1978 Kawasaki Z650
Summary:
OK, and easily made great
Faults:
Not much. I keep on top of things.
General Comments:
I bought the bike from a young (20's) girl, whose father bought it for her. BIG mistake. It scared her. She did less than 80 miles in 6 years.
I stripped it to every nut and bolt, removing everything I did not need. Center stand, brackets for helmets and makeup, passenger seat (shortening but welding a tubular frame beneath the rear set with extra braces for strength), had a beautiful single seat made, Monza shocks, shortened the front tubes etc... etc... etc. Now it weighs in at 60+lbs lighter. I added 4 into one, K&N pods, 295 cams and Dyna coils, Accel plug leads and a Mar-Tek ignition.
Understand I am 60 years old and still "ride". This bike has original Eddie Lawson superbike bars, a seriously low maintenance paint job (truck bed liner on what little fiberglass is left), tank, swing arm (de-chromed, etched and primed) and front lower legs. It has twin headlights, and all others are LED lights.
The brakes are not what I really want (I have a 16' Honda rim laced to the drum rear hub), hence the low score, but that will change. This thing moves real quick and is highly "flippable" in its current state. It has many more mods, but you get the picture.
Now that being said, the Z650 is a nice bike. Modified it is quite impressive. First mod is to lose the passenger nonsense. A 460lb bike that seats two is fine if you are dating a 18 year old Russian gymnast. In the real world? Buy a Goldwing.
The Z650 is highly capable and still VERY competitive once it's sorted out. They can be had cheap (I paid $500 and have put another $1200 into it), so for less than 2 grand I have exactly what I want that goes well and has all new bearings, tires, electric bits and only 21K miles.
Buy one. You will not be disappointed. If you are, the Z900 engine will fit...
Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 27th May, 2014