New guy in Barrie, Ontario.

I am a vintage bike enthusiast, in Barrie Ontario.
I do own a KLR 650 (1989) which I keep stateside in
Missouri to ride. We go there 3-4x / year.
I just bought what I think is a 1976 KZ 1000. I am hoping that if I post the numbers here,
someone in this group will be able to date it accurately.
Here goes:


engine ....KZT00AE019276
steering head ....KZT00AE012787
Thanks for the help. -Chris
If any of you will be at MID OHIO in a couple of weeks,
I will be there with our Rudge Ulster. We get to take it in the Saturday parade. It's the AMA Museum's way of celebrating
85 years. FYI

wecome to KZR. i'll be at mid-ohio. checkout the Z1 Enterprise booth in the flea market. so what is 85..you or the Rudge???:laugh:

I guess it's the 85th anniversary of AMA? or Mid Ohio Vintage Days?
not sure exactly, but they've got motorcycles from every year in the Saturday Parade, going back to 1924 if my math is right heh heh
The Ulster is a 1937, so that makes it 72 this year.
See ya there!

Welcome from accross the Lake in Keswick.
Post up some pictures of your rides, and Mid Ohio...

nesster wrote:

...just bought what I think is a 1976 KZ 1000. I am hoping that if I post the numbers here,
someone in this group will be able to date it accurately.
Here goes:


engine ....KZT00AE019276
steering head ....KZT00AE012787
Thanks for the help....

steering head ....KZT00AE012787

Am thinking the letter "E" might actually be a "-" (dash).

1977 KZ1000-A1 beginning frame KZT00A-000001~

1978 KZ1000-A2 beginning frame KZT00A-027501~

Would guess it's a 1977 KZ1000-A1 model frame.

Other members will know better about the engine number and how to interpret it.

Good Luck!

o.k. thanks....I'll check the number again
Are the engine/steering head numbers supposed to be matching?
In other words, is the engine in my bike not the original one?
-Chris

Hello Chris...welcome to KZR. To answer your question, the frame and motor VINs don't match. What Kawasaki started doing in late 1976 for the KZ1000 series (1977 year model) was using motors from a 'pool'. The A model (standard...which is what you have), B model (LTD) and C model (Police) all came from the same motor series and so there is no particular way to identify a motor as associated with a particular frame style (A, B, or C). Because of this, there was no discernable congruence between the two VIN's. Prior to this, however, the Z1 series (1973-1975) had some degree of congruence in that the frame and motor VIN's were within 300 (or so) of each other. Very early Z1's had matching motor/frame VIN's.

It is likely that the motor is original to the frame but there is no way to know for sure.

You appear to have a 1977 KZ1000A1 (as was mentioned). As for your frame number, is it possible that the 'E' is actually a '5'?

Hi Chris, I will be in Barrie in a couple weeks. My sister lives there. Will be flyin in from Vancouver.