Way back in 2003 I found one for sale on CL for $800 got it home and took a look under the cam cover, found that the cam chain had an incorrect idler wheel, also changed the cam chain tensioner, took the head off cleaned the chambers, changed the idler wheel, cleaned the carbs, put her back together and she ran great, fast, SCARY FAST, and 0 to 60 in 4 seconds. BTW there are no less than 4 chains running things inside the engine and this is the only bike that I know of with a secondary drive. Most bikes have a primary drive that transfers torque from the crank to the clutch through either a chain or gears, this bike has a chain primary that drives a multi-functional shaft, which drives the secondary chain that drives the clutch.
First bike was a BMW R68, I was 12. My second bike was a KZ1300, I was 14. This bike is a master class in "Clutch", haha. Best clutch I've ever used. For a bike this big, with this much torque, for the clutch to work and feel the way it did was not what I expected, so smooth. 1/4 turn on the throttle was good for breaking most speed limits, in first gear. Pulled like an absolute missle/freight train, in any gear, one speed, off the line to redline, absolutely relentless. The speedometer was almost as fast as the tachometer, haha. First time I rode it, went down a steep and slippery driveway, at the bottom I tried to counter steer left (Push Left Go Left and all that), looking left, waiting to turn left, bike went right, hahaha. I guess it's the sheer mass and weight of the bike, only bike I've ever ridden/owned where counter steering did not apply at parking lot speeds, it simply can't be done. My buddy had a then new 1000cc sports bike about 10 or so years ago, like 25 years newer, I would pull away from full stop, rolling, didn't matter, like he wasn't even moving, not until the KZ topped out at 150 did his CBR catch up and pass me. This is one of the single best GT's ever made. I had almost every model year for almost the entire run. Toured all over the U.S. and Europe on one of these. One of my all time favorite bikes. When your first two bikes are shaft drive, going on cross country tours just comes naturally, it covered so much ground, so fast, and so comfortably. I say this is the single best sounding engine too, I have no hesitation saying that.
Doug "The Wheelie King" Domokos sometimes used a KZ-1300 in his shows. I actually saw his monster KZ at a SoCal dealership, the lower half of its taillight scraped away by road contact during vertical wheelies! Great bike you've got there, Kap'n!
Almost bought one but got a new 1982 dark blue KZ 750 inline air cooled four instead. That water cooled looked strange at the time as most all bikes were finned then.
Way back in 2003 I found one for sale on CL for $800 got it home and took a look under the cam cover, found that the cam chain had an incorrect idler wheel, also changed the cam chain tensioner, took the head off cleaned the chambers, changed the idler wheel, cleaned the carbs, put her back together and she ran great, fast, SCARY FAST, and 0 to 60 in 4 seconds. BTW there are no less than 4 chains running things inside the engine and this is the only bike that I know of with a secondary drive. Most bikes have a primary drive that transfers torque from the crank to the clutch through either a chain or gears, this bike has a chain primary that drives a multi-functional shaft, which drives the secondary chain that drives the clutch.
One of those beasts strained my back putting one together back in the 70’s. Heavy is an understatement! Nice bike.
Yes I wish Kawasaki would come with a newer model of the KZ1300 … Thank you for this moment of pleasure and memories …
First bike was a BMW R68, I was 12. My second bike was a KZ1300, I was 14.
This bike is a master class in "Clutch", haha. Best clutch I've ever used. For a bike this big, with this much torque, for the clutch to work and feel the way it did was not what I expected, so smooth.
1/4 turn on the throttle was good for breaking most speed limits, in first gear. Pulled like an absolute missle/freight train, in any gear, one speed, off the line to redline, absolutely relentless. The speedometer was almost as fast as the tachometer, haha.
First time I rode it, went down a steep and slippery driveway, at the bottom I tried to counter steer left (Push Left Go Left and all that), looking left, waiting to turn left, bike went right, hahaha. I guess it's the sheer mass and weight of the bike, only bike I've ever ridden/owned where counter steering did not apply at parking lot speeds, it simply can't be done.
My buddy had a then new 1000cc sports bike about 10 or so years ago, like 25 years newer, I would pull away from full stop, rolling, didn't matter, like he wasn't even moving, not until the KZ topped out at 150 did his CBR catch up and pass me.
This is one of the single best GT's ever made. I had almost every model year for almost the entire run. Toured all over the U.S. and Europe on one of these.
One of my all time favorite bikes. When your first two bikes are shaft drive, going on cross country tours just comes naturally, it covered so much ground, so fast, and so comfortably.
I say this is the single best sounding engine too, I have no hesitation saying that.
Doug "The Wheelie King" Domokos sometimes used a KZ-1300 in his shows. I actually saw his monster KZ at a SoCal dealership, the lower half of its taillight scraped away by road contact during vertical wheelies!
Great bike you've got there, Kap'n!
Now that's a "sport tour" bike smooth,comfy and wicked fast!!! Looks&sounds brand spanking new.....
The bike that started Today's ZX14R
Beautiful bike. Looks nicer than todays bikes.
Got 1979 with oem tyres. Very nice needs just DG 6-1 pipe. You got yourself a good mechanic.
Only one other bike on earth sounds like this bike. Wonderful machine,
KZ 1300A now there's the bike that started Today's ZX14R super fun fast and reliable bike
Great bike and great presentation Capt!sending good vibes from NJ!
Good old kz with a teardrop tank!
Those tank types never reached South Africa's shores...
Almost bought one but got a new 1982 dark blue KZ 750 inline air cooled four instead.
That water cooled looked strange at the time as most all bikes were finned then.
Love it memories better looking than most modern bikes
beautiful i just pick up 1979 kz1300 with 20k miles on it with original condition it's project bike . barn found
Did you drain and refill the front shocks. Also checked the shock seals.thanks
Love the overviews! Keep em coming
The bike's pristine. Where does he find these motorcycles?
muito bonita esta kawasaki kz 1300a parabens.
I think this one of my favorite bikes I saw here and one dirt bike but there all cool
82 the year I was born also that bikes screams bad a@#
That's nice! I almost bought one years ago but was a little short on cash.
Looks good!!Keep the old beast going...
True Gem... 1300 KAWA!
Very nice bike... in this year born legends... like me.😁
Awesome bike !!!
What a machine!
How much did this beauty sell for??
why did they put the shaft drive on the right side rare to see that on a Japanese bike?
Nice bike, interesting go-over. Next time scratch yours when the camera is focussed elsewhere..
That's a beast
When are you going to get some hodaka s
Got two in stock videos next week
Never seen one
Superb
I sat on one in 1980s in showroom tall wide bike couldn't get my legs to the floor vertically challenged 😥
2 ton tuna boat.
Everything has been gone thru Except the 22000k engine.
a big oil consumer that
a heavyweight
just rewatching videos dont be a girlyman take it out and send it lol look at the massive tail light n turn signals theres 50 pounds lol