TOPIC:

I have owned a 1982 KZ 750 LTD for about 3 years. I love the bike but Im wondering if I should upgrade to a KZ1000LTD. Can you guys let me know if its worth it? I mean...... would I notice a big difference in power going from the 750 to the 1000 ? Also, is there a difference in the "gearing". I seem to be in 5th gear doing about 45 MPH quite often. Is there a "wider" gear ratio with the 1000 ? I never drove a 1000 but have seen a few around and the motor looks like a lot bigger "block" than the 750. Would it be worth it to do the upgrade?

Thanks

very big improvement depending on how you ride.

There is a big difference. There's no replacement for displacement!

gearing is similar as in the overall reduction ratio. MORE TORQUE is the noticable difference
MORE WEIGHT breaking distances need to be adjusted
MORE FUEL CONSUMPTION
the power is debatable in a street enviroment and load considerations.

donthekawguy wrote:

There is a big difference. There's no replacement for displacement!

Then that makes the Boss Hoss the ultimate motorcycle?

I didnt get the 1000 .....
Not sure if I made the right decision or not.
What would you have done ?

I did some research on this forum and what I was mainly looking for by upgrading from the 750 to the 1000 was to lower my overall RPM's. I found out that doing 60MPH in 5th gear with a 1000 you are doing about 3900 RPM. With a 750 Im doing about 50MPH. My case is, I like my 750 and I could have sold it to a guy at work for $800. The KZ1000 would have been $1800 + $65 to transfer the title + $38 to transfer plates, + $160 in taxes for purchasing it. (Illinois sucks). Grand total to upgrade rom a KZ750 to a KZ1000 would have costed me a total of about maybe $1300. Did I pass up a good deal or would you guys have made the same decision as I did ???

I think I would have kept the 750 as well.
For one, it is already bought and paid for, and you seem to like it just fine. I couldn't justify paying $1300 for a biker bike, just for the sake of having a bigger bike. Just my opinion, I think you did the right thing.
By the way, where abouts in IL are you?

imo, unless its in showroom condition or a rare/collectors bike, any bike over 20 years old but under 30 isn't worth more than $1/cc, so I woulda stuck with the 750. Not to mention, for under $100 you can alter your gearing and make it cruise at highway speed a bit better. My 550 feels a "little" gutless on the highway with my fatass on it, but it still runs 85-90 mph at about 7k with me sitting up straight, and will cruise at 5k/60 mph. I'm sure it'd go faster, but it starts to develope a harmonic and I decide descretion is the better part of valor.

You did the right thing, imo.

It all depends on how you intend to use the motorcycle whether a 1000 is better. If you're planning any long trips a KZ1000 is much better because on top of being more powerful, it's much more stabil at highway speeds. (At least on the regular KZs, I've only riddden a LTD maybe 200 miles in my life). Being blown around by wind, passing trucks, ect, is a major drain of energy on long rides. Also the KZ1000 is a much better design over the long run. Better primary drive system, eaasily replacable starter clutch, use of roller bearings on the crank instead of plain bearings on the 750. Also the 1000 uses replacable camshaft bearings, where the 750 does not. Another advantage to the 1000 is much less reliance on rubber orings than the 750 so much less maintenence fixing recurring oil leaks. These are a few things that set the 1000 miles ahead of a 750.
I've ridden many more miles on KZ650s which of course is the same base engine as a 750, than 1000s but if I had to own only one motorcycle it would have to be the 1000.

I dunno... I regularly ride 750s, 903s, 1015s and J motor models... I ride the 903s (KZ900) most and when I ride my standard 903, the one that is lower with bigger tires and lower bars seems sporty. Then I ride a 750 and really like the lighter weight and nimbleness. The fact that the engine has less torque takes me a bit of mental adjustment... you need to row the shifter a bit to get the bike rolling at the same pace as a 903. Then the 1015cc (77/80) KZs... heavier with no more power than a 903 I think... hard to say but I prefer the 900 models over the 1015s. The J bikes don't do much for me one way or the other and feel about like the early 1000s. I really enjoyed riding a customers 83 ZX750A EXCEPT the seat would slide you forward onto the tank and that was painful. The 750 engine is about the same as the 750 KZ engines... there is sufficient power except you have to work harder and keep the rpms up than on the larger bikes but the GPz handles better and has more cornering clearance although it does feel higher than my 903 carb test bikes... all in all, I like all of them and wish I had at least one of every model! I REALLY want a GPz1100 carb version (I like the looks). Maybe someone will want to go retro and work a trade down the road? Also, I would like to ride one of the ZX900 mid-80s 900 GPz models... never have.

I have a friend in Houston that has a Z2 750. That is about as close a comparasion as you can get.
Kawasaki was going to produce the 750 but Honda beat them to it. That is how the first muscle bike got bumped into the market.
I rode the Z2 and the gearing was tall. Same bike as the Z1 but smaller engine same weight.
I personally think the LTD is the bike for me. More room more power and 47 mpg cruising.
You can gear a bike any way you want but if you have more grunt you can run the taller gears.
If you decide to get a bigger bike you will never regret it. Roy

Roy b boy did you buy a kz on ebay today? That would be weird cuz i was in a bidding war with a guy with that nic. Just wondering if it was the same name, i was bidding for a friend of mine. you got a good deal if it was you.