Hello from Maine, USA!

Hiya friends!
Newish member, longtime lurker, first time poster! 
Great site, what a terrific resource to have. I’m a recovering dealership Master tech (Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai & Kia, 2000-2015), former beer & music repair shop owner (2015-2025😞), musician, husband and dog lover. 

I got my father’s 1979 KZ650B in 2008ish. He “gifted” it to me, thinking it needed an engine…it just needed a petcock diaphragm lolz

For the purists, I can only warn you to turn back now, while there’s still time…you surely will find the following blasphemy….💀

He bought it as a “leftover” in Feb of 1980 in Massachusetts and drove it home. I say Leftover in quotations because I read that I might be an early production 80 because the original paint scheme was like a blue/silver metal flake…maybe someone here with more knowledge can fill me in?

It remained original until mid-2009 when I bobbed the frame and added a 0° drag bar. Wired in a Napa trailer LED running/brake light, chopped the trumpets and went with shorty mufflers with removable baffles. Repainted it flat black (my favorite color to paint vehicles- hides the spilled gas stains on the tank easily). 

Added a one tooth larger rear sprocket (42?), Dyna S electronic ignition, 3ohm coils, re-jetted mains 110, 17.5 pilots, pods…the usual suspects. 
Recently, I decided to streamline the cluster, so I slimmed down to just the stock speedo. I had a turbo  gauge kicking around so I wired a green and blue LED into it as N and Hi beam indicators. I know, I know…I’m a silly goose. Bar end mirrors, bullet rear directionals and currently installing a handmade springer seat. 
yeah that’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it. 
be well and ride safe, fellow KZ geeks. 

Tim

Welcome aboard!

Welcome from New Zealand.
Rich.

Welcome from the UK

wrote:

... , former beer & music repair shop owner ...

...

Tim
 

   We've formerly rented far too many beers to count.  Can't seem to keep them long, especially when cold.  Ownership is futile, but we try sometimes anyway.

   Ya' know we're kiddin'...

   Interesting & imaginative build.  Welcome.

Good Ridin'
slmjim & Z1BEBE

Welcome, welcome to KZRider.