• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

  • In order to help others find info on a particular bike, be sure to put the year, make or model of bike that you are asking a question about, in the Topic Title. This will allow people to pass by posts they have no interest in.

1981 Kawasaki KZ750 Resurrection

Ohlins look great on the bike. Looking forward to your report on how it improves the ride and handling.
 
You have spent a lot of money on that bike.But the overall look is worth it.Cheaper than a 20,000 dollar diavel.
 
Vmass said:
Ohlins look great on the bike. Looking forward to your report on how it improves the ride and handling.
Click to expand...

Haven't had a chance to hit the mountains yet but I love these shocks for normal riding and commuting. The ride is smooth and rolling over rougher surfaces like railroad tracks is almost a pleasure. I find myself looking for rough pavement to blast over just because.

I took my GS1000 out for a ride the other day and while I really enjoy it, I like riding this KZ more. It's just so much smaller and lighter. A real pleasure to ride.
 
Nice Ed! I wonder if those shocks will show up the front end now? You might need to invest in a set of cartridge emulators..... :)
 
salty_monk said:
Nice Ed! I wonder if those shocks will show up the front end now? You might need to invest in a set of cartridge emulators..... :)
Click to expand...

Thanks for reminding me Dan. Need to set up an ebay search to find some...
 
Aren't they 35mm forks? I bet the MikesXS one will work most likely....
 
My 83 GPZ750 has 36mm forks,of course the KZ may be different.Tried my PDF manual but fork size wasn't in the spec's:(
Edit:yeah the KZ is 36mm to.
 
Last edited:
Hi Ed
I've been away from the forum for a few months so haven't seen the pics of the finished bike before today... so just wanted to say amazing work!

BTW, interesting comment you made that the bike handles like a scooter compared to the GS...
 
psyguy said:
Hi Ed
I've been away from the forum for a few months so haven't seen the pics of the finished bike before today... so just wanted to say amazing work!

BTW, interesting comment you made that the bike handles like a scooter compared to the GS...
Click to expand...

Thanks Ivor! The scooter reference is in large part because the KZ is so much lighter than my GS1000. GS's for the most part are superior handling bikes compared to KZ's, but I think the 650/750 KZ's are the exception. They can hold their own.

My next project for this bike is painting and installation of a GPz style Maier faring. I want to fabricate some nice mounts so it doesn't look cobbled together. Coming soon...
 
Haven't gotten around to looking at the fairing yet but pulled the trigger on some Race Tech emulators. Got a good price on a set off ebay, plus there is a $20 off coupon right now. Hoping the suspension compliance will improve a little up front. At any rate, something more to play with.

And speaking of playing, the valve train on this bike was a little noisy so I want through the valve clearances again and tightened things up. The speced clearance is quite a bit wider than the Suzuki GS's (.10-.18mm vs. .03-.08) even though the designs are very similar. Tightened them all up to target the lower half of the spec range. Not worried about them being too tight considering the considerable clearance. After tweaking the clearances engine sounds less clattery. Good stuff.
 
Ed, have you noticed any gear train whine that seems loud compared to a GS? I've owned three of these bikes now ('82 750E, '84 GPZ750, '84 KZ700A, all of them under 25,000 miles)) and they all have exhibited a bit of whine to the tranny, particularly noticeable on downshifts.
 
Griffin said:
Ed, have you noticed any gear train whine that seems loud compared to a GS? I've owned three of these bikes now ('82 750E, '84 GPZ750, '84 KZ700A, all of them under 25,000 miles)) and they all have exhibited a bit of whine to the tranny, particularly noticeable on downshifts.
Click to expand...

Brett, Kawasaki uses straight cut gears between the secondary shaft and clutch, and straight cut gears make some whine noise. Suzuki GS's use helical cut gears, which are quieter. Problem with helical gears is they causes a thrust load, that's why some of the GS drag racer guys convert their clutch hub gear to straight cut like a KZ uses. Guess what I'm trying to say is yes, my bike makes that same noise. I sort of like it.
 
For some reason my '84 GPz1100 seems to have a notchy feeling gearbox. Not sure if this has anything to do with straight cut gears vs. a GS , It also seems that my GPz's gear shift throw feels longer than my GS1100E. Gotta' give credit to Suzuki gearboxes, they shift very smooth and quick. Even my '87 GSXR's tranny shifts SO sweet !
 
Road_Clam said:
For some reason my '84 GPz1100 seems to have a notchy feeling gearbox. Not sure if this has anything to do with straight cut gears vs. a GS , It also seems that my GPz's gear shift throw feels longer than my GS1100E. Gotta' give credit to Suzuki gearboxes, they shift very smooth and quick. Even my '87 GSXR's tranny shifts SO sweet !
Click to expand...

Suzuki seemed to have an upper hand over most other OEM's in terms of gearbox shift quality during the UJM era. This doesn't have anything to do with helical vs. straight gears on the clutch though.

I'll say that my KZ shifts wonderfully though, and adding the articulated shift mechanism had a very positive effect.
 
Last edited:
The Honda CB750/900/1100 F Supersports of the early '80s have some of the clunkiest gearboxes I've ever encountered. I've owned three or them, and ridden a few others over the years. Compared to the same era GS and KZ gearboxes, they were light years behind.

My current 900F requires an extremely firm, deliberate (i.e. slow) lift with the toe to ensure a proper shift. I don't know how many times I've gotten the RRRROOWWWW-CLUNK! of a partly missed shift fully engaging a split second after the clutch is let out.

Annoying, to say the least. Particularly when you're accelerating hard from a standing stop.
 
Nessism said:
Just took the first ride!:D Runs GOOD! Very nice driveability. First gear is tall but the clutch and low end torque manage easily. Speedo and tach needles are rock solid. Bike feels like a scooter compared to the GS1000.

Have some niggly things to tend to: fuel level warning light sensor leaks, so took it out, exhaust leak because missing the crossover pipe gasket on one side, need to anchor the clutch cable better, and the exhaust pipes only look so so. At any rate, it's a good day. Time to clean the garage...









Click to expand...

Absolute perfection.
 
Ed, have you noticed any gear train whine that seems loud compared to a GS? I've owned three of these bikes now ('82 750E, '84 GPZ750, '84 KZ700A, all of them under 25,000 miles)) and they all have exhibited a bit of whine to the tranny, particularly noticeable on downshifts.
Click to expand...

My KZ has a little over 25k miles on the engine. There is also some primary chain noise at idle (different from valve clatter). The noise disappears off idle. I'm told that this is fairly normal for this engine. The cam chain tensioner can also contribute to a noisy top end.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top