Which Inlet Duct (Airbox Boots) Would You Buy?

I have located new boots (P/N 14073-1032) for my 83 KZ750 L3 project , but since the prices vary quite a bit, I'm really unsure which to buy.  Once the bike is back on the road, I'll ride it a lot, and most likely keep it for many years, so I want them to last.

OEM Kawasaki boots from Partzilla:  $28  EACH plus shipping
A set of 4, aftermarket, from Z1 Enterprises :  $72 plus shipping
OR, from Ebay , non-OEM, 4 for $42  w/ free shipping

I hate buying something based on price alone, then regretting it for some reason, but with everything so expensive these days, I'd really like to save the money, as long as I'm buying a good product.

From Cruzinimage.

www.cruzinimage.net/2018/06/05/80-83-kaw...aner-box-duct-boots/

I don't know what the import costs to the USA are, but the quality is solid. I bought some intake boots for a GPz550 and I'm happy with them.

I got the fleabay ones. I fear they will probably harden and crack faster than OE quality rubber because I'm a pessimist. But they're working great for now. Very pliable and did not get damaged while I was jamming the carbs into place. I do not know how long it will take to regret my purchase, but my current opinion is that I saved enough money to buy a new battery which I also needed.

Sendhendrix wrote:

I got the fleabay ones. I fear they will probably harden and crack faster than OE quality rubber because I'm a pessimist. But they're working great for now. Very pliable and did not get damaged while I was jamming the carbs into place. I do not know how long it will take to regret my purchase, but my current opinion is that I saved enough money to buy a new battery which I also needed.

May I ask how long you've had them on the bike?

I just had a thought about the OEM boots-  They're already old.  By however long its been since Kawasaki stopped making them.  Maybe being in plastic doesn't matter, maybe they'll be fine for 1000 years.  Or maybe they haven't been stored well, and don't have much life left.  Who knows?

 

They've been on the bike for...16 days.

I also cheaped out on the carb holder boots that go to the cylinder heads. Those are probably junk. The vacuum nipples are friction-fit and I think they leak. I tried gluing them with epoxy but no joy, they still pull right out with the vacuum caps and then I have to stick them back in and put the caps back on. I might try cleaning with alcohol and then reglue with rubber cement or something vulcanizing. Speaking of which, they didn't even come with caps, I had to source them separately. So I do wish I had bought the more expensive carb holder/intake boots, because I assume they are higher quality, and now at some point I'll probably have to take it all apart and put good ones on. So I absolutely see what you mean when it comes to selecting parts. The temptation is to assume anything affordable is cheap counterfeit unuseable crap.

But I'm happy with the ebay airbox boots so far. I had the same thought about "new" old stock OEM. Even if they're cherry on the shelf, how long will they last in the elements? 

Sendhendrix wrote:

They've been on the bike for...16 days.

So I absolutely see what you mean when it comes to selecting parts. The temptation is to assume anything affordable is cheap counterfeit unuseable crap.
 

Yeah, half the battle in getting an old, unridden-for-years, bike back on the road is the research for parts.  I have just as much time on the internet as in the shop!  haha
Makes me wonder how we did these sorts of projects prior to the "information age."  (Actually, I suppose a big part was networking at swap meets.)

I think I bought a bunch of stuff for my RZ500 from cruzinimage and it all went very well.

What of the 3 global versions of the RZ500 Yamahas do you have? Pictures please! I've only a steel framed Canadian version at my disposal.

Same.

I'm not a big fan of the bike because as you're probably aware they are the most complicated way to go slow in the entire motorcycle universe. During Covid it really looked like the RZ500 was going to finally bring big money but prices have come back down again. I have Toomeys on mine so it sounds cool; just don't look at the speedometer when it's "accelerating".

chopper1963 wrote:

Same.

I'm not a big fan of the bike because as you're probably aware they are the most complicated way to go slow in the entire motorcycle universe. During Covid it really looked like the RZ500 was going to finally bring big money but prices have come back down again. I have Toomeys on mine so it sounds cool; just don't look at the speedometer when it's "accelerating".

That's a surprise, I was always under the impression these old 500 strokers where "looney tunes !!"





 

Have you ever ridden a fast motorcycle Wookie? Like one made in this century? Cause an RZ500 ain't one. Also 150 mph? Maybe on the longest downhill and with a serious tailwind.

 

Wow, slap! Not everyone is concerned with warp speed or dependance of/on external validation of such behavior chopper. That's not the main focus of this forum anyway. Riding at any speed is fun. Subtle back-handed remarks noted. You would tell us if you developed excessive self confidence from a stroke wouldn't you, right?