1977 Kawasaki KZ1000 A1

Description

This bike has a bit of a story. It was registered to a man in Lufkin, exas, ut abandoned in a horse-barn in about 1985. The last time it was registered for the road was in 1985. It languished in the barn, ntil a gentleman acquired it to restore it. I don't know how long he owned it, ut he never titled or registered it, nd then he passed away before doing anything to the bike. It was then bought at an estate-sale auction by a motorcycle-breaker. He recognized the low VIN and decided the bike was too good to part-out. I bought the bike from him with no title. I researched the history, ontacted the Texas DMV, nd obtained a bonded title for the bike. Here is a link to Texas' DMV bonded title page http://www.txdmv.gov/motorists/buying-or-selling-a-vehicle/bought-a-vehicle-with-no-title. Basically, n insurance policy has been deposited with them so, n the very unlikely event that someone comes out of the woodwork (now, fter 30+ years and a couple of deceased former owners) claiming the bike was stolen, hey get paid out by the insurance policy and that allows me (or you) to keep the bike. This means that you are buying the bike with assurance that it has a problem-free title, nd you will not have any trouble registering it in your state, r exporting it.
By the way, hen you read those ads on CL or wherever that say the vehicle is "out of the system", on't fall for it. This bike was still active in the TX DMV database after more than 30 years.
Now, bout the bike ...
It is a KZ1000 A1 model manufactured in the USA. The 500#### VIN means North America manufacture. In fact, his bike is a very early model, eing the 44th made. It is also an "A" model, ot an LTD or "B" model. There were not a lot of USA-made "A" models; they mostly came from Japan.
It has been resurrected from a barn-find to be a very nice, airly original example. There are some upgrades.
It has Z1R double front disks and a 1978 KZ1000 trapezoidal 5/8" master cylinder. The original, ingle disk and parts will go with the bike (if I haven't lost them!) but they will need to be rebuilt to be usable.
The seat, hrome rear fender, ide covers, irrors and indicators are reproduction; the originals were either missing or too far gone to reclaim.
The bodywork has been repainted the original Diamond Sky Blue color, olor matched to some good, riginal paint, ith decals applied and clear-coated over.
It has the following new maintenance parts, n addition to the ones explained above:

• New Tires - Continental RB2 3.25-19 on the front, nd K112 4.00-18 on the rear - these are classic tires with size and tread pattern most like the original Dunlops. These KZs handle better with the correct size tires, nd they are better with a ribbed front tire, s they came from the factory.
  
• New Tapered Roller Steering Bearings - Allballs Racing.
• New Swinging Arm Needle Roller Bearings.
• New Battery.
• New Carburetor Intake Rubbers.
• New Chain and Engine Sprocket.
• New Brake Hoses: Upper Front Hose and Rear Hose.
• New Solid State Regulator/rectifier.
• New Instrument Panel Wiring Harness, ecause the original was too corroded to salvage.
• Numerous other new small parts like rim-locks, attery brackets, asteners, oints, tc.

Other missing parts were sourced used. The headlight is a sealed beam unit, ot an OEM part.
The rear shock-absorbers' chrome is rough. They are usable, ut should be replaced for cosmetic reasons. The choice ranges between Emgo replicas, hrough Hagons to Ohlins or Ikons. It's up to the next owner to chose which. The rest of the chrome is in good shape, ut not perfect. The paint is new, o it's good, f course.
The grab bar also requires replacement. If you install the Vetter bags (see below) then you don't need the grab bar.
The bike has an OEM air-box and silencer, nd OEM exhaust system with very good chrome (that's worth about $1000 by itself!).
So, hat we have is an honest, lean, sable, ide-able, conic, irst-year KZ1000 with a low VIN number and low-mileage, aving been laid-up for the past 30 years or so.
The last photo of the bike shows the condition I bought it in, o you get an idea of the work that has been done to make it look like it does today.
I have a set of Vetter frames, addlebag and carrier rack for the bike (the lids are red, hough, nd the paint and chrome is rough). These are not included in the auction, ut can be negotiated after the auction if desired.
I am listing another of my bikes, lso. If it sells, hen I will stop this auction and keep this KZ. I need some garage space back and it is impossible to decide which bike to keep 'cause they're all great, o the market can decide for me!
The winner must pay a NONREFUNDABLE deposit using Paypal. Shipping is the buyers responsibility and solely at the buyers expense.

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