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XS1100 vs KZ1000 value? A comment. Not to be unpopular but I have built built and owned both of these bikes (a few of each). And I will start by saying they are both great motorcycles. The KZ1000 motor has bullet proof roller bearings, the XS11 has plain bearings. The KZ has a compact and reliable centrifugal type ignition advance, the XS11 has a huge vacuum advance unit that has issues with wires breaking over time. A cracked hose can bring it down. There is virtually no aftermarket support for this apparatus and there is no substitution. KZ1000 ignition has plentiful aftermarket support (Dyna and several others). The KZ1000 motor is famous for being used as a drag racer because of it's lighter weight and durability. It's gear driven from the crankshaft to the primary drive and clutch. The XS is chain driven with a tensioner system. Very bulky. It also has a HUGE right angle gear box for the much larger and heavier swingarm and rear drive. Lots going on there.
It should also be mentioned that the KZ being chain drive takes conventional bearings in the rear wheel. The XS has a rear left bearing that is unusual and impossible to get if you don't know where to look. You aint buying that bearing at the Yamaha shop these days. Also, I have never seen a stock KZ1000 cam chain tensioner leak. The XS is famous for this leak and you must address it.
The KZ transmission can be drag raced to death in it's stock form. The XS has the famous 2nd gear issue that everyone is familiar with. Also, the XS electronics are quite simply overcomplicated in comparison with the KZ. Tip over switches, self canceling signals, headlight control circuits, vacuum operated spark advance right off a 70's VW Beetle. These are opportunities for failure. This has hurt the reputation of the XS11 unfortunately.
The KZ has none of the shortcomings the XS has. It's simple and it works. Reliable as a hammer. And the KZ certainly handles better. Yamaha wanted to impress the world with showcase electronic complication. I have a degree in electronics and all I did in my 40 year career is fix overcomplicated and unreliable electronics because the occasional engineer made something unpractical just to showcase his/her abilities. That was great until it failed in the field and it was my job to get it operational again. The Yamaha electronics are a great example of this. Want a modern example of unnecessary motorcycle electronics? I love the idiot who thought "fly by wire" throttle control was a good idea. Wait till those bikes are 40 years old and you can't get parts. The list goes on with antilock brakes etc., etc.. By buddy tried to flush the brake fluid in his modern GS BMW. It immediately set a flag in the CPU that he had to go pay the dealer to hook up a laptop and hit return to reset the flag for an hour labor $100+. They do this on purpose. More electronics on a bike is a bad thing. Believe it.
Anyway. These are a few thoughts possibly why a KZ1000 is worth high $ and an XS1100 is worth considerably less. Personally I'm glad because you can still buy an XS11 and own them at a reasonable price. One of my favorite bikes. You just need to find this forum to figure out how to keep it running for the next generation.
It should also be mentioned that the KZ being chain drive takes conventional bearings in the rear wheel. The XS has a rear left bearing that is unusual and impossible to get if you don't know where to look. You aint buying that bearing at the Yamaha shop these days. Also, I have never seen a stock KZ1000 cam chain tensioner leak. The XS is famous for this leak and you must address it.
The KZ transmission can be drag raced to death in it's stock form. The XS has the famous 2nd gear issue that everyone is familiar with. Also, the XS electronics are quite simply overcomplicated in comparison with the KZ. Tip over switches, self canceling signals, headlight control circuits, vacuum operated spark advance right off a 70's VW Beetle. These are opportunities for failure. This has hurt the reputation of the XS11 unfortunately.
The KZ has none of the shortcomings the XS has. It's simple and it works. Reliable as a hammer. And the KZ certainly handles better. Yamaha wanted to impress the world with showcase electronic complication. I have a degree in electronics and all I did in my 40 year career is fix overcomplicated and unreliable electronics because the occasional engineer made something unpractical just to showcase his/her abilities. That was great until it failed in the field and it was my job to get it operational again. The Yamaha electronics are a great example of this. Want a modern example of unnecessary motorcycle electronics? I love the idiot who thought "fly by wire" throttle control was a good idea. Wait till those bikes are 40 years old and you can't get parts. The list goes on with antilock brakes etc., etc.. By buddy tried to flush the brake fluid in his modern GS BMW. It immediately set a flag in the CPU that he had to go pay the dealer to hook up a laptop and hit return to reset the flag for an hour labor $100+. They do this on purpose. More electronics on a bike is a bad thing. Believe it.
Anyway. These are a few thoughts possibly why a KZ1000 is worth high $ and an XS1100 is worth considerably less. Personally I'm glad because you can still buy an XS11 and own them at a reasonable price. One of my favorite bikes. You just need to find this forum to figure out how to keep it running for the next generation.
the frame on the Zed is a Z1100 shaft drive, it had a V5 (registration document) plus they are wider at the swingarm mount so its easy to fit a wider swinger. 
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