bought one right out of the box, same colour, put 44,000 miles on and sold it in 1979...wish I had kept it. Best looking Japanese bike ever made and so much fun to ride.
I know how you feel. I currently own a 2021 Z900RS Cafe and I love it. I had many 70 and 80's KZ's over the years. I always wanted a KZ 1000 but could never find one that was original or not molested (stretched) ect. I also had a 2000 ZRX1100 and absolutely loved it but it was stolen from a motorcycle shop of all places!!
That's cool. My dad gave me his. He gave me his 1959 Impala when I was 8 years old. Back then it wasn't a big deal for a kid to be driving. I still have it. Runs strong.
I love this BIKE!!! I owned the "Green Version & a H2 750cc & a Kaw 400 + a Kaw 1000.... Love them ALL !!! The Kz 900 & 750cc H2 were totally CRAZY Machines!!!!
In Australia i bought a new Z1000 back in 1977, it was 100% standard with twin front discs and muffler on each side, i have not seen the same model bikes in the USA , great show
I had many KZ's over the years but never could find a KZ1000 in the right shape (original) at the right price. I always wanted the KZ1000. Its ok because I now have a 2021 Z900RS Cafe (948 cc) I love it! Got it for myself for my 50 birthday. Can anyone say mid life crisis lol
These bikes were so fast for their time. A co-worker of mine had one just like this one. We were on the way to work one day. I was driving my '62 Impala with a built 327. I was rollin at well over 100mph. The guy with his Kz900 blew by me like I was sitting still! I'll never forget it!👍😎
yep...and the next generation GPz900 wouldve left HIM behind! These ruled the road when released here in Aus! I owned an FJ1100 at the time for sanity reasons...The Kwakas were weapons, and the FJ was amply fast and super comfy!
Yep, I had many over the years. I now have a 2021 Z900RS Cafe and I love it. It has all (more) of the power of the originals but with modern frame, brakes, suspension and modern fueling. It,s a true sport bike in a lovely retro looking package.
I've had mine since 1976., bought when I was 22 & now I'm 65 ...Has about 110.000 miles (not kms)....It has survived a lot of experiments & has never left me stranded.They really start moving at 6 grand & above ., One of the most useful mods was a barrel & piston set off the 1000cc model .Contrary to popular belief , you just need to remove a slice of the casting in the upper crankcase with a rotary file ., the hole is the right size at the top 1/4 inch, & a steady hand with a rotary file. , & care full walling off of the crankcase openings, & removal of the oil pan, & you can (if you're not a hack) slip the barrel on ...I did exactly that at 82,000 ,& never had any regrets to the present...You may want to go up to 120 on the main jet (that's one step from stock), for maximum power.Points are a waste of time.,dyna ignition systems & others are still available to provide point less electronic ignition with no wire cutting or mods to the original system.
I’ve got a banshee with a 76 kz900 motor on it. My grandfather stretched the frame on the 4 wheeler to fit the motor. Plan to get the motor running one of these days
Ya I agree ., so will the owner once he gets caught in the rain ....Individual air filters look cool ., but cause jetting problems & weather problems ...you will actually get better performance with the stock system .,just take the air filter out at the drag strip..
I was an early 80's bike guy. But everyone know about the KZ900 and 1000. Unfortunately Honda made the Magna. I got the V45, But the V65 pretty much ended the bike wars. Yamaha came late with the VMAX. I remember the Bike magazines where they were turbo charging KZ900 to drag against the Magna and VMAX . It was a great time for motorcycles. KZ900 started the craze. Great video and I hope he put new tires on it. Happy riding
The air box, is a good find, they are like rocking horse poop, one was up on EBay UK a while back, the buy it now price was £750 Stirling. I love original bikes best of all, and this is one of the best of the best.
@@Johnnysvintage They're telling me a 1976 kz900 should have handle bar stoppers that prevent the forks from slamming into the tank sides. Is this correct?
Damn, I want to ride that thing. When I was a kid our neighbor across the street used to keep his in our garage. I never rode it, but since the keys were left in the ignition I used to start it up once in a while to hear it idle. /As a kid I wanted to ride it, wasn't afraid of it, because I grew up on dirt bikes. I would have pinned it's ears back. He, on the other hand, putted around like a snail on it.
Sweet! I hope the owner is able to keep up with keeping the fuel from going sour in the tank and carbs. Our government has created much misery for many of us motorcycle owners by putting ethanol in our pump fuel. I wish I could have back my 76 KZ900 and 73 Z1, but I'm glad that this KZ 900 lives on for Mike to enjoy riding.
Ye I had that brown Z I had a mach3 a H1 also a brown one and then I had a mach 3 that I fitted a h2 motor into the frame. Straight bolt in, could not get it to Rev cleanly, different ignition issues, if I knew then what I know now. Then went onto gs 1000 ,got married, had nothing, now at 62 I have just about completed my 79 CBx and have a 78 gs with 1105 wiseco, good cams and head and a set of 33mm smoothbores. Converted the points to electronic, Yoshi 4into 1 I'm a sucker for 70/early 80 bikes
Love the story almost a tear there listening to the brother...johnny &his guys kings of kawasaki fixers..cheers from dave...ps is the bike one the best you've done?
I have some kind of BS coating in my tank too. I can actually peel it with my finger. It seems like freaking latex paint ! Do y’all have any idea if it might’ve been a crumby product you’ve seen before?
Another fuel tank that's a victim of failed Kreem brand tank liner. Good news is that it's easily dissolved with MEK (methyl ethyl ketone). Available at most big box stores by the gallon. Hope your current paint job isn't good, as MEK harms paint. You also have to decide how you're going to deal with the immediate flash rust after removing the old Kreem product.
Alex Callas THANKS! Will acetone do the same job? I haven’t looked at it in a month, but it was like a light bluish grey. My idea was to fill it with a sand and corn oil slurry, and then put it on a blanket on a homemade orbital rocker (like a parabolic dish) connected on a cam to a motor. Just let it gently rock for an hour or two on each side. Rinse it out...
I only use acetone to do the final moisture removal after rinsing the MEK out, not to dissolve the Kreem liner. MEK really works but it's nasty stuff- do this outside and protect yourself. Sand and oil slurry? Not recommended- some people use gravel or sheet metal screws, or bolts. Too hard to get them all out- just use a length of brass chain instead, fast and easy removal.
Alex Callas Thanks again! I recently found the original owner of my 83 750/H4 LTD and today he told me he still has the matching black helmet he bought the same day, and he’s giving it to me! How cool is that?
Is the silicone brake fluid the same as DOT5? Is it necessary to change seals or anything to change to the silicone or DOT5? I’m restoring a 1983 750/H4 LTD.
Getting the tanks back to new is a big problem. Someone should starting producing new ones here in the states. Is it feasible to cut the bottom of the tank open on the bottom of each side to really clean and repair the tank and then re-weld it shut?
Float Bowl, "everybody and their brother" took these things off back in the day and replaced them. The stock air boxes are very hard to find for the KZs. However we're doing a KZ1000A right now that we think will retain the stock air box. Stay tuned.
I had a brand new one, same color, in 1976. When the dealership Kawasaki of Hollywood (FL) put a Kerker 4 into 1 header and a set of 4 K&N air filters in replacement of the factory air cleaner box, the bike lost power (specifically low end power) because those idiot mechanics never got the jetting right. Always wished that I had gotten a 1973 model Z1 instead but I missed the boat. Later on in 1977, the bike was stolen from the parking garage at the condominium that I lived in. Lowlife scumbag thieves couldn’t stand to see someone owning a nice bike that they couldn’t afford.
One Exon Valdez's of oil is dumped on the ground in the form of asphalt for roads, every year in the USA. Nobody seems to care about that. Couple cups of stale gas isn't going to cause ecological disaster.
Not at all, Colan. Rest assured. The EPA requires a shop like this to collect all fluids, gas and oil in receptacles and pay to have it removed. We have a gasoline receptacle for old fuel and oil, other things.
My window of opportunity has sailed on a KZ 900 for me. I had a 400 3-cyl Kawasaki. It ran like a cut cat. I broke it in as hard as I could. I got lucky and it didn't blow up. But, the bike was just faster than any equal rides. Due to poor riders I did beat several 900's in races. Just for fun, never for cash. $2500 out the door brand new is what bikes should cost today Right?
A good friend of mine in High School showed up with a 500 Triple...damn that thing was SOOO Fast...it blew my KZ900 away with no effort....and I could ride...
What? No flip flops? The slippers Nice ridding apparel. I had a KZ 900 back in 82 the bike was a 78. I also had a 1974 750 h2 triple that would smoke the 900 easily. The KZ's were all grate bikes it's nice to see one that has not been cut all to hell ,cafe' ed hardtailed or re-engineered by some low IQ nimrod that thinks he knows better.
“The tank is $500”. Notice how he slides that in there, says how much darker the oem tank is compared to the one he’s trying to sell the guy and then proceeds to say “I’d do this in a heartbeat”. The original tank could’ve been fixed and repainted for far less than $500 and painted to match the rest of the bike. I can’t help but notice that this guy upsells his customers with unnecessary parts. Sure it looks great but the tank was unnecessary and he shouldn’t take advantage of his customers.
You lost me at: Maybe replace the break line. Break lines should be replaced the latest after 10 years and considered due condition after 5 years. They are over 40 years old!!! I would not drive 5 feet with 40 year old break lines. Stopped watching at 9:28 don't want to risk my life. Over and Out
Sorry for that onlymarkallen but at least my brake lines will not burst if I need to slam into the brakes. But I hope you are not the only one who knows what I meant to type.
![Custom Motorcycles for 1 hour and 32 minutes [4K] Born-Free 13 and Biltwell People's Champ 2022](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/gKaoWelPoWI/mqdefault.jpg)
I bought this identical motorcycle in 76. I have probably owned 50 or more bikes in my life and this was probably the best I ever owned.
Kawasakis from that time is just timeless beauty, still holds up till this day ! would love to own one one day, if im lucky enough :)
bought one right out of the box, same colour, put 44,000 miles on and sold it in 1979...wish I had kept it. Best looking Japanese bike ever made and so much fun to ride.
I know how you feel. I currently own a 2021 Z900RS Cafe and I love it. I had many 70 and 80's KZ's over the years. I always wanted a KZ 1000 but could never find one that was original or not molested (stretched) ect. I also had a 2000 ZRX1100 and absolutely loved it but it was stolen from a motorcycle shop of all places!!
That's cool. My dad gave me his. He gave me his 1959 Impala when I was 8 years old. Back then it wasn't a big deal for a kid to be driving. I still have it. Runs strong.
That color scheme screams 70's. Awesome!
Nice but the z1s had the better looking paint scheme
That KZ sounds just like it did when it left the factory...Good work !
I love this BIKE!!! I owned the "Green Version & a H2 750cc & a Kaw 400 + a Kaw 1000.... Love them ALL !!! The Kz 900 & 750cc H2 were totally CRAZY Machines!!!!
Takes me back to 1976. Second bike I ever owned. It was a fantastic bike, wished I still owned it.
In Australia i bought a new Z1000 back in 1977, it was 100% standard with twin front discs and muffler on each side, i have not seen the same model bikes in the USA , great show
My first bike at 13 was a '68 305 Scrambler, #2 was a '73 750-4 and number 3 was that '76 KZ900. An baby, that was a FAST bike. No BS.
oh, lest I forget my '78 ZR1 Black Max.....
i had one just like this god does this bring back memories such a fast motorcycle this bike is awesome
My Pops still has his 76 Kz. Love that bike. It’s his daily rider now.
Yeah!
Very nice. I had a ‘78 KZ 1000. Love these bikes.
I had many KZ's over the years but never could find a KZ1000 in the right shape (original) at the right price. I always wanted the KZ1000. Its ok because I now have a 2021 Z900RS Cafe (948 cc) I love it! Got it for myself for my 50 birthday. Can anyone say mid life crisis lol
Now that's making bikes GREAT again. That bike is worth a million bucks now!
Maybe not a million but damn close these days!!!!
Nice bike I miss seeing them out on the road brings back good times old bikes old cars the good old days nice job guys.
Had the same one , same colour , loved it , never should have sold it
These bikes were so fast for their time. A co-worker of mine had one just like this one. We were on the way to work one day. I was driving my '62 Impala with a built 327. I was rollin at well over 100mph. The guy with his Kz900 blew by me like I was sitting still! I'll never forget it!👍😎
yep...and the next generation GPz900 wouldve left HIM behind! These ruled the road when released here in Aus! I owned an FJ1100 at the time for sanity reasons...The Kwakas were weapons, and the FJ was amply fast and super comfy!
Yep, I had many over the years. I now have a 2021 Z900RS Cafe and I love it. It has all (more) of the power of the originals but with modern frame, brakes, suspension and modern fueling. It,s a true sport bike in a lovely retro looking package.
Man, that bike sounds great, and it really moves!!!!
That bike is so clean that it’s almost a shame to improve it! I like the bars on it.
Beautiful daily driver.
Let The good times Roll !
I've had mine since 1976., bought when I was 22 & now I'm 65 ...Has about 110.000 miles (not kms)....It has survived a lot of experiments & has never left me stranded.They really start moving at 6 grand & above ., One of the most useful mods was a barrel & piston set off the 1000cc model .Contrary to popular belief , you just need to remove a slice of the casting in the upper crankcase with a rotary file ., the hole is the right size at the top 1/4 inch, & a steady hand with a rotary file. , & care full walling off of the crankcase openings, & removal of the oil pan, & you can (if you're not a hack) slip the barrel on ...I did exactly that at 82,000 ,& never had any regrets to the present...You may want to go up to 120 on the main jet (that's one step from stock), for maximum power.Points are a waste of time.,dyna ignition systems & others are still available to provide point less electronic ignition with no wire cutting or mods to the original system.
I’ve got a banshee with a 76 kz900 motor on it. My grandfather stretched the frame on the 4 wheeler to fit the motor. Plan to get the motor running one of these days
I love it
Just traded my road king for exact the same. Colour and everything. 100% original
WOW. Sooo nice....just looks and sounds awesome
Dream bike for sure.
so so so happy to see a stock airbox on it!!!!!!
Ya I agree ., so will the owner once he gets caught in the rain ....Individual air filters look cool ., but cause jetting problems & weather problems ...you will actually get better performance with the stock system .,just take the air filter out at the drag strip..
I got one off a 1975 900 Cal in my garage air box in a 1980 LTD chain guard who wants it
I was an early 80's bike guy. But everyone know about the KZ900 and 1000. Unfortunately Honda made the Magna. I got the V45, But the V65 pretty much ended the bike wars. Yamaha came late with the VMAX. I remember the Bike magazines where they were turbo charging KZ900 to drag against the Magna and VMAX . It was a great time for motorcycles. KZ900 started the craze. Great video and I hope he put new tires on it. Happy riding
Had a V65, it was an animal. It did an honest 140mph.
The prices of these and the early Z1 s are going through the roof in Australia fetching 25k to 35 K now
The air box, is a good find, they are like rocking horse poop, one was up on EBay UK a while back, the buy it now price was £750 Stirling.
I love original bikes best of all, and this is one of the best of the best.
very very nice bike👍What an impeccable job you've done! Thank you so much! I'm really looking forward to watching a video next time:)
Thanks for watching!
@@Johnnysvintage
Call
@@Johnnysvintage
They're telling me a 1976 kz900 should have handle bar stoppers that prevent the forks from slamming into the tank sides. Is this correct?
The stoppers are part of the lower triple clamp
@@Johnnysvintage
Thank you
Z900 eine Schönheit !
"Make Motorcycles Great Again" lol hell yeah.
Damn, I want to ride that thing. When I was a kid our neighbor across the street used to keep his in our garage. I never rode it, but since the keys were left in the ignition I used to start it up once in a while to hear it idle. /As a kid I wanted to ride it, wasn't afraid of it, because I grew up on dirt bikes. I would have pinned it's ears back. He, on the other hand, putted around like a snail on it.
Sweet! I hope the owner is able to keep up with keeping the fuel from going sour in the tank and carbs. Our government has created much misery for many of us motorcycle owners by putting ethanol in our pump fuel. I wish I could have back my 76 KZ900 and 73 Z1, but I'm glad that this KZ 900 lives on for Mike to enjoy riding.
Wow! Thats a nice bike.
I had the same bike but I put 4 over tubes 16in wheel and a 2 1/2 lowering kit. A step seat. 4 into2 exhaust.
Lovely bike
Love This Bike! Dies he want to sell it?
I don't think so
My brother had one it was a great bike he had a lot of work done on it she was a screamer!!! it was fast!!!!
I gotta get one !
I owned 3 of them an h1 and an 80 z1r 1000 built with a 1200 yosh kit that was extremely fast in 1982. Nice job!!!!
Ye I had that brown Z I had a mach3 a H1 also a brown one and then I had a mach 3 that I fitted a h2 motor into the frame. Straight bolt in, could not get it to Rev cleanly, different ignition issues, if I knew then what I know now.
Then went onto gs 1000 ,got married, had nothing, now at 62 I have just about completed my 79 CBx and have a 78 gs with 1105 wiseco, good cams and head and a set of 33mm smoothbores. Converted the points to electronic, Yoshi 4into 1
I'm a sucker for 70/early 80 bikes
good job!!..again!!
Love the story almost a tear there listening to the brother...johnny &his guys kings of kawasaki fixers..cheers from dave...ps is the bike one the best you've done?
It's so hard to choose. We're pretty partial to Lucky Chuck's bike. But we love the back stories. This one was just too cool not to share.
wow,is that tank dirty
I have some kind of BS coating in my tank too. I can actually peel it with my finger. It seems like freaking latex paint ! Do y’all have any idea if it might’ve been a crumby product you’ve seen before?
Another fuel tank that's a victim of failed Kreem brand tank liner. Good news is that it's easily dissolved with MEK (methyl ethyl ketone). Available at most big box stores by the gallon. Hope your current paint job isn't good, as MEK harms paint. You also have to decide how you're going to deal with the immediate flash rust after removing the old Kreem product.
Alex Callas THANKS! Will acetone do the same job? I haven’t looked at it in a month, but it was like a light bluish grey. My idea was to fill it with a sand and corn oil slurry, and then put it on a blanket on a homemade orbital rocker (like a parabolic dish) connected on a cam to a motor. Just let it gently rock for an hour or two on each side. Rinse it out...
I only use acetone to do the final moisture removal after rinsing the MEK out, not to dissolve the Kreem liner. MEK really works but it's nasty stuff- do this outside and protect yourself. Sand and oil slurry? Not recommended- some people use gravel or sheet metal screws, or bolts. Too hard to get them all out- just use a length of brass chain instead, fast and easy removal.
Alex Callas Thanks again! I recently found the original owner of my 83 750/H4 LTD and today he told me he still has the matching black helmet he bought the same day, and he’s giving it to me! How cool is that?
Nice bike , Just use good tank as is
I want a 82 cb 900 f super sport again some day?
UNA MAQUINA !!!👍👍
Is the silicone brake fluid the same as DOT5? Is it necessary to change seals or anything to change to the silicone or DOT5? I’m restoring a 1983 750/H4 LTD.
I think you have to change out all rubber or plastic parts.
bought 1 in 76' right out of the crate, put 44,000 miles on it in 2 years and sold it...my bad, same colour as this one, wish I still had it
Hey Rock, you in town?
Looks good but I would have had to put some sort of header on it! But that's just me...
Getting the tanks back to new is a big problem. Someone should starting producing new ones here in the states. Is it feasible to cut the bottom of the tank open on the bottom of each side to really clean and repair the tank and then re-weld it shut?
You can find new replica tanks on the net ...very expensive ...close to 1/3 of what the bike cost new.
@@zaks9919 Can you post a link?
do a comparison video between all 4 manufacturers
That was the exact model z9 I had, very nice, but like earlier ones better
Where are you located, I have a KZ 1300 that needs work.
We are located in Wadsworth Ohio
@@Johnnysvintage awesome, I'm in Western PA. I'll be in touch over the winter months.
@@Johnnysvintage
Chris Riddiford
Facebook
$200?!? Wow! What a windfall !!!!
Love it!
vht tire softner, i brought back some jc penny tires that literally had jc penny stamped into them.
Too funny
I had a green 76. Loved it. I have had much better bikes since. Maybe not as cool looking but definitely better bikes.
What the hell is ‘gooned’?
hello, can you show how to change the chain of links in kz 650 or similar engine
Next time we do a bike like that, maybe we can try.
what's with these KZ's always having pod filters? was the stock airbox just ugly looking?
Float Bowl, "everybody and their brother" took these things off back in the day and replaced them. The stock air boxes are very hard to find for the KZs. However we're doing a KZ1000A right now that we think will retain the stock air box. Stay tuned.
Nice, nice, Nice!
I had a brand new one, same color, in 1976. When the dealership Kawasaki of Hollywood (FL) put a Kerker 4 into 1 header and a set of 4 K&N air filters in replacement of the factory air cleaner box, the bike lost power (specifically low end power) because those idiot mechanics never got the jetting right. Always wished that I had gotten a 1973 model Z1 instead but I missed the boat. Later on in 1977, the bike was stolen from the parking garage at the condominium that I lived in. Lowlife scumbag thieves couldn’t stand to see someone owning a nice bike that they couldn’t afford.
Really, you let the old fuel go down the storm drain? Beautiful bike, poor cleaning practice.
One Exon Valdez's of oil is dumped on the ground in the form of asphalt for roads, every year in the USA. Nobody seems to care about that. Couple cups of stale gas isn't going to cause ecological disaster.
Not at all, Colan. Rest assured. The EPA requires a shop like this to collect all fluids, gas and oil in receptacles and pay to have it removed. We have a gasoline receptacle for old fuel and oil, other things.
My window of opportunity has sailed on a KZ 900 for me. I had a 400 3-cyl Kawasaki. It ran like a cut cat. I broke it in as hard as I could. I got lucky and it didn't blow up. But, the bike was just faster than any equal rides. Due to poor riders I did beat several 900's in races. Just for fun, never for cash. $2500 out the door brand new is what bikes should cost today Right?
A good friend of mine in High School showed up with a 500 Triple...damn that thing was SOOO Fast...it blew my KZ900 away with no effort....and I could ride...
Nice
😊
That 1976 Kawasaki KZ900 motorcycle deserves a superbike engine swap as an option because 70s motorcycles deserve superbike engine swaps.
Compra já
I have a 1980 kz650 with 6000 miles
I want sell it
I sold my 1980 LTD 1000 to my sister for $500... she gave it to my brother in law as a gift.
What? No flip flops? The slippers Nice ridding apparel.
I had a KZ 900 back in 82 the bike was a 78. I also had a 1974 750 h2 triple that would smoke the 900 easily.
The KZ's were all grate bikes it's nice to see one that has not been cut all to hell ,cafe' ed hardtailed or re-engineered by some low IQ nimrod that thinks he knows better.
No, hard to believe, but we're not into flip flops. It's "grate" that you noticed the slippers though.
Paint it white with lots of chrome
“The tank is $500”. Notice how he slides that in there, says how much darker the oem tank is compared to the one he’s trying to sell the guy and then proceeds to say “I’d do this in a heartbeat”. The original tank could’ve been fixed and repainted for far less than $500 and painted to match the rest of the bike. I can’t help but notice that this guy upsells his customers with unnecessary parts. Sure it looks great but the tank was unnecessary and he shouldn’t take advantage of his customers.
You lost me at: Maybe replace the break line. Break lines should be replaced the latest after 10 years and considered due condition after 5 years. They are over 40 years old!!! I would not drive 5 feet with 40 year old break lines. Stopped watching at 9:28 don't want to risk my life. Over and Out
onhawaii probably should stop if spelling brake is a chore.
Sorry for that onlymarkallen but at least my brake lines will not burst if I need to slam into the brakes. But I hope you are not the only one who knows what I meant to type.
++++++++++++++
you stole that bike at that price.
Wear a helmet !