TOPIC:

Sounds like a perfectly functioning suspension system to me. That's entirely normal.

Exhaust are.... pricy. Even more so on this bike. Depending on how shot yours are, and if you're getting them ceramic coated, it may be worth patching up the ones you have. As far as paint goes, even if you do it yourself, you're looking at about $400 in materials, to do it right.

I'm in the middle of rebuilding mine, and the 1300 has a way of nickle and diming you to death...

I use a rattle can product on my exhaust, VHT ceramic header paint. No its not as good as a professional coating, but for $10 is has held up very well on a bike I drive regularly. The picture shows how well it has held up over the last 5 years... not to bad for $10.

I do have a complete exhaust for a 1300, very nice shape. Let me know if you are interested in a replacement.

The DG pipe is not like the stock pipe.Each header pipe comes off and is numbered to aid in assembly.So I broke down the pipe and shipped it to Jet hot.So yeah you have to take it apart and keep in mind the Jet hot coating is durable but you will chip it when you install the exhaust. It just happens.Try wrapping the exhaust in bubble wrap so you don't beat the sh__ out of it.The color is satin black but they have other colors as well.Now for the suspension yeah I get some nose dive as well.I replaced my springs with progressive ones and I used ATF fluid to fill the forks.Motion pro sells a tool to get the fork oil levels perfect.It runs about $20 bucks and well worth it. I run 15 psi as well.The manual says 8.5 psi?Maybe if you are a 150 pound Japanese guy.I am looking into "Ricor Intiminators". I have them on my KLR650 and they have transformed it.The bike handles like it's on rails now.They don't have them specifically for the KZ1300 but they have them for the kawasaki concours a similar size bike and has 41mm forks.They run about $150 and worth it(I feel).Like Jay Leno says you want to make it handle and stop better and make it safer. I feel upgrades to suspension and brakes will pay dividends off in the long run. I rather have a bike that looks like crap but mechanically sound and SAFE.The life you save maybe your own.

Again guys - thanks for the information - very helpful. Put about 300 miles on her yesterday, nice day for a ride - better than yard work . My second trip I recorder - see attached (25Oct2014). For some reason I ended up in Illinois:) . I added a circuit to control the fun - beautiful thing not having to manually turn it on. I posted in circuit on the engine forum.

Exhaust:
The problem I have is the way it looks. I think a battery leaked at one time and the left muffler and shield look like crap. The right muffler is pitted and has some scratches. Headers have some scratches also. The structure seems fine but I will know more when I remove the system. I have had the mufflers off when I had new tires put on so I know at least that will come apart. Tyler - thanks for the offer (nice photo). I will let you know after I remove and examine my exhaust system. Black color does have my interest peaked.

Nose dive:
Probably not as bad as I stated. I looked at the forks closely on my ride yesterday and it moves less then an inch - just feels worse then it is. I do have new brakes and tires so it stops good, just wish it have larger tires. The tires seem small for the weight of the bike.

Yeah.. something tells me this will "nickel and dime me to death...". I already want to have some of the engine side covers rechromed and I am missing some parts like the air cleaner side covers - oh well. The project continues..