Part 3: Restauracion de la 1978 Kawasaki KZ 1000

En estos dias finalmente consegui el aro/rueda de atras de 18" pulgadas, para la 1978 Kawasaki KZ 1000 LTD. La persona me lo vendio a un buen precio. Que dificil se ha hecho conseguir las piezas para convertir esta Kawasaki LTD en una Kawasaki modelo regular. Lo interesante no es tanto lo dificil que es conseguir las piezas para esta motora, es lo carisimo que se han disparado los precios.

Ya instale el manubrio y el asiento; los consegui nuevos en Ebay. Recientemente me llego el  aro/rueda de atras de 18" pulgadas. Por ahora voy a esperar a estar en Puerto Rico para instalarlo.

Lo unico que me falta es conseguir el tanque de gasolina de la KZ-1000, ya que es mas grande. Tambien me falta el guardalodo de al frente e instalarle el header Kerker (4-into-1). Todos estos cambios seran cuando tenga la motora en la isla.

Me han preguntado porque hacerle todos estos cambios a la moto. La realidad es que nunca me ha gustado el estilo LTD de estas Kawasakis, prefiero el modelo original de la  1977-78 Kawasaki KZ-1000. Tan pronto tenga la moto en Puerto Rico, voy a tratar de tenerla al dia lo mas pronto posible. Ya lo dice el refran, Roma no se hizo en un dia. 

Part 2: Restoration of my 1978 Kawasaki KZ1000 LTD

The motorcycle title finally arrived two days ago in the mail. It has been officially transferred to my name. It only took three weeks to come in the mail. This motorcycle has been sitting in storage since 2010. 

The next step is to put the bike together; find a used wooden pallet from my local dealership, and ship it to Puerto Rico. Once the bike restoration is completed, the ugly LTD look will be gone, and it should look very similar to the one shown in the picture. I am really looking forward to getting things started. 

Part 1: Restoration

Two Wheel Tuesday

Gathering of the Nortons, my favorite annual vintage motorcycle event will be held this Sunday. It is the biggest antique and classic motorcycle show on the East Coast in the United States.

Ten years ago after the event ended and I was getting ready to ride home, the owner of a vintage BMW motorcycle parked next to mine asked me if I was riding the Kawasaki Ninja ZX14. By todays standards, the Ninja ZX14 is a very fast motorcycle which is electronically restricted to a top speed of 186 mph.

I replied in the affirmative, and said yes. The gentleman responded, "you got big cojones to ride that thing, that Ninja is a real beast on the highway amigo". I burst out laughing to what he said, and responded "yes, the Ninja ZX14 is very fast, but the posted speed limit on the highway is 65 mph".

His comment made my day. It's been ten years, and to this day his innocent observation brings a smile on my face every time I remember what he said.