1978 Kawasaki Z650 SR review from United States of America
"Old model breathes its last"
What things have gone wrong with the motorcycle?
Cracked engine block (patched with JB Weld).
Oil drain valve froze up (re-bored hole).
Fuel light stopped working.
Electric start stopped working.
General comments?
This bike was already in tough shape when I bought it. It had been left out in the weather and had cracked seats, rust spots, and faded paint. Despite that, it ran relatively well.
It had trouble starting when cold. I wore the electric starter out turning it over for several minutes in the morning. The kick start didn't give enough rotations to fire it, so I learned to park at the top of a hill at night.
I rode it as my only vehicle for my first couple years in college until it broke down farther than was worth fixing. I sold it as a parts bike to a motorcycle rebuild shop.
It served well as an all purpose vehicle, and even ran for several months after the engine block cracked.
It handled well considering its size.
The 4 cylinder engine was powerful and quiet.
The styling was like most 70's Japanese multipurpose bikes, with the long banana seat and passenger holding strap.
| Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model Year | 1978 |
| First year of ownership | 1997 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 1999 |
| Acceleration marks | 7/10 |
| Roll-on Performance marks | 6/10 |
| Handling marks | 7/10 |
| Braking marks | 6/10 |
| Reliability marks | 4/10 |
| Comfort marks | 5/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 10/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 40000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 45000 miles |
| Date of Entry | 19th January, 2005 |