81 Kawasaki Z 550 LTD discussion forum:

RE: My 1st bike?

RE: My 1st bike?

Darren said 2004-07-28 19:29

I´ve owned mine for about 5 years now and have one point with regard to engine performance. When it´s running nice and tight and the carbs are balanced properly you´ll have major problems keeping the front wheel on the ground if you give it too much twist when 2 up at a standing start. It´ll happily go all the way through to 6th with one wheel down.

Generally I´ve found the engine to be bullet proof. I balanced my carbs 4 years ago and they don´t even need tickling yet. I´m also running the engine as original. Apart from the oil caps on the rocker cover the engine has never been split. I´ve done a compression test and it´s text book. If you need to do any work on the engine - do it properly (ie don´t cut corners) - Kwaka engines are built to run and run. If you take your time on this and do regular oil and filter changes there is no reason why you won´t get 100,000 miles plus out of it. I know of three Kwaka 550 courier riders with over this on their tachos, one has now got to 160,000 without any major work.

As with all restoration/rebuilds, do what YOU want with regards to looks and modifications and if you can´t afford something - wait. There´s nothing worse than looking at a part and thinking ´if only´.

Good luck with the work to come and i hope you enjoy owning and riding such an underated bike,
Darren

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