Looking at two older Kawasakis, opinions needed.

[Robenstein]

So I am replacing the old mans 30 year old 750 Honda that just died. He is your typical old guy...set in his ways. Wants an older standard bike.

So I have tracked down two older Kawasakis locally. One is a 78 Kz750 twin and the older a 90 Zephyr 550. Both are low mileage, well taken care of units. Difference is the older KZ is about 200 bucks cheaper.

Being unfamiliar with Kaw's as a Yamaha guy, I looked around and seen good things about both as far as reliability went. I thought I would ask here to see see anyone had experiences with either and what you thought.

 

[modularv8]

I would go with the kz750. It is most like the honda cb750. Love the 70s Japanese bikes.

 

[Roadkingnc]

I had a 77 750k, had over a hundred thousand on it when i got rid of it. rode that sucker coast to coast in 3 days in 1982. that thing never broke down either

 

[FowVay]

I'd go with the Zephyr. It's a much more modern and reliable motorcycle than the old parallel twin KZ-750.

 

[Robenstein]

Yeah guys this is the twin cylinder KZ750. Not a 4 cylinder.

 

[Spazdog]

One of my riding buddies had a KZ750 twin. It ran well as far as I could tell but for reasons unknown, he took it apart and it remained disassembled from that point on.

I like the 550 Zephyr. Put a bikini fairing on it and it could be my 1981 GPz550.

If he had a SOHC CB750K, you'd be surprised how similar a Kawasaki EX500 is. They are virtually the same seat height, and length. The EX has an almost flat seat and the bars are high for an upright seating position. They accelerate virtually the same. The only thing you'd really notice different if you rode them back to back is how much lighter and narrower the EX is and how much better it handles. Can't fault it for reliability.

 

[Robenstein]

Actually he had the 79 CB750 DOHC Anniversary Edition. He does have a 69 CB750 but it a 1080cc big bore kit and a bunch of other mods...he used to drag race it in the mid 70's.

 

[Spazdog]

Oh!

He might not be happy on a Zephyr 550 (or EX500)... definitely not the KZ750 twin. We're looking at GS1150E or KZ1100 territory

Maybe even a VMax, Eliminator, or V65 Magna. The V65 Magna has a stepped seat but a quick bar swap and it's a Universal Japanese Motorcycle seating position.

If we're going new, Moto-Guzzi V7 Classic or Triumph Bonneville or Scrambler have standard seating positions that you used to be able to get on UJMs.

 

[Robenstein]

Yeah, dont have the budget for new. Not even close. These units I am looking at are in the 1,200 buck range locally

And he wants a smaller bike now, he is 73 and last year he underwent chemo and lost a lot of weight and muscle mass. Before he was 240 and now he is 190. He is also pretty short. He tried to ride a 95 FXDL with mid controls the other day and it was just too heavy for him.

 

[Spazdog]

Probably the Zephyr then.

Maybe an EX500 if he can accept the plastic or a GS500E.

I had a GS500E for awhile and in some ways it was as good as my GSF400 Bandit. It handled well(with help from Progressive suspension OE springs are soft.), Seat was more comfortable, got better gas mileage, and was cheaper and WAY easier to maintain not to mention it was bulletproof. Shift down a couple of gears on the 400 and the GS500E would be a rapidly fading dot in the rearview mirror, but that's really it's only shortcoming.

The Kawasaki 750 Twin I remember was an LTD. I thought it was a 440 LTD from the sound and style. It was only when I got closer that I realized how much bigger it was than a 440 LTD. I didn't really get to ride it much. Just around the parking lot at the lake.
It was lighter than my ZN1100 LTD, but pretty much everything on two wheels seemed lighter than my big Kawi. I'm afraid my perception of it's available power might have been marred by hopping off the 1100 and onto the 750 twin. It seemed wheezy and weak for a 750. Little top heavy too.

 

[Robenstein]

Yeah it only has 50hp, but so did my old GS550L and he seemed to like that alright. He is not an aggressive rider anymore at all. He just likes the wind in his face and as long as the bike has enough weight to not get thrown around too bad and goes 55mph without breaking down, he is a happy camper.

 

[Wanner]

As an old [censored], who's owned or ridden all of the bikes discussed, I'd spend the extra $200 for the Zephyr.
It's about the same hp as the twin plus it handles better.
The 4 cyl. is going to be a lot smoother also.
I've always been a fan of Kaw's 4 cylinder motors but never cared for those old twins.

 

[Robenstein]

Originally Posted By: Wanner
As an old [censored], who's owned or ridden all of the bikes discussed, I'd spend the extra $200 for the Zephyr.
It's about the same hp as the twin plus it handles better.
The 4 cyl. is going to be a lot smoother also.
I've always been a fan of Kaw's 4 cylinder motors but never cared for those old twins.



My dad is an old [censored] too. He loves my Speedmaster but hates that "Buck Rogers EFI [censored]" LOL

 

[RonH]

Yea, between those two choices the Zephyr is a lot more motorcycle in every way. Nice box swingarm and concentric adjusters, good seating position, good proven 4 cylinder engine. They both use shim valve adjustment system, but the KZ750 uses a goofball unigue size shim. They are no longer available and hard to find. I'd stay away for that reason alone.