Wanted a crotch rocket and ended up with this...

[350Rocket]

Here's it's current state in my dad's garage. And I threw in my first bike about 28 years ago, also a 79 Honda.

 

[MotoGuzzi]

Nice KZ you will enjoy it. The biggest issue you will have going forward is the carbs. Hopefully they are heathy now. Find a mechanic who is old bike literate and have him do a good rebuild on the carbs. Clean jets and having the carbs synced are the important things. The best way to keep healthy carbs is to ride the bike regularly and use nothing but ethanol free gas. If the bike is put up for the winter, completely drain the tank and the float bowls.

 

[KrisZ]

Here's it's current state in my dad's garage. And I threw in my first bike about 28 years ago, also a 79 Honda.

Nice! What are your plans for the CX500? Are you going to bring it back to original? I secretly hope no. Nothing wrong with cafe style or other mods, but I feel they don't age well, especially in the looks department IMO.

 

[KrisZ]

Nice KZ you will enjoy it. The biggest issue you will have going forward is the carbs. Hopefully they are heathy now. Find a mechanic who is old bike literate and have him do a good rebuild on the carbs. Clean jets and having the carbs synced are the important things. The best way to keep healthy carbs is to ride the bike regularly and use nothing but ethanol free gas. If the bike is put up for the winter, completely drain the tank and the float bowls.

Thank you!
The carbs are not bad at all, with the exception of taking them off and putting back on because of the stock air box. But I went over them and they are nice and clean and the bike runs a lot better now. It's a tad rich at the moment based on the spark plugs, so I will need to adjust the float heights, but I should be able to do it without removing the carbs. Carb sync is the last thing I will do, once everything else related to the carbs is sorted out.

 

[350Rocket]

Nice! What are your plans for the CX500? Are you going to bring it back to original? I secretly hope no. Nothing wrong with cafe style or other mods, but I feel they don't age well, especially in the looks department IMO.

I'm thinking a mix between original and cafe racer style. I want it look more minimalistic but still be comfortable for long rides. Smaller lights, get rid of the fenders etc. I thought I'd already have it done but life got in the way. The previous owner was my roommate and he took his own life about 5 years ago.

 

[KrisZ]

I'm thinking a mix between original and cafe racer style. I want it look more minimalistic but still be comfortable for long rides. Smaller lights, get rid of the fenders etc. I thought I'd already have it done but life got in the way. The previous owner was my roommate and he took his own life about 5 years ago.

Sorry to hear about your roommate, that was a tragic loss.
A project like that takes time, even if you could dedicate lot's of time to it, but in most cases we cannot. Life happens and tears our plans to shambles. I hope to see it finished though

 

[compressortech]

Very nice kz650. Keep that thing box stock. It would be a shame to alter it.

 

[CourierDriver]

How old are the tires and tubes?

In another life, I had a 500 Shadow Vtwin Honda, great bike, your great great grand kids will be riding your bike, they are hard to wear out,,,and your 650 will be plenty fast, trust me...enjoy