TOPIC:

Hi.
I'm Mark from Richmond,Va.
My neighbor has a herd of bikes and he wants to sell his
KZ1300.
I have never ridden anything bigger than a CB350.
It was kind of scary to ride something this big and powerful.
I found your site to see what kind of problems you all have
since I usually do my own repairs.
I haven't made up my mind yet

It only goes as fast as you want it to.

They are old machines. They have the same problems as any old machine and finding parts can be tricky but not impossible.

If you can get it in good shape for a decent price, go for it. That being said, if your skills aren't up to riding it, work your way up to it. The good news is that, once you are going faster than about 10 mph, a heavy bike feels very similar to a smaller bike- you'd be surprised how much weight goes away once you get moving.

As far as maintenance goes, I've learned you can find quite a few of the necessary parts to keep this bike running- the catch is that you'll either have to look kind of far (I've gotten parts from the UK, and there's a German website that has quite a few spare and replica parts), or pay out the nose for them. Or both. That being said, they are not hard to work on at all- yeah, there's a lot there, but it's all really straightforward. It really is built like a smaller engine with extra cylinders grafted on.

I say go for it. I've already fallen in love with mine, and it's not even 100% yet. They really are amazing bikes- fast, yes. But they also don't handle bad when properly set up, and the transmission is probably the best one I've ever used- nice light clutch pull, and gear changes just click into place. Combine that with smooth delivery of gobs of power, and you end up with something really special. Just treat it with respect until you get a good feel for it, and you'll be fine.

Hi and welcome to the forum.
Take a look at the FAQ section to give you an Idea of what you will be getting into. If the bike is clean and tidy and a starter buy it. Any problems you may have will be resolved in time by just asking members on the forum.
what model and how much for the bike.
Under the impression that Z1300 in the states far cheaper to purchase than in UK . Purchased mine for £3700 but had to spend another £2k to restore with a new orig exh system, seat unit.

If you buy, Keep one lesson in mind:

- never park Forward into somehting that goes downhill, even slightly. It is a beast the be pulled out backwards, especially if approx. 100 people are watching (one of my first lessons)
- never, going very slowly, brake to halt while you steer to one side. The bike will, as the center of gravity is quite high, start to fall to one side immediately. (second lesson, only my girlfriend save me as the quickly slipped off the bike and helped to Keep it upright).

She can be a Monster, thought it depends on how you handle her.

Think about it, you won't get anything similar.

regards from Switzerland

HOlger

BigSix wrote: She can be a Monster, thought it depends on how you handle her.



regards from Switzerland

HOlger

No way to talk about the girlfiend Holger.