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1980 Kawasaki KZ1000

Purchase Date: Spring 2004 
Picture
I received a lead on a Kawasaki KZ1000 for sale. I urgently drove over to the owner's garage and found the bike well covered, tucked away in a corner. Unfortunately the KZ had not been driven for some time and was running poorly. The bike needed a carburetor rebuild / mild tune-up as evidence by the rough idle and throttle hesitation, otherwise the bike looked well taken care of.

The 1980 Kawasaki KZ1000 has a 1,015 cc air cooled engine. The engine is a four stroke with dual overhead camshafts. The bore x stroke is 70 mm x 60 mm with a compression ratio of 8:7:1. Top speed on the Kawasaki is 132 mph with 83 hp @ 8,000 rpm and a torque of 59 lb/ft @ 6,500 rpm. Weight is heavy at 563 lbs wet. The fuel capacity is moderate at 4.4 gallons.

I purchased the KZ and began the short two-mile drive home. On my way home while crossing an intersection after the light turned green I got into a small accident. A car ran the their red light and I couldn't stop in time to avoid the car. I saw the vehicle coming and slammed on the brakes, unfortunately it was too late. Both the automobile and myself came to a sudden stop with the motorcycle broad-siding the car into the driver side back door. I was mostly okay besides a bruised knee and the owner of the car was okay aside from my losing it on him. Both the bike and car had mild damage. I limped home with my bruised body, ego and motorcycle.

Due to the bike being both transferred and in an accident within the same hour, the insurance company opened a fraud investigation - the icing on the cake. Nothing came out of the investigation. 

I relocated for a new job shortly after acquiring the motorcycle. This forced me to park the KZ in a storage unit along with most of my belongings. 

Two years later, I received an offer from one of the guys my brother worked with to buy the Kawasaki. Since the bike was not my main motorcycle and it carried bad memories from the accident, I decided to let it go for a reasonable price. I wish I kept the bike. 

Sale Date: Spring 2006
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  • Home
    • About Rusted Chrome
    • Contact Rusted Chrome
  • Motorcycles "Current"
    • 1970 Norton Commando 750 Roadster
    • 1973 Yamaha TX650
    • 1978 BMW R100S
    • 1984 Moto Guzzi 850T5
    • 2015 Moto Guzzi Griso 1200 8V SE
    • 2022 Husqvarna Norden 901
  • Motorcycles "Past"
    • AJS >
      • 1953 AJS 18S
    • BSA >
      • 1968 B25 Starfire
    • BMW >
      • 1974 R60/6
      • 1985 K100RS
      • 2000 R1100S
    • Ducati >
      • 1999 900SS
    • Moto Guzzi >
      • 1968 Moto Guzzi V700
    • Gilera >
      • 1966 Gilera 106SS
    • Harley Davidson >
      • 1974 XLH 1000
      • 2008 Street Bob FXDBI
    • Honda >
      • 1962 Honda Dream CA77 305
      • 1969 CB350
      • 1974 CL360
      • 1984 Magna VF750C V45
      • 1986 VFR 750F
      • 1992 CBR 600F2
      • 2001 CBR 929RR
    • Kawasaki >
      • 1975 H1 500 Mach III
      • 1975 KZ/Z1 900
      • 1978 KZ650
      • 1979 KZ400-B2
      • 1980 KZ1000
      • 2001 ZRX 1200R
    • MGB >
      • 1974 MG MGB GT
    • Suzuki >
      • 1989 Katana GSX750F
      • 1992 Suzuki Bandit GSF400
      • 2001 SV650S
    • Triumph >
      • 1965 Trophy TR6SR
    • Yamaha >
      • 1980 XS650
      • 1981 DT175
  • Events, Rides, Reviews, Misc.