Last weekend I completed the Basic Rider Safety course at Howard Community College in Columbia, Maryland, which allowed me to get my motorcycle license. The course is approved by the Maryland MVA and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, and I feel like it was well worth the six hours of class time and two full days on the riding course. I’m much more confident now and have a lot of stuff to keep in mind as I begin riding.
So now I’m in a huge rush to get my motorcycle running. I can’t wait! Last month I picked up this 1980 Kawasaki KZ-750t LTD from a guy on Craigslist for $400. Check out those mag wheels:
I've actually cleaned it up a bit since I first got it, but I forgot to take a picture of it, other than a crappy cell phone pic. It hasn’t been run in a while and needs some work to get it going, but I think it’s going to be a fun bike to learn on. I’m having a hard time finding parts, but I’m getting close. I spent the day today relining the gas tank because it was full of rust. As soon as I get a few replacement cables, new fuel lines, and a half dozen or so other odds and ends, I should have it running. Hopefully I’ll have it on the road by the end of the month and can get a couple months of riding in before it gets too cold.
I’ve been finding that these old KZs are actually pretty cool bikes to own and there are people out there who won’t own anything else. For anyone stumbling across this post looking for info on Kawasaki KZs, check out these sites:
http://www.kzrider.com/
http://www.kz400.com/
http://kz750.com/
http://www.oldkawman.com/
Dang! You got shocks, pegs....ever take it off any sweet jumps?
Lucky!
(Now I have to go get one. Thanks a lot.)
I'd like to try this one in kit form in a few years... http://www.exilecycles.com/index.php?section=15
The front wheel is huge on that thing. It looks like it doesn't know which way is forward ;) Bullfighter - perfect name for that bike.
I've already been eying a new bike myself. It's great tearing this KZ apart and learning how to work on a motorcycle and everything, but this is all me:
This is a Honda 919, called the Hornet outside of the US, but they can't use that name here because of a licensing issue with AMC or something. Anyway, I love the naked sport bikes with the more upright riding position. But this is all likely to change as I begin riding and find new bikes to drool over.
Mad Max style! The upright riding style of your KZ and the 919 are what I like as well. I dig more of an old school "bobber" style like the Bulldozer, but that front wheel is a beast. Wait till the boys down at the local Thunderdome get a load of that. Two men enter - one man leaves!
Speaking of maintenance, I want to make sure you are getting equal doses of Zen.
Om.
When I took the class I rode a Honda Shadow and I would be perfectly happy owning an older one of those to learn on. It felt so comfortable to me. I was so excited about it Greg and I went to a store and I sat on a few (I was too afraid to test drive even though I have a Motorcycle license). I tried a Harley Sportster and a Honda V-Star Classic
http://www.starmotorcycles.com/star/products/modelhome/19/home.aspx
I loved the V-Star! Thats my bike once I can afford it.
It would be so cool to go on bike trips with you on country roads or to be able to participate in Bike Week or Memorial day bike rides.
One day....
Even if you can't afford the V-Star just yet, get something cheaper just to get on the road! Make it a goal for next spring. Also, there may be a small female motorcycle gang forming around here. Lia and Lana are talking about getting their licenses too. And I don't know if you've met Lori, but she's an experienced rider. It's gonna be fun!
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