waybackriders

Original owner since July 1977 (bike without crash bars). Has 24,000 miles and still gives the owner a thrill. Truly a love story, involving frequent visits to the Kennewick Kawasaki (Washington) dealer showroom, a great deal of begging for several months, and than receiving the love object as a surprise birthday present from the wife. Grateful emotions combined with a vague feeling of regret when watching the Kawasaki dealer moving the traded in 1974 750 Honda into his workshop. That feeling quickly stopped when KZ1000 Ltd throttle was pulled back while entering the road. Truly, I am a lucky man. The bike with crash bars was purchased new in Burlington, Washington after the 1st buyer waited until his name came up on the buyers list. He rode it daily and to Nevada a couple times. Then the spark plugs frequently fouled and after several service appointments the dealerlship suggested a new motorcycle was the solution. From 1982 until 1992 the bike didn't leave the metal shed out in the owners back yard. While cleaning up the property, the owner gave the bike to his adult son, who, discovered the cycle had developed wiring problems resulting in burning up fuses. After five or six years of being prepared with spare fuses during short distance rides, he left it in the garage. One day he needed money for another endeavor and sold the cycle during August 2007. The 3rd and latest owner sold her 1978 KZ650SR to her brother in law during Spring 1996. It had been unridden since 1987 when the baby and career filled every spare moment. Laws changed preventing young children from being passengers and in the past she had grown tired of rude drivers when commuting on the bike. She knew the brother in law would love the bike and bikes should be ridden. Watching her husband and brother in law go riding together caused her to have feelings of sellers regret. From time to time, she looked in the classified ads, maybe she would find a parts bike, since the dealer said parts were no longer available for the 1977 KZ1000 Ltd models. Maybe, the parts bike would be a good rider, too. Ten years passed, then with a lot of excitement she spied the ad that listed the bike with 41,000 miles. The seller warned about the fuse problem and sent photos by E-mail, revealing a potential trophy even though the bike needed some investment for repairs. The following weekend, the bike was paid for and the husband rode it home (sixty miles) with a new battery, expired license tabs, barely functioning brake light switch, no horn, no turn signals and a tire going flat. Approximately 60 hours of the husbands time was spent detailing every nook and cranny on the bike. The bike stayed nearly a month at Kent Kawasaki, in Kent, Washington, and received new brake master cylinders, fork shocks, cleaned and adjusted carbs, an innertube to fix the flat rear tire, a rear brake switch, replaced gaskets, timing, and repair of the wiring system, which fixed the turn signals, unworking horn and the fuse burning conditions. Over the years of ownership on bike number 1 we have spent $4,200. on the innitial purchase, shop repairs and parts. Bike number 2 was purchased, repaired and licensed for $4,200., also. While a "modern" belt drive, water cooled, cruiser wouldn't cost much more, there is something about these two matching bikes that can't be bought. On sunny days, we take these two bikes out for fast asphalt eating thrills on the freeway, twisty scenic routes, and farm arterials near the Cascade Mountains and they have made us 50 plus year old owners young again.