Faults:

Both rear indicator housings were cracked, these were cheap and easy to replace.

Front folks leaked, a folk seal kit took 20 minutes to install.

'O' ring seal of the tachometer leaked at the engine block, a very common problem. Fixed by using the part from a Z1.

Original coils shorted out in wet weather due to brittle insulation. Replaced with Dyna coils Drag-way specification.

General Comments:

My uncle has a 1977 650 Custom, my dad has a 1981 650 F2, I bought a 1979 650 SR.

Having purchased this bike for a song it required very little.

It came with a superbly built 4 into 1 exhaust which has a 4 inch chamber. The sound produced puts many a fine machine to shame. The potent snarling growl as you snap through the rev range can be heard blocks away.

The original twin point system provided infinite adjustment for tuning, and performance increases are simple to achieve.

After replacing the original coils with performance ones, a C.D.I. ignition was soon on the cards. This made the bike go 110% every single time.

Fuel efficiency is a frugal 5L/100km.

I run a R.K. 'O' ring chain and it hasn't required adjustment yet.

K & N air filter helps this little baby breath.

Metzler rubber front and back provide serious adhesion in all weather conditions.

This is a very neutral bike when it comes to handling. It responds very keenly to any input and rewards the rider with lots of feed back.

The power curve is quite flat and goes well into the red-line.

It provides a good pillion experience.

The brakes do work hard, albeit don't fade.

A pillion grab rail would be the only addition required.

Managed to get hold of an original Kawasaki Workshop Manual and a Service Manual, parts catalog's are available on the Internet.

This is a sensational bike, which after 26 years continues to offer what 4 wheels can't - freedom.

Faults:

Cracked engine block (patched with JB Weld).

Oil drain valve froze up (re-bored hole).

Fuel light stopped working.

Electric start stopped working.

General Comments:

This bike was already in tough shape when I bought it. It had been left out in the weather and had cracked seats, rust spots, and faded paint. Despite that, it ran relatively well.

It had trouble starting when cold. I wore the electric starter out turning it over for several minutes in the morning. The kick start didn't give enough rotations to fire it, so I learned to park at the top of a hill at night.

I rode it as my only vehicle for my first couple years in college until it broke down farther than was worth fixing. I sold it as a parts bike to a motorcycle rebuild shop.

It served well as an all purpose vehicle, and even ran for several months after the engine block cracked.

It handled well considering its size.

The 4 cylinder engine was powerful and quiet.

The styling was like most 70's Japanese multipurpose bikes, with the long banana seat and passenger holding strap.