1978 Kawasaki KZ650!

Hello Everyone, really happy to be here. My first ever motorcycle was a 1976 KZ650, and last fall I picked up this 1978 KZ650. Excited to start working on it and restoring it, I mainly bought this to teach my kids about bikes but also so that my father can ride with me every now and again. I've done all the regular maintenance and it runs and drives quite nicely. I'm open to any and all suggestions/reccomendations!

My first couple things to do are (and in no particular order):
- Chrome/Plastic refurbish
- Fork Support
- Rear shocks
- Rebuild forks w/ progressive springs
- Brake light sensor (front) is iffy
- Repaint exhaust
- Dyna S ignition (get rid of the ugly red cables)
- Handlebar Grips

Alot more to do, but I also have 2 kids to rase, and another antique car to restore
 

Welcome to KZRider 
All here are happy to help 
Dave

Welcome from the UK

Welcome from GA. As someone who also suffers from the "too many projects" disease I can say it's good for kids to see their Dad doing something more constructive than sitting on the sofa watching NASCAR or College Football.

Thank you! Yeah I always have my kids helping with my projects. They mostly don't complain lol, and it's taught them alot already. 

I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy relaxing to watch a race once in awhile though 😂

Welcome!

The bike look already super good. And if it's already running you can take the kids for a spin. Maybe that's get them interested.
I have 2 girls, both of them started riding dirt bike around 8 years old. But as I'm always in the garage tinkering with something (and as my kids think I can fix anything), they both develop a taste for motorcycles. But one wants only electric bikes to do stunts, the other one wants me to fix her an old small KZ for going to high-school in style!

If your Kz650 is running good, I wouldn't bother too much, but most oldies eventually can use a good carb cleaning/rebuild and sync.

Thank you! Yeah my daughter is 4 so she's turning some wrenches here and there with me. So far she's got a lot of interest in the bikes, but still way too little to take for a ride. 

That sounds awesome that they're taking interest man! Cheers to you and you're family, and thank you for the warm welcome. Super happy to be here, and hopefully I don't ask too many annoying questions 

Interesting muffler!

Welcome.

My first "big" bike was a 1978 B2, I still have it. Someone added a second disk to the front, not a factory option but easy enough to do.

You can find all the KZ650 info listed here :

www.jarlef.no/Kawasaki/Series/Z/650/z650b.htm
 

Welcome to KZR.

Great find to share some tinkering therapy with the family.

chopper1963 wrote:

Interesting muffler!
 

it is! I didn't really like it at first but it's kinda growing on me. I had a Dulkavic on my '76 but I think I'm gonna refurbish this one for now. No idea what make it is, there's no name but I like that it's dual.

Injected wrote:

Injected post=924408 userid=6924

Welcome.

My first "big" bike was a 1978 B2, I still have it. Someone added a second disk to the front, not a factory option but easy enough to do.

You can find all the KZ650 info listed here :

www.jarlef.no/Kawasaki/Series/Z/650/z650b.htm

thank you!