1000 Kaw Question

[gmlever]

Just a quick question anybody know anything about ZL1000 Kaw's? I might have a chance to buy one ? Needs work but what older bike doesn't ? Are they any good ? So far they look kinda hard to find ?

Thanks
gmlever
1980 XS1100SG

[MacMcMacmac]

Same engine as the 1000 Concours, which was directly descended from the 900 Ninja. A slightly bigger, more laid back replacement for the 900 eliminator. Loads of torque. Think V-65 Magna, VMax class of bike. Shouldn't be hard to get parts for, since I would imagine most would be the same as Concours parts. Never heard anything bad about the motor.

[GNEPIG]

Chances are if you bought that bike, you'd be the only kid on the block to have one= they only sold them here for a couple of years.
Good lookin bike, kinda fast and shaft driven. Only thing that I can remember that they had problems with, was the cam chains didn't last real long. They must of fixed that problem with the Concours, they sold a butt load of those (like Mac said same motor). Problems that I remember with the Concours was, they eat cams, never seen that problem personally but read the bulletin/heard the stories- otherwise good bikes.
If the price was good I'd buy one.

[webbcraft2150]

If you go to the Concours Owners website (I won't tell on you ), they have a fix for the cam chain issue.

[gmlever]

Thanks !

Thanks again guy's for all your info I need all the help I can get ! I'm still kinda the new guy in the motorcycle game. I've been turning wrenches for 30+ years mostly restoring cars until they got to expensive.Still waiting to here about the old Kaw.What a great web site !!!

gmlever
1980 XS1100SG