Rick H. wrote: Enter my 2 cents worth on this subject. Not wanting to hurt anyones feelings, but I don't believe an '81 KZ-1000 CSR is on the radar screen for becoming a collectable motorcycle at least in the near future. Not having all the details on your motorcycle, such as what you paid for it and actual mileage, leaves a lot out of my decision making process, but here is the truth. I have seen many people driven by good intentions start a project. They begin with a nice bike, or car and start spending money and they soon find out they need more money. It is so easy to spend more money! After a while they drift away from the project, usually after they have ruined a good stock vehicle and end up selling it for pennies on the dollar walking away with a sour taste in their mouth and a much lighter wallet than when they started.
I can't tell from the pictures, but if that bike you have is as nice as it looks, I would leave it alone. Keep it in good shape and years from now it may turn out to be a desirable motorcycle. If you don't care to do that, or can't afford it, then sell it to a buyer who wants it. In the meantime keep your eyes open for potential project bikes that someone else started, but gave up on. They are out there and all you have to do is have some patience and an ear to the rail. Years from now people are going to ask why guys in our time ruined old cars and bikes by chopping and modifying them. Just remember, once you bring out the saw and cutting torch you can never go back. Many years ago I, like you with the Kawasaki, bought a very nice old '35 Chevrolet standard coupe with the thought of making it into a street rod. Great body and all stock. Funny thing happened, just when I was going to start the project I discovered I didn't have the heart to tear into the old girl. I reinstalled what I had taken off and sold it to a guy who wanted it just the way it was. Made a few bucks off the deal and moved on, but I was glad I didn't mess up that old Chevrolet.
Rick H.
Thank you for your thoughts Rick. It seems there are two thoughts about my bike and what I want to do with it. One is yours, which is to sell it and buy something more appropriate for what I want to do. The other is to do what I want, just to be smart about it.
Like I explained in one of my earlier posts, I feel I have to live with my decision to purchase the bike I did and just make it work. I live in a lightly populated area and the bike was up for sale here for some time before I bought it. It's unlikely I could resell it any time soon if I was to put it back up for sale so soon after it was up for sale in my area. So I just have to make it work. Luckily a few members have given me some great advice or even already been down the path I'm trying to head down.
Thank you for your input. I'm open to any and all thoughts about this.