1980 KZ1300 - Bad Day at the Office

Discuss anything about other motorcycles, accessories, riding gear and other motorcycle related topics.

Moderators: Whiskerfish, ascot, Forum Moderators

Post Reply
User avatar
Lucien Harpress
Honored Life Member
Honored Life Member
Posts: 4077
Joined: Sat Dec 24, 2011 11:41 am
Location: Michigan

Re: 1980 KZ1300 "Kiwi"- Who's Good at Reading Plugs?

#676

Post by Lucien Harpress »

Whelp, Gilmore was a wash. Literally and figuratively. It rained solid pretty much all day, to the point where I drove the Jeep up instead. I could've rode in the rain, but I'd rather not be miserable all day if I don't have to be, you know?

The upside is that there was a couple neat bikes that did show up, and I'll be sure to post up the photos I got in another thread here in a minute.

However, reaquatinting myself with the 1300 has reminded me how different an experience it is from a Goldwing, or a Honda in general. Obviously, it's heavier, and more of the weight is up top. If you're not moving steering is pretty heavy. This may be due to the head bearings, or the 300lbs of motor, plus fuel tank. It gets better as you speed up, but you never forget what you're hauling.

The engine itself is much more.... frenetic than a Goldwing. Not "frantic"- it's not absolute insanity. But the average revs while cruising sit at about 4k, 500rpm faster than a comparable Goldwing. It also sounds more urgent- it may be a Kawasaki thing, or a 6 cylinder thing, but it's always got a bit of a wail for itself. It's also got a bit of a vibration "buzz" to it, especially around 4000 on the tach- it may be because I didn't really weight-match the new piston I put in, or because my GL1200 has spoiled me. Either way, it's something you get used to.

But the best thing- this bike LOVES the freeway. Or maybe just going fast. Your riding position is a bit more scrunched up than a Goldwing, so without a windshield you can handle the wind a bit better (and adds to the "antsy" feeling of riding), and the long roll-on while on an entrance ramp is this bike's bread and butter. You cruise at 4k rpm, but redline on the tach is nearly 9k. Couple that with enough torque that gearing doesn't REALLY matter, and you've got yourself a bike that just screams when you open up the taps.

It's never going to be a bike that I'd describe as "snappy" (WAY too heavy for that). But it's definitely got "grunt". I'm excited to get some more mileage on it.
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
User avatar
Lucien Harpress
Honored Life Member
Honored Life Member
Posts: 4077
Joined: Sat Dec 24, 2011 11:41 am
Location: Michigan

Re: 1980 KZ1300 "Kiwi"- No Gilmore (boo!) but Ride Comparisons (yay?)

#677

Post by Lucien Harpress »

As part of my rides over the last couple days, I noticed some weird noises from my rear brake. Sure enough, my pads are nearly gone. Because I'm still waiting on some carb parts, I figured now was a good time to replace these AND freshen up the master cylinder, which I knew was leaking.

The good news? The rear MC is very easy to remove. Bad news? Everything you see here:
20190614_190202.jpg
20190614_190202.jpg (139.73 KiB) Viewed 428 times
100% one of a kind. And very, very hard to find. As of this posting, there are only 2 rear 1300 MCs for sale online, on the UK EBay for over $100 each (in really bad shape). Thankfully, we've got some good news.

The master itself looks pretty good. The bore seems smooth, and apart from a bit of paint, looks very good. The dust boot is good, as is the freakishly large rear brake switch.

As for the "Eh" news, there is no rebuild kit for the rear MC. Thankfully the seals themselves match those used in the front MC. The challenge is transferring them to the correct plunger without damaging them.

The bad news? The lid diaphragm is shot. And impossible to find. I'm workshopping replacements, but nothing's nailed down yet. But I think I've got something. Stay tuned!
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
User avatar
desertrefugee
SUPER BIKER!!!!
SUPER BIKER!!!!
Posts: 3947
Joined: Fri Nov 11, 2011 9:33 pm
Location: Chandler, AZ, USA

Re: 1980 KZ1300 "Kiwi"- No Gilmore (boo!) but Ride Comparisons (yay?)

#678

Post by desertrefugee »

Another Kudo to Honda. Lots of parts from one model to another interchange. The “F” family share a lot of DNA.

Rotors even interchange between the early GL and the CBX!
- Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass. It's about learning to ride in the rain.
User avatar
Lucien Harpress
Honored Life Member
Honored Life Member
Posts: 4077
Joined: Sat Dec 24, 2011 11:41 am
Location: Michigan

Re: 1980 KZ1300 "Kiwi"- Taking a Small Brake

#679

Post by Lucien Harpress »

It's definitely been a learning experience. There is a small, SMALL amount of parts overlap with the GPZ series of bikes, namely the headlight and bucket, and the turn signal stems and mounts match up to a couple of the smaller KZs. The front master cylinders are technically interchangeable as well in that they will work, but aren't 100% "correct" (the fluid level window is the wrong size, but otherwise identical). The fact a whole cottage industry (based in Germany, with a different smaller outfit in Finland) exists just to custom fabricate replacement parts is NOT surprising.

The only big hangup for me is the MC diaphragm (see my other fun thread in this forum). The stock one is both swollen and torn, and most likely unusable. I may be able to cut down a GM master gasket to make it work, but I'm worried I'll have to shave the bottom of my stock lid to do so- nothing I can't come back from if I have to, but cutting up hard to find stock parts always makes me nervous.
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
User avatar
Lucien Harpress
Honored Life Member
Honored Life Member
Posts: 4077
Joined: Sat Dec 24, 2011 11:41 am
Location: Michigan

Re: 1980 KZ1300 "Kiwi"- Importan Note on Baking Paint

#680

Post by Lucien Harpress »

FYI- when baking new paint on a master cylinder, be sure to check that the plug that blanks off the access used to drill the return holes is NOT made of rubber.

Because I did not.

And may have ruined my master cylinder.

....

I shall know for certain shortly.
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
User avatar
Lucien Harpress
Honored Life Member
Honored Life Member
Posts: 4077
Joined: Sat Dec 24, 2011 11:41 am
Location: Michigan

Re: 1980 KZ1300 "Kiwi"- Importan Note on Baking Paint

#681

Post by Lucien Harpress »

20190617_162836.jpg
20190617_162836.jpg (100.09 KiB) Viewed 399 times
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
User avatar
Lucien Harpress
Honored Life Member
Honored Life Member
Posts: 4077
Joined: Sat Dec 24, 2011 11:41 am
Location: Michigan

Re: 1980 KZ1300 "Kiwi"- Important Note on Baking Paint

#682

Post by Lucien Harpress »

New goal- how to plug this.
1560803928387.jpg
1560803928387.jpg (84.84 KiB) Viewed 397 times
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
User avatar
Lucien Harpress
Honored Life Member
Honored Life Member
Posts: 4077
Joined: Sat Dec 24, 2011 11:41 am
Location: Michigan

Re: 1980 KZ1300 "Kiwi"- Read The Manual

#683

Post by Lucien Harpress »

The good news? I think I got my rear brake squared away. I plugged the hole with an 18mm frost plug, then JB Welded a black ABS plastic disc to both finish up the end and help seal the frost plug. No road testing yet, but it hasn't leaked sitting in the garage, so I'm optimistic.

Turning back to my "bike keeps eating/fouling plugs" saga, just for fun I pulled the service manual to see exactly what kind of plugs to use. The NGK recommendation is a BP6ES. All those letters mean something (thread pitch, thread length, etc.), but the important bit is the 6. It's the heat rating of the plug- the higher the number, the cooler the plug sparks.

And I'm currently running BP8ES plugs.

8s.

And they keep fouling.

For some reason.

Hm.

...

What a mystery this is.
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
User avatar
Lucien Harpress
Honored Life Member
Honored Life Member
Posts: 4077
Joined: Sat Dec 24, 2011 11:41 am
Location: Michigan

Re: 1980 KZ1300 "Kiwi"- Read The Manual

#684

Post by Lucien Harpress »

You would be AMAZED at how well a motor runs when you use the correct plugs. :roll: They just arrived in the mail today, and after popping them in (and with a bit of help from the 98 degree weather), surprise of surprises, my "problem" bike settled down into a pleasant purr almost without choke.

(For reference, I have no clue what 99% of the letters and numbers on a spark plug mean. I just bring in the old plug, give it to the guy behind the counter, and say "I need six of these". Heck, this may stretch as far back as what plugs were originally in the motor. Long story short, I've been running the wrong plugs for YEARS. Which, for me, is surprisingly on-brand. :IDTS: )

I'll see if I can get some longer rides in this weekend, but the temps being what they are may make this difficult. Still, as it stands I am VERY ready to try.
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
User avatar
desertrefugee
SUPER BIKER!!!!
SUPER BIKER!!!!
Posts: 3947
Joined: Fri Nov 11, 2011 9:33 pm
Location: Chandler, AZ, USA

Re: 1980 KZ1300 "Kiwi"- Read The Manual

#685

Post by desertrefugee »

The only reason I don’t ride much here in the summer is sitting in traffic is miserable. If I lived in the country and the temperature was below 100F, I would be out there since you’re mostly rolling. But I checked your long range forecast Lucien. You got some riding weather this weekend if it doesn’t rain tomorrow…. Dying to hear how it goes.
- Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass. It's about learning to ride in the rain.
User avatar
Lucien Harpress
Honored Life Member
Honored Life Member
Posts: 4077
Joined: Sat Dec 24, 2011 11:41 am
Location: Michigan

Re: 1980 KZ1300 "Kiwi"- Read The Manual

#686

Post by Lucien Harpress »

Have you ever had a bike that just feels "off"? Like it does everything it's supposed to, but there's just something about it that seems wrong. Like you're waiting for something to break, all the time.

And then there's those bikes that are the complete opposite. Sure, there's a small issue or two here or there, but it's okay because they just feel like quirks on a solid machine. That you would hop on this thing and take it across the country right now if you had to?

Today for the first time this 1300 of mine went from the first kind to the second.

Between rebuilding the back brake and getting the correct spark plugs, the difference is night and day. Whereas starting it before was a struggle, not knowing which cylinders would fire and for how long, now I don't even need to choke it. Better rear brake control makes it better through the corners (which, to be fair- give the size, it's NEVER going to be all that good at). And the "problems" have gone from "Is THIS why I'm not at 100%" to "Oh yeah, it does that".

Like, I've probably got a bit of air in the front brake system still, and I'm still getting some popping from the left side (which is probably a slightly-clogged idle passage), but for the first time it's something I can see if it will work itself out.

I've still got one or two annoyances with the bike itself- The fact the shifter lever locks out when you reach either end of the shift pattern is something I will NEVER get used to. The slightly annoying buzz at 4k RPM, which conveniently places it in 5th gear right at 55mph (when I've been papered by my Goldwings to expect NO vibration whatsoever). The sticky petcock when it gets hot. The rear seat strap that JUST BARELY falls under my butt because I'm apparently just slightly taller than your average 1980 adult (aka, the "70's Bike Problem).

But these, for better or worse, are FEATURES. Things you get on a perfectly working bike. Which this finally is.

It's nice to be able to hop on a bike, and use the ride to RELAX.

(Now I want to go back through all my old pictures to see HOW LONG I've had the wrong plugs in it...)
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
User avatar
Oldewing
Secretary
Secretary
Posts: 8177
Joined: Wed Jun 08, 2005 8:19 pm
Location: Gahanna Ohio

Re: 1980 KZ1300 "Kiwi"- Finished (For Real This Time)

#687

Post by Oldewing »

Glad your getting to run it...



great story.

Greg
82 GL1100 Interstate-Oldewing October 23 BOTM
06 GL1800 Road bike, as in Rode alot...
Sometimes I wrestle with my inner demons.........
Other times we just hug.......

Team 898
Team LTD 993
Team 76 R2B3
And always remember: beer has some food value--but food has NO beer value...
Damferg
Cast Iron Member
Cast Iron Member
Posts: 85
Joined: Sun Jun 03, 2018 1:09 pm
Location: México city

Re: 1980 KZ1300 "Kiwi"- Finished (For Real This Time)

#688

Post by Damferg »

Cool! Nice job.
User avatar
Lucien Harpress
Honored Life Member
Honored Life Member
Posts: 4077
Joined: Sat Dec 24, 2011 11:41 am
Location: Michigan

Re: 1980 KZ1300 "Kiwi"- Finished (For Real This Time)

#689

Post by Lucien Harpress »

Work photos are good.

Ride photos are better.
20190726_201935.jpg
20190726_201935.jpg (130.64 KiB) Viewed 287 times
20190726_201940.jpg
20190726_201940.jpg (156.48 KiB) Viewed 287 times
20190726_201948.jpg
20190726_201948.jpg (152.12 KiB) Viewed 287 times
20190726_201958.jpg
20190726_201958.jpg (152.62 KiB) Viewed 287 times
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
User avatar
Track T 2411
Honored Life Member
Honored Life Member
Posts: 8482
Joined: Thu May 29, 2008 9:37 pm
My Album: http://www.ngwclub.com/gallery/v/wingmans/Track+T+2411/
Location: Prairie du Sac Wisconsin

Re: 1980 KZ1300 "Kiwi"- Finished (For Real This Time)

#690

Post by Track T 2411 »

action1 action1 action1
"I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

"He that is good with a hammer tends to think everything is a nail" - Abraham Maslow

"If you can't take the time to do it right the first time, how are you ever going to find the time to do it over?" -Unknown

Current Rides:
'Grumpy' - '81 Standard, now fully dressed.
'Layla' - '81 Standard w/dealer installed fairing and Hondaline bags.
'Scarlett' '76 'Survivor' nekkid as a j-bird!

Under Construction:
The 'Jalopy' '78-'79 Mash-up
'Quikie' '81 gl1100I back on the lift, project with the step-son!

In The Shed:
'81 gl1100I barn find aka "Josie, the farmer's daughter." (almost comatose build)
'77 gl1000, roller parts bike.
'82 gl1100I, 'Old Crusty' titled roller parts bike (free!)
'82 gl1100I, My first 'Wing, and an expensive lesson!
New2U Bike? Read Me.
Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “General Motorcycle Forum”