750 build was his inspiration for his build, i pulled the spark plugs and both are covered in black soot, which means a rich condition, ive searched everywhere and not been able to figure out air/fuel mixture
Thanks for taking the time to pass on your knowledge!! I’ve learned a lot and keep on following to take care of my bike. Dude HELP I have almost the same problème with my Triumph Adventurer, 3 cyclinder thunderbird type After a mile or so it starts running on 2 cyclinders, and the only médecine I found is to ride with the reservoir tap on ‘reserve’ not on ‘on’... I pull the tap and reservoir appart, there seems to be gunk at the bottom of the reservoir for sure, but what’s weird is that yes the tap filter is dirty, but that’s the reserve filter dirty, not the on filter... the on filter is prestine I’ve tried to clean the filters, blew in them, the air goes through ok, but the problem remains. I’ve had the bike for a month or so, the previous owner tells me the carbs and spark plugs are ok... Even if not, I mean, it’s got to be above all that, surely... since it’s ok when I ingage the ‘reserve’...
Taylor I know it’s outside of your comfort zone but I second the Ducati Scrambler. I own an ‘81 CB900 also but the scrambler is incredibly nimble, light and fun with plenty of power, you will not regret it!
I had a GPZ 1100 with replacement carbs that gave me no trouble on long road trips. The added weight and power made feel quite comfortable on the highways.
Hope you get it fixed soon. Sounds awesome. Maybe a 2019 HONDA CB500X adventure bike. 2019 they made with 19in front wheel. Cheers from Canada, stay safe
Great vid, Taylor. I presume you checked ignition wires and their connections to the plugs somewhere along the way, but an old coil does certainly sound like a possibility. 🏍👍🏍
I was thinking vapor lock since it regains power when you roll off the throttle for a sec or 2. Next time it does it, lean over & pull off a plug cap & see if the bike completely dies - that'll tell you which cyl is causing you grief.
@@Radioactive_Slime best way too find if its vapour lock. When it stops dead...open fuel cap. Leave open start it if it fires up and runs great. Its vapour lock.. Fix. Gas cap vent hole blocked. Also can happen if the bike is left outside. Very hot day
Hi Taylor, I just love the sound of the KZ down those back roads and as much as it would be fun to do a long trip on it I totally agree you would be better on something a bit newer especially if you are going to be doing a fair amount of trails, if you don't want to sepend a lot and don't intend to go mad off road then the Suzuki 650 v-strom takes some beating and they are definitely a modern classic. Looking forward to seeing what you decide to go with.
Triumph Tiger, Honda Africa Twin, Royal Enfield Himalayan twin would be cool. If you come to Colorado, would love to hit up a little of the mountains with ya! Mine is definitely more at home on the pavement tho (in profile Pic, NightHawk CB750). Glad to see you still shiny side up!
Taking like a 80's/90's adventurebike out for your trip would be cool. Maybe a Honda Africa Twin or maybe something rare-ish like a Honda XLV 750 R or something like that :)
I had a very similar problem on a 72 Honda CL 350 twin. It was a loose bullet connector in the wire sending power to the coil. Soldered the connection...... no more problems. Hope that helps.
@@micksterboone4517 Mine has 16k mi and the engine is apart for the 3rd rebuild. Every second oil change includes a top end rebuild. (The first rebuild also required a bottom-end swap as it started to sound like a washing machine filled with gravel. It turned out that the compression rings were scratching metal filings from the sleeve and it got into the main bearings.) Another issue with the KLRs it the fuel tanks - the metal pressings are very thin in some places and spontaneously develops leaks. This happened to both mine and a friend's KLRs. (In my case it was dripping fuel onto the exhaust!!!). I loved how it rode - especially how it slides around the corners in the dirt when you gear down one and give it onions :-) The whitelisting sound of the stock exhaust was also great. The best of all was that the standard tank carries enough fuel to cover about 340 miles. You kind of have to use your imagination when you want to stop in a hurry because the only thing the brakes accomplish is to get your mind off of the accelerator.
I also use beads in my CB550, and occasionally when checking/filling a bead will get stuck in the core and block it open. All air out, clear the core, fill... PIA. My CB450 consequently gets a big squirt of Slime sealant.
the beads may have made a slight difference, but not a lot for sure, as you can here the vibration go in and out in your voice, that being said, your on a scrambler, a little air is good lol . keep the vids coming for sure, and will be curious as to if the coil fixes it,, might be the prob with my triumph
I had a coil go bad recently. It would cut out at idle, and run fine at over about 2200 rpm. I was able to raise my idle until I got back home. It had about 75% resistance on the primary, then almost double on the secondary.
It is most likely a large imp, or even possibly a small gremlin that is sitting under your tragell valve. They often hop on board if you park too close to an infected BSA or old Moto Guzzi's. Take it to a reputable metric phrenologist to see if your JIS are still within pitch tolerance. Imps aren't usually able to maintain a good grip on Asian bikes so if you park him near an old airplane graveyard overnight, with a little luck and a full moon, it may run off into the ruins on its own. Good luck!
@classicoctane when you did your scrambler build did you do a video on your mikuni bs38 carbs ?? I have them on my 1979 xs650 special and I'm trying to just soooak knowledge on them. Love the videos keep it up 😊
How do you find the seating position with those bars? I have a CB750 with clip ons (stock rearsets) and I am looking to go with superbike bars next season. Do you find it comfortable for long rides (1 - 1.5 hours)?
Quick question on the keyless start. I think in the M unit wiring video you used the voltage reference for the charger/rectifier as part of the key circuit. If you have the key in the off position and start the bike, does the charging circuit still have the voltage reference it needs with the key in the off position?
Got a KZ750 Twin. I can not keep the screws in the starter clutch. Those three in the back. Red juice on the screws and all. Had to take that thing out three times in the last week....(doing a build) What do you do to keep that thing together???
Ahh Taylor i imagine that the problem will get worse at lower mileage usage but yep change the Coil, I had a Suzuki GN250 that cut out completely after 2 miles until it cooled down then would do another 2 miles then stop. Changed Coil, Generator set and pick up and CDI unit so i imagine one of those three were faulty. I take it your on Points on that bike? I would like to see some road tests with your goPro unit like Quasimotard Aaron does down your way in Texas on his Honda Super Cub. Marc in Bletchley Towers G6XEG(ham call sign)
I would love to see a longer trip. Whichever bike you I would be interested to hear your thoughts on how comfortable the bike is, ease of riding, fuel economy, accessories to make the ride better. My own interest would be to see Triumph scrambler. Always wondered if they would be good for a longer trip.
Crazy that the problem started at the same moment as last time. I recently replaced my CB750 coils with some Dynatek coils So far they've been great. That Kawasaki is one my favorite Classic Octane builds...and I'm a Honda guy. Still not sure how you don't burn the inside of your pants on that muffler when you're stopped at a light and your feet are down. Getting a new bike isn't a horrible idea (I have a 1975 Honda CB750 and a 2017 Moto Guzzi V7iii. I haven't had any problems with either, but when I ride the Honda I'm very in tune with the bike, it's a different experience than riding the newer Moto Guzzi. On the modern bike I'm not really thinking about the motorcycle, just relaxing and having faith in the machine doing what it was built to do. That being said, it could be cool to do a vintage bike road trip at some point, see how the old bike does on a cross country trek. It's very Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. It would be interesting to see how the bike holds up and what if any maintenance has to be done along the way.
What about the vacuum valve on your right carb. New coil is also a good option, new is the best brand. The ride was going so good. Take it easy and be safe.
I would definitely prefer you to build a adventure touring bike like an old African Twin or something similar so I could follow along with that build. But I would watch any overlanding or just road trip vid.
Would deffinetely recomend a Triumph Tiger for your trip with your buddy on the BMW 310 GS. Would like to see that trip. Kind Regards. Per Lindell Denmark. 😊
That Kawi really is a sweet bike. Probably my fav of the ones I have seen you do. I think you might want to check the charging system as well, i have seen similar issues with a stator that is barely keeping up with demand.
Hi Taylor, did you figure out if it was the coil? Have you checked the temperature of both cylinders? I have an issue with a similar bike, the right cylinder is cooler than the other one. Do you have a video to check the valves clearance? Thanks
Yea, high probability that the coil is bad. Back in the day, we would replace them with automotive high output (voltage) coils. It was a known issue in the late 70's. I had a KZ900 and I'm pretty sure the factory used the same coil on most models.
the issue might be a wire broken inside the insulation somewhere in the ignition system. the two ends mostly stay in contact, but either corrosion or vibration is beginning to interfere with the connection, causing an intermittent issue that other repairs don't remedy. i've seen it in wiring in cars before, and can be a pain to dignose. from the outside, everything seems fine so you wind up stabbing a test probe into the wire every so many inches to find the break. i usually take a glob of rtv and put a thin coat over the section i tested to reseal the insulation if i don't remove it during the repair. i hope for the sake of your sanity, i'm wrong.
What did you find to be your failure ... Ohm out each coil..center/high voltage terminal(disconnected from bike) should be 10,000 ohms or higher between all terminals..per coil.if zeros out meter ..bad coil...also ohm out wiring harness to kill switch,ignition switch,points .. Good luck..
Would Love to see some longer trips I have a kz750 twin as well ..but also have a more modern bike to do some touring... Personally I think you are more able to enjoy the ride and appreciate the trip a bit more not having to worry about the bike. If you want to prove something go on the Kz750, if you want to enjoy your time off and appreciate the ride and experience of motorcycle adventure with your friend.. Treat yourself to something more modern. Love the content keep up the good work and ill look forward to the adventure rides.
I am in the process of developing an open source alternative to m-unit. I'm using a nano arduino with ble and I've gotten the keyless ignition down but I still have more work to do
I see a few people have commented on the cb500x for a an adventure bike I think for a cheaper adv bike they are good and have alot of aftermarket support. I used to own one and it was good for gravel trails etc but if I was to buy another adventure bike the Africa twin would be my pick 👍
It seems like plenty of people are vlogging from modern ADV bikes. It would be awesome if you had the confidence to try to do the trip on a classic Scrambler. If proven reliability were the main goal and you're not going to try it on classic, I'd vote for a Suzuki V-Strom. BTW Bugholeex, I'm pretty sure the Tenere is from Yamaha.
@Classic Octane on the modern motorcycle , i'm a Honda fan for Adventure bikes , like the Africa Twin / NC750x , and the infamous famous wonderful CB500X ...... BMWs are obviously excellent , but don't dismiss the Suzuki V-Strom bikes , (the 650 is lovely) best Regards ....
I'd be out every morning if I had weather like that, I'm in n Ireland and I'm lucky to get 20 good days riding. Enjoying the videos. Like to c u convert a classic into a mono shock
You know there are a bunch of people doing trips on new adventures bike videos but I don't see anyone doing it on a 77 kz that was home built.thats your shot to do something different. If you get a chance watch the move cycle south it was made in the 70s .
IF THE CYC DROPS VERY SUDDLEY IN AND OUT IT IS THE COIL I HAD A BOAT ENGINE DO THE SAME THING CHECK THE RESISTANCE IF TOO HIGH = BAD COIL HOPE THIS HELPS
I have this same issue on my kz750 twin. I believe it to be the petcock I replaced mine with as the new one I bought only has one outlet and I have a brass t splitting to feed both carbs. It only cuts out at highway speeds because I’m using more fuel faster. Not sure if you replaced your petcock with a similar style or not but i believe this to be my issue. Maybe it’s yours.
You running electronic or points ignition timing? I had an issue on an old Suzuki w/ electronic timing, and after tearing my hair out for weeks, found out I hadn't properly screwed my battery negative terminal back down! Felt like a total fool when I finally traced it to that.
Hey bro just wondering I have a cb 350 1973 and would love to put a scrambler type exhaust that looks like the one you have on this bike cheers Love the videos from down under in New Zealand
My 79 Honda cm 400 A Hondamatic had gas in the oil,, first time that happened the bike has 5600 original miles and I had the carbs clean and the choke is stuck don’t know if it’s on ,, on or off,,, and I also run an in line filter with clear or see through line!!! What can I look for?? Thanks 🙏 Mike
It happened to my savage 650. I changed the old petcock to a non vacuum but I don't turn it off when not using the bike. Gas was overflowing to the carb into the cylinder. When I ran the bike, gas and oil comes out from the breather hose.
Curious, is there no fuel filtration in the petcocks on these bikes? I know my old Yamaha has filter mesh screen in petcock so in line fuel filters would then be unnecessary.
@@ClassicOctane Good stuff! Intermittent faults can be a pain. It's horrible when you think you've fixed it, then it bites you later. Then it feels good once it's sorted out! :)
I have the exact same model however I'm in the process doing a rigid version. Are you dumping the oil filter onto the chain instead of the lack ofair box?
Everyone has their own idea of what looks good on a bike. I don't like the see thru on where the battery & electrics should be. Don't like the blacked out stuff either...but to each their own... You do a good job on the videos and on these bikes.
Hey Brother, do you know if a Transmission from a 77KZ750 twin will swap into a 79 KZ650 four? I have a KZ750 twin project going right now but it needs a ton of work. (Weekend warrior). I’m looking at buying a kz650 with a bunch of extra parts on it for 200 with a blown transmission. Wondering if it’s worth the buy and I could just swap transmissions?
As far as an adventure ride, with your knowledge of old Honda’s I wouldn’t be afraid to set out for anywhere with a rebuilt and reset up Honda 750. The newer bikes may have all sorts of gizmos on them but when some computer in them fails in the middle of nowhere you’re done for.
When I was a young guy in the 70’s I put 60K miles on a 450 Honda, riding north to south and east to west and everywhere in between in the USA. Stay off the big roads, stop in all the little towns with diners with names like Ken and Hazels, and don’t be in any hurry. Life goes by too quickly.
I love watching your channel. Thanks
I toured all over Britain and parts of Europe on my old CB550 in the late '80s. Simple machine; some old dude in southern France repaired my rear brake (awkward component on these bikes) over a couple of days; he let me sleep in his shed. That's what m'cycle touring's about.
We would also carry a small file and file the points every 30 miles, use match cover to measure gap.
Taylor. Thanks for the ride in this video. You would have to do a ride with an old bike. Just to prove it can be done. Lots of folks can only afford or only want an old bike. You are one of the inspirations for the old bike crowd.
I will do some longer rides on classic bikes in the future for sure.
Hi Taylor
After watching your video I am pretty sure that your problem doesn't sit only with ignition coils.
A more likely suspect is your spark plug leads going to the coils.
When old leads get stressed after sustained running they tend to break down under load and arch out.
This will cause intermittent loss of spark to the effected cylinders.
Once they cool down again they tend to function ok for a while but will definitely repeat the issue once they get hot again.
Hope this helps.
Nick Bishop
Australia
Check the resistance in plug caps too if you haven't replaced them already.
I had a Suzuki 2012 650 v-strom that my wife and I toured for almost a month in Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. It has lots of power and at no time did I feel that it was lacking. Our trip ended when a deer jumped out of a ditch and I hit it at 55 mph. The bike was a write off as were we almost. I have since purchased a 2019 and love it even more. I recommend you check one out, you might like it.
Issue could be the coil, and also worth checking the Condenser. I have definitely had issues with overheating condenser giving running problems
Thanks Taylor for the good videos.
I ran a crude test with the tire balancing beads once and I am now a believer. I mounted a new rear tire on a VStrom , took all balancing weights off the rim, stood the bike on the center stand and spun the rear wheel at 60 to 70 MPH. The bike was vibrating bad enough to make it move around in the shop on its center stand. I then added 2 oz of Dyna Beads and repeated the test. Vibration was completely gone. I use the beads on all my bikes now, never had an issue.
If your running original coil odds are pretty good thats your problem. Especially if problem starts at same point in your ride. If your running tubeless tires airsoft pellets work really well for balancing. Glad to see you back.
Oh! Another thing is the hose that connects the intake boots can collapse once the engine heats up making the rubber more malleable and collapsing due to the heavy vacuum the engine pulls. This happened to me. I ended up capping them with rubber caps from an autoparts store and never had the issue again.
Hello. I purchased a 1978 kz650 new in 1980. Put approx. 28,000 miles on it before giving it to my brother. I was out on some country road in Ohio when a coil dropped out kinda like what this one is doing to you. I was caught by surprise when it dropped down to two cylinders firing and even more surprised when all four started firing again. It did that all the way home. On again, off again. I put new after market coils on it and k & n filters after that. No more problems. So that thing about a coil needing to cool down didn’t seem to be the case for my 650 and may not be the case for your 750. Keep up the good work young man.
Coil is easy to bench test . If bad the insulator between the primary and secondary coils had deteriorated and they "short" out when hot then as you state when cold will operate. To eliminate / confirm swap the coils and if it misses on the other cylinder you'll know for sure
I have a similar problem on a 75 cb500T. I’ve cleaned carbs and adjusted new floats. I’ve been told it could be my PAMCO electronic ignition timing.
I just replaced my Pamco with Charlie’s place ignition for the very same issue on my 76 cb500t
Love your 750, I rode a 77 for a couple years in the 80's in phoenix. That bike was a true example of bullet proof, change oil, plugs and ride...for years
Hi Taylor: I agree that the old coils may be suspect - BUT - I suggest you also check the vent in the fuel tank lid. If it is partially blocked, the bike would run ok for quite some time before the fuel supply began to choke off. The next time it happens, just stop and open the lid for a second. If the problem clears - there’s your answer.
Good to know. I will check it out. Thanks Peter!
Your reasons for not taking the KZ are the exact reason why I think you should take it. Plus I have one and it’s why I started following your channel to begin with.
So i also have a KZ750 twin, previous owner basically turned into a scrambler, your KZ750 build was his inspiration for his build, i pulled the spark plugs and both are covered in black soot, which means a rich condition, ive searched everywhere and not been able to figure out air/fuel mixture
I’d 100% love to see a capability shootout between your KZ and your buddy’s GS
Great to see you back online Taylor, missed your videos
Thanks for taking the time to pass on your knowledge!! I’ve learned a lot and keep on following to take care of my bike.
Dude HELP
I have almost the same problème with my Triumph Adventurer, 3 cyclinder thunderbird type
After a mile or so it starts running on 2 cyclinders, and the only médecine I found is to ride with the reservoir tap on ‘reserve’ not on ‘on’...
I pull the tap and reservoir appart, there seems to be gunk at the bottom of the reservoir for sure, but what’s weird is that yes the tap filter is dirty, but that’s the reserve filter dirty, not the on filter... the on filter is prestine
I’ve tried to clean the filters, blew in them, the air goes through ok, but the problem remains.
I’ve had the bike for a month or so, the previous owner tells me the carbs and spark plugs are ok...
Even if not, I mean, it’s got to be above all that, surely... since it’s ok when I ingage the ‘reserve’...
I’m at 4:00. My first guess is electrical. Crack in coil or wire or connection issue. Loose wire caps?
Taylor I know it’s outside of your comfort zone but I second the Ducati Scrambler. I own an ‘81 CB900 also but the scrambler is incredibly nimble, light and fun with plenty of power, you will not regret it!
I had a GPZ 1100 with replacement carbs that gave me no trouble on long road trips. The added weight and power made feel quite comfortable on the highways.
Suzuki DR650 for the ride? Simple, air-cooled and lots of custom parts available.
Hope you get it fixed soon. Sounds awesome. Maybe a 2019 HONDA CB500X adventure bike. 2019 they made with 19in front wheel. Cheers from Canada, stay safe
CB500X is terrible offroad.
Great vid, Taylor. I presume you checked ignition wires and their connections to the plugs somewhere along the way, but an old coil does certainly sound like a possibility. 🏍👍🏍
I was thinking vapor lock since it regains power when you roll off the throttle for a sec or 2. Next time it does it, lean over & pull off a plug cap & see if the bike completely dies - that'll tell you which cyl is causing you grief.
I had similar symptoms on a CB550 and vapor lock turned out to be the culprit.
James Howitt can you explain vapor lock to those if us that know? I’m curious. Is it something limited to carbs or can FI bikes experience it?
@@Radioactive_Slime best way too find if its vapour lock. When it stops dead...open fuel cap. Leave open start it if it fires up and runs great. Its vapour lock.. Fix. Gas cap vent hole blocked. Also can happen if the bike is left outside. Very hot day
Ray Seal thanks for the explanation. Now I know.
My old CG500 had the same problem, it was an ignition coil breaking down, replaced both and worked perfectly 👌
Hi Taylor, I just love the sound of the KZ down those back roads and as much as it would be fun to do a long trip on it I totally agree you would be better on something a bit newer especially if you are going to be doing a fair amount of trails, if you don't want to sepend a lot and don't intend to go mad off road then the Suzuki 650 v-strom takes some beating and they are definitely a modern classic. Looking forward to seeing what you decide to go with.
Been looking at getting an M unit for my bike, can't wait for that video. Keep up the good work Taylor.
I have been working on these old KZs for over 40 years and best way to see which cylinder is firing...feel the exhaust...
Triumph Tiger, Honda Africa Twin, Royal Enfield Himalayan twin would be cool. If you come to Colorado, would love to hit up a little of the mountains with ya! Mine is definitely more at home on the pavement tho (in profile Pic, NightHawk CB750). Glad to see you still shiny side up!
Taking like a 80's/90's adventurebike out for your trip would be cool. Maybe a Honda Africa Twin or maybe something rare-ish like a Honda XLV 750 R or something like that :)
I like this idea! I have a hankering for an OG Africa Twin.
I had a very similar problem on a 72 Honda CL 350 twin. It was a loose bullet connector in the wire sending power to the coil. Soldered the connection...... no more problems. Hope that helps.
It’d be amazing to see you tour on a Desert Sled by Ducati or a Triumph Scrambler 1200.
A KLR 650 would definitely be worth a thought on an all-rounder. Great bikes and cheap to run. Ride one!
Had a KLR with supermoto tyres and wheels amazing fun
KLR engines only last 5,000 miles between rebuilds if you slide the back-end around every dirt road corner you can find :-(
@@brendonbentley6617 Mine has 49k mi and. never apart.
@@micksterboone4517 Mine has 16k mi and the engine is apart for the 3rd rebuild. Every second oil change includes a top end rebuild. (The first rebuild also required a bottom-end swap as it started to sound like a washing machine filled with gravel. It turned out that the compression rings were scratching metal filings from the sleeve and it got into the main bearings.) Another issue with the KLRs it the fuel tanks - the metal pressings are very thin in some places and spontaneously develops leaks. This happened to both mine and a friend's KLRs. (In my case it was dripping fuel onto the exhaust!!!). I loved how it rode - especially how it slides around the corners in the dirt when you gear down one and give it onions :-) The whitelisting sound of the stock exhaust was also great. The best of all was that the standard tank carries enough fuel to cover about 340 miles. You kind of have to use your imagination when you want to stop in a hurry because the only thing the brakes accomplish is to get your mind off of the accelerator.
@@brendonbentley6617 Sorry to hear about that. That would leave a bad taste for anyone.
YES TAYLOR I THINK THE ROAD TRIP WOULD BE GOOD TO SEE. I LIKE TO WATCH YOU RIDE.
I've used Dyna Beads in the past with good results. I now use Ride-On Tire Sealant and have had good luck with it. Better tire wear for sure.
I also use beads in my CB550, and occasionally when checking/filling a bead will get stuck in the core and block it open. All air out, clear the core, fill... PIA. My CB450 consequently gets a big squirt of Slime sealant.
the beads may have made a slight difference, but not a lot for sure, as you can here the vibration go in and out in your voice, that being said, your on a scrambler, a little air is good lol . keep the vids coming for sure, and will be curious as to if the coil fixes it,, might be the prob with my triumph
I had a coil go bad recently. It would cut out at idle, and run fine at over about 2200 rpm. I was able to raise my idle until I got back home. It had about 75% resistance on the primary, then almost double on the secondary.
Glad to see another KZ750 video 👍
Get you a Honda Africa Twin. Thinking about doing something like that myself on a adventure bike
Have you checked out the impulse pickups they present intermittent problems
It is most likely a large imp, or even possibly a small gremlin that is sitting under your tragell valve. They often hop on board if you park too close to an infected BSA or old Moto Guzzi's. Take it to a reputable metric phrenologist to see if your JIS are still within pitch tolerance. Imps aren't usually able to maintain a good grip on Asian bikes so if you park him near an old airplane graveyard overnight, with a little luck and a full moon, it may run off into the ruins on its own. Good luck!
@classicoctane when you did your scrambler build did you do a video on your mikuni bs38 carbs ?? I have them on my 1979 xs650 special and I'm trying to just soooak knowledge on them.
Love the videos keep it up 😊
How do you find the seating position with those bars? I have a CB750 with clip ons (stock rearsets) and I am looking to go with superbike bars next season. Do you find it comfortable for long rides (1 - 1.5 hours)?
I think they are perfect for me. I can ride for hours without my wrists hurting like they would with lower bars.
Classic Octane sweet. I will switch to these as well. Do you have a link to these ones in particular?
Quick question on the keyless start. I think in the M unit wiring video you used the voltage reference for the charger/rectifier as part of the key circuit. If you have the key in the off position and start the bike, does the charging circuit still have the voltage reference it needs with the key in the off position?
Got a KZ750 Twin. I can not keep the screws in the starter clutch. Those three in the back. Red juice on the screws and all. Had to take that thing out three times in the last week....(doing a build) What do you do to keep that thing together???
Ahh Taylor i imagine that the problem will get worse at lower mileage usage but yep change the Coil,
I had a Suzuki GN250 that cut out completely after 2 miles until it cooled down then would do another 2 miles then stop.
Changed Coil, Generator set and pick up and CDI unit so i imagine one of those three were faulty.
I take it your on Points on that bike?
I would like to see some road tests with your goPro unit like Quasimotard Aaron does down your way in Texas on his Honda Super Cub.
Marc in Bletchley Towers G6XEG(ham call sign)
I’m into seeing how an old bike would work but totally understand wanting to take a trip without having to worry about 50 year old technology.
Versys 650, KLR 650, Vstrom 650, NC750X, CB500X can all be had for very reasonable prices used and would be bulletproof reliable.
Thanks for showing some good repairs, great! Where or website I can get motorcycle engines for replacements ?
Bmw f800gs is imo the best all round bike there is. It will do off road, on road, fast road, touring
2019 Honda cb500x great adventure bike love mine riding out here in Utah 👍
I would love to see a longer trip. Whichever bike you I would be interested to hear your thoughts on how comfortable the bike is, ease of riding, fuel economy, accessories to make the ride better. My own interest would be to see Triumph scrambler. Always wondered if they would be good for a longer trip.
Crazy that the problem started at the same moment as last time. I recently replaced my CB750 coils with some Dynatek coils So far they've been great. That Kawasaki is one my favorite Classic Octane builds...and I'm a Honda guy. Still not sure how you don't burn the inside of your pants on that muffler when you're stopped at a light and your feet are down.
Getting a new bike isn't a horrible idea (I have a 1975 Honda CB750 and a 2017 Moto Guzzi V7iii. I haven't had any problems with either, but when I ride the Honda I'm very in tune with the bike, it's a different experience than riding the newer Moto Guzzi. On the modern bike I'm not really thinking about the motorcycle, just relaxing and having faith in the machine doing what it was built to do. That being said, it could be cool to do a vintage bike road trip at some point, see how the old bike does on a cross country trek. It's very Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. It would be interesting to see how the bike holds up and what if any maintenance has to be done along the way.
I just can’t picture you on a big ass Honda Goldwing 1300 monster! 🤣🤣 so for that reason only , I want you to get one 😂
What about the vacuum valve on your right carb. New coil is also a good option, new is the best brand. The ride was going so good. Take it easy and be safe.
What things to look for ?? Causes gasoline in the oil?? Thanks again mike
I would definitely prefer you to build a adventure touring bike like an old African Twin or something similar so I could follow along with that build. But I would watch any overlanding or just road trip vid.
Would deffinetely recomend a Triumph Tiger for your trip with your buddy on the BMW 310 GS. Would like to see that trip.
Kind Regards.
Per Lindell Denmark. 😊
That Kawi really is a sweet bike. Probably my fav of the ones I have seen you do. I think you might want to check the charging system as well, i have seen similar issues with a stator that is barely keeping up with demand.
Hi Taylor, did you figure out if it was the coil? Have you checked the temperature of both cylinders? I have an issue with a similar bike, the right cylinder is cooler than the other one. Do you have a video to check the valves clearance? Thanks
Yea, high probability that the coil is bad. Back in the day, we would replace them with automotive high output (voltage) coils. It was a known issue in the late 70's. I had a KZ900 and I'm pretty sure the factory used the same coil on most models.
You should buy a dyna s 2.2 from the kz 4 cylinder and split it. And 3ohn coils. It’s meant to totally chance the bike.
the issue might be a wire broken inside the insulation somewhere in the ignition system. the two ends mostly stay in contact, but either corrosion or vibration is beginning to interfere with the connection, causing an intermittent issue that other repairs don't remedy. i've seen it in wiring in cars before, and can be a pain to dignose. from the outside, everything seems fine so you wind up stabbing a test probe into the wire every so many inches to find the break. i usually take a glob of rtv and put a thin coat over the section i tested to reseal the insulation if i don't remove it during the repair. i hope for the sake of your sanity, i'm wrong.
What did you find to be your failure ...
Ohm out each coil..center/high voltage terminal(disconnected from bike) should be 10,000 ohms or higher between all terminals..per coil.if zeros out meter ..bad coil...also ohm out wiring harness to kill switch,ignition switch,points ..
Good luck..
Could it be the carburetor not synchronized?
Would Love to see some longer trips
I have a kz750 twin as well ..but also have a more modern bike to do some touring... Personally I think you are more able to enjoy the ride and appreciate the trip a bit more not having to worry about the bike.
If you want to prove something go on the Kz750, if you want to enjoy your time off and appreciate the ride and experience of motorcycle adventure with your friend.. Treat yourself to something more modern.
Love the content keep up the good work and ill look forward to the adventure rides.
Hey Taylor make sure your gas tank vent isn't stopped up may be vaporlock
I am in the process of developing an open source alternative to m-unit. I'm using a nano arduino with ble and I've gotten the keyless ignition down but I still have more work to do
Let me know when it's ready. I would love to check it out.
Going over those cattle guards....maybe knocking some crud loose in the tank, petcock, or lines🤔
I see a few people have commented on the cb500x for a an adventure bike I think for a cheaper adv bike they are good and have alot of aftermarket support.
I used to own one and it was good for gravel trails etc but if I was to buy another adventure bike the Africa twin would be my pick 👍
The Honda Tenere 700 got some great reviews. Definitely fits with your nimble requirement.
It seems like plenty of people are vlogging from modern ADV bikes. It would be awesome if you had the confidence to try to do the trip on a classic Scrambler. If proven reliability were the main goal and you're not going to try it on classic, I'd vote for a Suzuki V-Strom. BTW Bugholeex, I'm pretty sure the Tenere is from Yamaha.
@Classic Octane on the modern motorcycle , i'm a Honda fan for Adventure bikes , like the Africa Twin / NC750x , and the infamous famous wonderful CB500X ...... BMWs are obviously excellent , but don't dismiss the Suzuki V-Strom bikes , (the 650 is lovely)
best Regards ....
I'd be out every morning if I had weather like that, I'm in n Ireland and I'm lucky to get 20 good days riding. Enjoying the videos. Like to c u convert a classic into a mono shock
We're spoiled here in Texas. We can ride all year it's just a little rough when it's 100+ F in the summer.
Im looking for the two parts you call bridges on my 72 cb 500 cant find them on the net?
2 good Adventure bikes at the moment are the Honda Africa Twin and Moto Guzzi V85TT
You know there are a bunch of people doing trips on new adventures bike videos but I don't see anyone doing it on a 77 kz that was home built.thats your shot to do something different. If you get a chance watch the move cycle south it was made in the 70s .
IF THE CYC DROPS VERY SUDDLEY IN AND OUT IT IS THE COIL
I HAD A BOAT ENGINE DO THE SAME THING CHECK THE RESISTANCE IF TOO HIGH = BAD COIL HOPE THIS HELPS
I have this same issue on my kz750 twin. I believe it to be the petcock I replaced mine with as the new one I bought only has one outlet and I have a brass t splitting to feed both carbs. It only cuts out at highway speeds because I’m using more fuel faster. Not sure if you replaced your petcock with a similar style or not but i believe this to be my issue. Maybe it’s yours.
Check the height of your floats
could it be the condensors ??
I have a Tiger 800. Excellent machine.
Could it be the ignition getting hot?
You running electronic or points ignition timing? I had an issue on an old Suzuki w/ electronic timing, and after tearing my hair out for weeks, found out I hadn't properly screwed my battery negative terminal back down! Felt like a total fool when I finally traced it to that.
Still running the factory points on this one.
Injoy your videos. I have honda cb 500x is a capable adventure bike really enjoy mine . I have had many bikes this one does everything
look into the triumph tiger 900 rally pro.. its gotten rave reviews as a new bike this year in that middle weight catagory.
I would love one of those or a KTM 790.
Hey bro just wondering I have a cb 350 1973 and would love to put a scrambler type exhaust that looks like the one you have on this bike cheers
Love the videos from down under in New Zealand
You should be able to find a scrambler type exhaust for a 350 pretty easy then you can swap over to the style muffler i'm running.
Why buy new coils without first testing the old coil to see if it's the issue?
My 79 Honda cm 400 A Hondamatic had gas in the oil,, first time that happened the bike has 5600 original miles and I had the carbs clean and the choke is stuck don’t know if it’s on ,, on or off,,, and I also run an in line filter with clear or see through line!!! What can I look for?? Thanks 🙏 Mike
It happened to my savage 650. I changed the old petcock to a non vacuum but I don't turn it off when not using the bike. Gas was overflowing to the carb into the cylinder. When I ran the bike, gas and oil comes out from the breather hose.
Curious, is there no fuel filtration in the petcocks on these bikes? I know my old Yamaha has filter mesh screen in petcock so in line fuel filters would then be unnecessary.
There is one but I find them insufficient most of the time. They seem to only filter the large pieces but you can still get enough in to block a jet.
Classic Octane Interesting I might have to look into inline filters too then. Thanks.
Out of curiosity, was it the coils in the end? Had a little look to see if you had a follow up video but couldn't see one :)
I just took it out this past weekend for a nice long ride and didn't have any issues so I can safely say that it was the coils.
@@ClassicOctane Good stuff! Intermittent faults can be a pain. It's horrible when you think you've fixed it, then it bites you later.
Then it feels good once it's sorted out! :)
You saw those beads on the F9 channel?
Do they have an app for iPhone ?
Fzs seem to be the new thing but thatd be alot to turn into ds bike
Hey Taylor I see that BMW back rim behind your Kawasaki that you're working on, is that going to be a future build or will it run video?
I have the exact same model however I'm in the process doing a rigid version. Are you dumping the oil filter onto the chain instead of the lack ofair box?
What happened to the major job on the BMW you were about to start at the time of your last post?
Still happening. Gathering parts and finalizing the design now.
Everyone has their own idea of what looks good on a bike. I don't like the see thru on where the battery & electrics should be. Don't like the blacked out stuff either...but to each their own... You do a good job on the videos and on these bikes.
Hey Brother, do you know if a Transmission from a 77KZ750 twin will swap into a 79 KZ650 four? I have a KZ750 twin project going right now but it needs a ton of work. (Weekend warrior). I’m looking at buying a kz650 with a bunch of extra parts on it for 200 with a blown transmission. Wondering if it’s worth the buy and I could just swap transmissions?
Very different
It is certainly coils. They can work intermittently