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1982 KZ1300 rescue and rebuild 5 years 8 months ago #21097

  • StanG
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You taking to me? I am looking into that tomorrow. I am fierce with my concentration, that BS has to work! LOL
I am not at a shop but an underground garage with workers and management running around like chicken with no heads. NO PRIVACY. I must wheel in all my tools every time I make any stupid adjustment 6 (six) floors down. A bolt extraction can take 5 trips up and down, including involving my friend to stay on guard, covering anything bike related with a tarpon or bags, tape to make sure some construction shit will not enter, and multiple trips to Home Depot or elsewhere to find a stupid washer that doesn't fit!! I hope that 's clear. There is NO mechanical workshop ANY relevance here. Basically, I am putting this bike out of my ass, and | am most frustrated with it no matter how it sounds now.

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1982 KZ1300 rescue and rebuild 5 years 8 months ago #21098

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Sorry RChaloner for a burst.... To steer you in to the real frame of mind, imagine you are doing it on your queen size bed when wife asleep, and you need to keep it confidential.
I am full of mechanical practical ideas myself otherwise. I just think NO conventional ideas make sense here, unless someone wants to pay for these suggestions/ventures. What is a good base board is a flat zero. Then, when we go from there to solve it?

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Last edit: by StanG.

1982 KZ1300 rescue and rebuild 5 years 8 months ago #21099

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Hey no problem Stan, and yes I meant brazing to fix the grommet hole leak you mentioned.

Maybe I misunderstood as I thought it was in the ally cover you can take off and work on upstairs?
1979 KZ1300 A1
1999 K1200LT - now sold, I like them however was nearly as big as my X5 but no faster.
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1982 KZ1300 rescue and rebuild 5 years 8 months ago #21101

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Ahhh... I was virtually punching holes in the wall here, haha Not a good time to go on the forum! Glad you understood and apologies.

I will see what I can do today, but all I can work with are basically sealants and such. So, it has to be something like Permatex silicone to solve it, so I hope.
The area where the grommet sits in is somewhat deformed - it was welded too tight, and I couldn't enlarge it or the walls would be too thin. I think the grommet doesn't sit in it all the way, and might be creating a gap between the cover and the engine case. It's a small thing but might be a big complication, and it's giving me a headache at 4 am! hahaI better try to get some more sleep.

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1982 KZ1300 rescue and rebuild 5 years 8 months ago #21104

  • biltonjim
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The bike looks wonderful, Stan. I really admire the black / chrome engine finish. I guess its too early to tell how tough the black paint is yet.
Have you noticed the cooling fan working yet, and in what circumstances? Does the temperature gauge vary much in its reading?
How does the bike feel, handling wise ? Have you altered the air suspension pressure at all? How are the clutch, throttle, brakes for lightness of feel?
I am used to driving many different sports cars, as part of my job. When I drive one a few years old, it FEELS old compared to current models. Things move on. Does the KZ1300 feel like an old bike? I guess you might not be able to answer that if you haven't ridden any modern near- equivalent.
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1982 KZ1300 rescue and rebuild 5 years 8 months ago #21106

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Cheers Biltonjim! I will just answer one by one. And it's all unique again, as I am a first time KZ1300 rider, and these are my first interactions with this bike, which I had never even seen on the road until mine!

Yes, I imagined the black/silver look in my artistic eye and went for it. The black color is a precisely mixed Kawasaki ebony black color formula. It looks more black without the stripes, but it's exactly the same. I got the bike painted professionally by a fellow local guy, who heard my story and have done it for free. I think I mentioned it before. He said it would be very easy to add the stripes if I'd want to, but to me this plain color complements the black/silver look of the bike, so I am going to keep it this way. I am really glad I went for the black engine theme, it makes it look unique and tough. Quite fitting this bike.

Yes, the cooling fan works perfectly. I switched the sensor for a ZN which kicks in 10 degrees sooner. Usually the temperature dial is half way only. In heavy traffic, the fan kicks in and cools it down very efficiently. I haven't checked on the exact moment it kicks in, but I have never seen the dial past about 70%. I know the general opinion I read is that these bikes run very hot, but I don't feel it. It is definitely cooler than Vmax where, especially in traffic, you get treated with a wave of heat from underneath.

Bike feels very easy to handle. Very smooth and solid on the road, no complains about cornering. The seat is incredibly comfortable. I am staying below 4000 RPM, so it will be a while before I ride it aggressively and test it a bit, but so far excellent.

The back set at 35 psi, front with my gauge somewhere 13-15. But the valve leaks, so I am putting today a new one I am going to pick up today from Kawasaki.

Both brakes are solid, but I am going to adjust the rear for less travel. The front - I wish I could make it softer! It brakes great, but with everything brand new, including that new stainless master cylinder sleeve, it's quite hard. And adjustable lever would help. No complains though, unless someone would spend a lot of time in a city traffic.

Clutch works very well. Throttle response is good. But all this is just braking in, so it will change and I am sure become more 'sharp' and will need some tweaking to set it to my liking. I am not very fussy right now, as it's just a in the middle of a process when things change.

Overall, I love riding this bike! Definitely my favorite. And it looks and sounds great. Yes, I haven't ridden any 'modern' bikes. The newest one is my 2007 Yamaha Vmax, which is very sharp especially with a few upgrades I did (stainless lines, stronger clutch plate/springs, radial wider tires). People who are better at riding than me, who know how to race, said they have no problem staying on top with other modern bikes. So far, the KZ1300 feels to me very similar to Vmax. Except, I haven't of course ridden it above 4k RPM, so it has still a lot more to show! But, the guy who painted my bike has a 1200 Vmax and just bout a 2018 Vmax 1700. Same concept, but everything modern. He said it's a completely different bike, and the older one feels like a tank. So, I guess comparing the KZ and older Vmax to such a modern machine would see our KZ's as older bikes. At the same time, I'd say the 1300 would have no problem and don't feel old riding with other 'modern' bikes. It has power, and feels very solid on the road to me. I am not going to race it or do any stunts. I can ride aggressively at times, and I am sure the 13 will not make me feel like I am loosing on something. Not to repeat myself, very enjoyable riding, very smooth operation, stops well, and very comfortable sitting on the bike. Both thumbs up! :)
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