1980 KZ1300 - Hen's Teeth Do Exist

[Barney T Weasel]

That smoke will probably be the valve seals are hardened. No big deal there. Just run it more often and it'll clean up.

[calif wingnut]

http://www.motorcycle.com/events/kawasa ... 87487.html

[Lucien Harpress]

I got a present in the mail today....

IMG_20140715_190232_984.jpg

The reason I needed a new set of forks?

This.

IMG_20140715_190247_156.jpg

Seriously. I went to take off the gaiters on the front forks (well, much as I could without pulling the front end off) and I realized that they replaced the stock dust covers. Which are difficult to find (surprise surprise- apparently, 41mm forks aren't very popular). I did find a pair-

For $30.

Each.

OOOOOOOOOR I could buy a whole new set of forks for the same price, shipped to my door.

Which are going straight back on Ebay.

[Lucien Harpress]

Finally got 90% of the parts for my coil swap in today, namely the spark plug wires. I could've gone with basic black, but you know what? This bike is kinda special....

10553613_10152541413807419_2773397813695148561_n.jpg

UNFORTUNATELY I can't exactly test them out yet. You see, I'm missing two of the caps that actually attach the park plug wires to the coils, so I was only able to install two of my new coils into the bike. (If anyone's got a set of caps for an AW82-TR1 coil...?) In addition, I pulled a spark plug or two, and the electrodes on at least one of them (possibly more) are worn down to nearly nothing. So, next payday we're getting a whole new set of plugs, too. Buying six at once should be fun...

[calif wingnut]

Here's another 79 1300 with factory fairing @ http://www.yelp.com/biz/sport-wheels-jordan in Minnesota in the background behind the gl1500 parts boxes.

[Terry in Australia]

Wow, I wonder how much they want for that big beastie? Cheers, Terry.

[Jetubet]

I had a 1980 1300. Bought it with 3000 miles on it. Sold it with 14000 on it. I had to replace the stator. The biggest problem I had with it and one that was chronic for me was the mechanical seal in the water pump. I think I replaced it three times in total. A big job. I don't think in general that it's a problem with the 1300 line though, the voyager line seems to do fine. I rode that bike very hard. I understand that a cam chain tensioner update is mandatory for it. The adjustment shims are on top of the lifters so you don't have to pull the cams to adjust valve clearances, which is nice. Once you get it where you want it, it'll be easy to maintain. The ignition pickups were chain driven in 1979 and 1980 until they moved to crank sensors in 81 and 82 and did away with the round housing behind the cylinders. The 1982 bike is the one I'd look for to replace what I had. I'm getting older now and the wing suits me better. The wing is finally all dialed in and sure is sweet. Although a late model voyager XIII still intrigues me. You will know your bike very well by the time you're through with it. Enjoy.

[Lucien Harpress]

Had a wonderful pair of packages show up today. They may not seem like much, but I couldn't be happier. First off- this guy.

IMG_20140723_145436_271.jpg

That small black bracket (right in front of the paper) is actually very important- it connects to another small bracket on the bottom of the headlight bucket and locks in the coarse up-down light adjustment. Problem? These often get thrown away, are hard to find, are no longer made, AND unique to the KZ1300. And quite necessary. I was fully prepared to mock up and weld one of my own from another bike, but got Ebay lucky- somebody was selling the front brake line splitter and it still had this bracket attached. Once again, I have to buy an entire brake line assembly for the small bracket on top.

I shouldn't complain, though. It wasn't too expensive, and I got the added bonus of a whole mess of hardware (bolts, washers, grommets) that goes on the bracket that's attached to the headlight. I was going to make to with hardware parts, but now I don't have to.

BUT- more exciting than that? My SECOND package...

IMG_20140723_145501_591.jpg

TADA! Yeah, it's just a horn cover, but these things are an absolute #*^$# to find, much less for a decent price. Got lucky on Ebay again. Got it for a lot less than I thought I was going to have to pay, it's in GREAT shape (very solid, surprising considering the age and the delicate parts- if you can't tell, those holes in the ribs go all the way through on the ends) AND the small mounting bracket came with it!

While I still have some work to do on the back (coils, seat, etc.), once I get my parts back from the powdercoater I think I have the entire front end buttoned up! I really wasn't expecting to get these parts. I'm glad I could find them.

[terry_208]

LH, I hope that grill wasn't too expensive, attached to the bike like it is! lol Great score.

[desertrefugee]

Sorry I've not been as attentive as I should be (I love this resto), but the fan running after shutting down is a Kawasaki thing. I've had two ZL900's that did it. (Bought one brand new, bought a second 5 years ago only to have it totaled when I was rear-ended at a traffic light in 2011).

Yes, I was bummed. But luckily essentially unhurt.

[Barney T Weasel]

My Z1300 fan always runs twice after I stop it on a hot day...totally normal.

[Terry in Australia]

Sorry I've not been as attentive as I should be (I love this resto), but the fan running after shutting down is a Kawasaki thing. I've had two ZL900's that did it. (Bought one brand new, bought a second 5 years ago only to have it totaled when I was rear-ended at a traffic light in 2011).

Yes, I was bummed. But luckily essentially unhurt.

Ouch! I hope you got compensated for that mate? Years ago I saw the result of a school bus rear-ending a Harley fatboy (across the road from the Melbourne Cemetery, coincidentally) The bus' front bumper was sitting on the bike's gas tank, but the bike was still upright.

Luckily for me, the biker's body had been extracted just before I got there, so I didn't have to see that. It appears that the biker had just been sitting on his bike at the intersection and the bus driver was distracted, and just ran over him. Cheers, Terry.

[Lucien Harpress]

LH, I hope that grill wasn't too expensive, attached to the bike like it is! lol Great score.

It was expensive enough... But you're totally right. Another reason these aren't that common is that they aren't built that well. I would call it... "adequate". It also doesn't help that it's a stressed mounting as well. It sort of doubles as a wire clamp for the main wiring harness up front. It's not much stress, mind you, but there's literally 4 different metal brackets that two bolts go through (horn cover clamp, left horn bracket, right horn bracket, brake line splitter) before threading into the triple tree, yet the thing they use to hold the wiring is the plastic cover.

As far as getting rear-ended- eep. That right there is one of my biggest fears, followed closely by accidentally laying the bike down with another car following too close behind. Mostly because you're the one getting plastered, and it NO fault of your own. Good to hear you made it out okay desertrefugee.

Some more news.... I caved. As far as the chorme fork ear guides go, I WAS going to make the set I bought cheap work, but I was struck with the desire to restore this bike RIGHT. Nobody would notice but me, but it would bug the CRAP out of me if I used the wrong parts. So I have a pair of (correct) lower fork ear guides coming in the mail.

And I am DEFINITELY not telling you how much I spent on those...

[calif wingnut]

Here's the scoop on the 1300 in Minnesota

Jeff. You're correct, there is a 1979 Kawasaki KZ1300 in the back. The bike is complete and was last run last fall. The battery is new as of June 2014. I haven't run the bike, but it does turn over and has spark. The starter is a little weak and doesn't spin it over very fast so I haven't gotten it to fire up yet. It does have all the factory Kawasaki touring kit (fairing, saddlebags, and trunk). The paint is all original, the exhaust is dirty, but nice. I'll try to get some pictures of it today and send them to you. I'd sell it as-is for $2000.

[Lucien Harpress]

Still poking away at the little things. The lower headlight ear guides came today- SURPRISE! They're chrome. (Not much on this bike is. It's okay- the blacked-out thing fits the bike) I may have a line on the other guide pieces as well. From the top of the triple tree on down it goes:

Top Triple Tree Clamp
Upper Fork Cover Guide (don't have)
Headlight fork ear (have)
Lower Fork Cover Guide (just arrived, so have that)
Lower Fork Cover Washer (don't have)
Fork Ear Damper (don't have, but can stretch one from a 37mm fork)
Lower Triple Tree Clamp

I'm still waiting on a guy on another forum to check his spares, so hopefully I may get lucky.

Powercoater contacted me- my parts are in line to get done tomorrow, so hopefully I'll have those in a day or two. My last coil should be in the mail, so that's hopefully a couple days out as well. At the very least once the coils are hooked up I can start fine-tuning the engine and maybe get a BIT of riding in this summer....