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FS: 1980 Kawasaki KZ550 LTD C1 in Montreal - a Classic
FS: 1980 Kawasaki KZ550 LTD C1 in Montreal - a Classic
The bike IS a classic. AND it is old enough to qualify for a 'C'
plate in Quebec, so if you are in the province and are so inclined,
you could get your plate for $80/year.
The model is one that is recommended for people with potential height
issues. My wife can even flat-foot the machine.
In original black paint with pinstripes. I've owned her since 1983 and
she's been stored indoors and ridden annually - but I have another,
much-newer/much-faster machine, so not often enough to justify
continuing to hold on to her. She needs a new home.
New tires in 2006. New battery in 2006. She is a bit cold blooded.
There are about 33200 km on the clock. She has never been down. The
only significant cosmetic issue is that there is a dent on the tank
from something that fell off a shelf about 12 years ago. The machine
is in great condition for a 26 year old regularly ridden machine.
As with all mechanical equipment of this age, there is no warranty
expressed or implied.
Here's a link to a shot of #1 son sitting on her:
* inlinethumb44.webshots . com /2795/2788220780100991015S600x600Q85.jpg
e-mail for more info.
The bike IS a classic. AND it is old enough to qualify for a 'C'
plate in Quebec, so if you are in the province and are so inclined,
you could get your plate for $80/year.
The model is one that is recommended for people with potential height
issues. My wife can even flat-foot the machine.
In original black paint with pinstripes. I've owned her since 1983 and
she's been stored indoors and ridden annually - but I have another,
much-newer/much-faster machine, so not often enough to justify
continuing to hold on to her. She needs a new home.
New tires in 2006. New battery in 2006. She is a bit cold blooded.
There are about 33200 km on the clock. She has never been down. The
only significant cosmetic issue is that there is a dent on the tank
from something that fell off a shelf about 12 years ago. The machine
is in great condition for a 26 year old regularly ridden machine.
As with all mechanical equipment of this age, there is no warranty
expressed or implied.
Here's a link to a shot of #1 son sitting on her:
* inlinethumb44.webshots . com /2795/2788220780100991015S600x600Q85.jpg
e-mail for more info.
Re: 1980 Kawasaki KZ550 LTD C1 in Montreal - a Classic
Fred True wrote:
> The bike IS a classic.
Very nice engines on those although anemic on the highway,
I used to own a KZ650 and that was barely able to hold
it's own on the freeway. And it was overbored.
It may be a classic but they were very popular in their day
and specimens in great shape are seen regularly on
craigslist for under $1K USD. You might also wait a bit
before selling it, a few more months and we will be well
into the warm season.
A good starter bike, much more usable than those
Rebel 250 things.
Ted
Fred True wrote:
> The bike IS a classic.
Very nice engines on those although anemic on the highway,
I used to own a KZ650 and that was barely able to hold
it's own on the freeway. And it was overbored.
It may be a classic but they were very popular in their day
and specimens in great shape are seen regularly on
craigslist for under $1K USD. You might also wait a bit
before selling it, a few more months and we will be well
into the warm season.
A good starter bike, much more usable than those
Rebel 250 things.
Ted
Re: 1980 Kawasaki KZ550 LTD C1 in Montreal - a Classic
Ted Mittelstaedt wrote:
> Fred True wrote:
>
>>The bike IS a classic.
>
>
> Very nice engines on those although anemic on the highway,
> I used to own a KZ650 and that was barely able to hold
> it's own on the freeway. And it was overbored.
Bzzzt.
The KZ650 had plenty of oomph and could cruise at freeway speeds
all day long. Something was very wrong with yours if it was
anemic on the highway.
> It may be a classic but they were very popular in their day
> and specimens in great shape are seen regularly on
> craigslist for under $1K USD. You might also wait a bit
> before selling it, a few more months and we will be well
> into the warm season.
>
> A good starter bike, much more usable than those
> Rebel 250 things.
The KZ650 is far more than a starter bike.
I also owned an '82 GPz550 which was a true gem.
--
'01 SV650S '99 EX250-F13 '98 ZG1000-A13
OMF #7
Ted Mittelstaedt wrote:
> Fred True wrote:
>
>>The bike IS a classic.
>
>
> Very nice engines on those although anemic on the highway,
> I used to own a KZ650 and that was barely able to hold
> it's own on the freeway. And it was overbored.
Bzzzt.
The KZ650 had plenty of oomph and could cruise at freeway speeds
all day long. Something was very wrong with yours if it was
anemic on the highway.
> It may be a classic but they were very popular in their day
> and specimens in great shape are seen regularly on
> craigslist for under $1K USD. You might also wait a bit
> before selling it, a few more months and we will be well
> into the warm season.
>
> A good starter bike, much more usable than those
> Rebel 250 things.
The KZ650 is far more than a starter bike.
I also owned an '82 GPz550 which was a true gem.
--
'01 SV650S '99 EX250-F13 '98 ZG1000-A13
OMF #7
Re: 1980 Kawasaki KZ550 LTD C1 in Montreal - a Classic
In article <13120s0chqgalec@corp.supernews . com >,
Mark Olson <olsonm@tiny.invalid> wrote:
>Ted Mittelstaedt wrote:
>> Fred True wrote:
>>
>>>The bike IS a classic.
>>
>>
>> Very nice engines on those although anemic on the highway,
>> I used to own a KZ650 and that was barely able to hold
>> it's own on the freeway. And it was overbored.
>
>Bzzzt.
>
>The KZ650 had plenty of oomph and could cruise at freeway speeds
>all day long. Something was very wrong with yours if it was
>anemic on the highway.
Indeed. A KZ440 will keep up on the freeway though you won't be
out in the left lane passing trucks going uphill. It'll do 80-85MPH
all day long if you ask it to. If the 550 won't keep up on the
freeway I cannot imagine why, much less the 650.
--
Thor Lancelot Simon tls@rek.tjls . com
"All of my opinions are consistent, but I cannot present them all
at once." -Jean-Jacques Rousseau, On The Social Contract
In article <13120s0chqgalec@corp.supernews . com >,
Mark Olson <olsonm@tiny.invalid> wrote:
>Ted Mittelstaedt wrote:
>> Fred True wrote:
>>
>>>The bike IS a classic.
>>
>>
>> Very nice engines on those although anemic on the highway,
>> I used to own a KZ650 and that was barely able to hold
>> it's own on the freeway. And it was overbored.
>
>Bzzzt.
>
>The KZ650 had plenty of oomph and could cruise at freeway speeds
>all day long. Something was very wrong with yours if it was
>anemic on the highway.
Indeed. A KZ440 will keep up on the freeway though you won't be
out in the left lane passing trucks going uphill. It'll do 80-85MPH
all day long if you ask it to. If the 550 won't keep up on the
freeway I cannot imagine why, much less the 650.
--
Thor Lancelot Simon tls@rek.tjls . com
"All of my opinions are consistent, but I cannot present them all
at once." -Jean-Jacques Rousseau, On The Social Contract
Re: 1980 Kawasaki KZ550 LTD C1 in Montreal - a Classic
On Apr 2, 2:43 am, "Ted Mittelstaedt" <t...@toybox.placo . com > wrote:
> Fred True wrote:
> > The bike IS a classic.
>
> Very nice engines on those although anemic on the highway,
> I used to own a KZ650 and that was barely able to hold
> it's own on the freeway. And it was overbored.
>
> It may be a classic but they were very popular in their day
> and specimens in great shape are seen regularly on
> craigslist for under $1K USD. You might also wait a bit
> before selling it, a few more months and we will be well
> into the warm season.
>
> A good starter bike, much more usable than those
> Rebel 250 things.
>
> Ted
Thanks for the suggestion/comments.
Note that we're talking funny Canadian dollars here, so the pricing is
appropriate. And with new tires and battery, even more so.
I DO have to agree with Mark on his comment though - My KZ may not be
my FJR1300 nor was it my old 'Busa, but it'll run up to above 100 mph
and can do 85 all day long and I'm no lightweight.
I recall touring in the late '60s and early '70s - one year I rode a
Triumph T100 down the coast and across to California - another year it
was a Honda 550-4 - and with the exception of some issues in the
Rockies on the steeper grades at altitude, I never suffered any
problems.
If you found your 650 to have been anemic (in it's day in particular)
then I'd suggest your bike had some issues.
On Apr 2, 2:43 am, "Ted Mittelstaedt" <t...@toybox.placo . com > wrote:
> Fred True wrote:
> > The bike IS a classic.
>
> Very nice engines on those although anemic on the highway,
> I used to own a KZ650 and that was barely able to hold
> it's own on the freeway. And it was overbored.
>
> It may be a classic but they were very popular in their day
> and specimens in great shape are seen regularly on
> craigslist for under $1K USD. You might also wait a bit
> before selling it, a few more months and we will be well
> into the warm season.
>
> A good starter bike, much more usable than those
> Rebel 250 things.
>
> Ted
Thanks for the suggestion/comments.
Note that we're talking funny Canadian dollars here, so the pricing is
appropriate. And with new tires and battery, even more so.
I DO have to agree with Mark on his comment though - My KZ may not be
my FJR1300 nor was it my old 'Busa, but it'll run up to above 100 mph
and can do 85 all day long and I'm no lightweight.
I recall touring in the late '60s and early '70s - one year I rode a
Triumph T100 down the coast and across to California - another year it
was a Honda 550-4 - and with the exception of some issues in the
Rockies on the steeper grades at altitude, I never suffered any
problems.
If you found your 650 to have been anemic (in it's day in particular)
then I'd suggest your bike had some issues.
