Rider: Rick Chalupsky, Antigo, Wisconson.
Age: 60
Occupation: Retail
Rides: 1980 Kawasaki KZ650, 1983 Kawasaki KZ1100 LTD
Rick’s story: “I found this beautiful KZ650 when I was 56 years old, in June of 2009. I work retail and money is more often than not an issue, so I went on Craigslist hoping to trade for a Kawasaki project bike. After quite a few attempts I ran into a guy from Green Bay, Wis., (just 75 miles from me) looking for a good-quality digital camera. He was getting low-balled with offers for his KZ650. He was asking $1,500, so he agreed to trade with me for my nice-quality Olympus camera and some old stereo equipment. All I had were pictures of the bike, but I agreed to the deal. Since I had no way to get the bike home, he offered to bring it to me in his pickup for $10 gas! Well, he arrived, we made the exchange, and I ended up with a near-mint 1980 KZ650 with 4,500 original miles on it! With a clear title! At some point in its sheltered life it must have fallen over on its right side, because the points cover was scraped. I replaced it immediately with a NOS cover from eBay for $40. The right turn signal stem was broken and, get this, my local Kawasaki dealer had a brand new one on the shelf for $11.50! So now, 3-1/2 years later, I’m sitting on a near-mint KZ. It’s garaged right now, and I think the mileage is 5,800 miles, so I still need to break her in a little bit. It’s a trade-off between racking up the miles or keeping it as a low-mileage original. But I have a 1983 KZ1100 LTD with 20,000 miles that I’ve had longer that lets me decide my riding options. I’ve taken the KZ1100 on a road trip to Des Moines, Iowa, more than 1,000 miles round trip, and the only problem I had was a severe case of sunburn. I’m still looking for a project bike!” MC
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I have been looking for the right kz or CB for years. It seems to me in not cal that Honda is the bike of the area. I kinda of like the kz a bit more due to its handling, but I’ll take what I can get. Nearly every cb I see is bobbed or just simply in bad shape. So it is the case that an original is so bad that you have to bob it cause maiking it original is too pricey. So for ten years I have looked now and again and finally I found the bike of my dreams. KZ 750 1980. I saw it on Craigslist for 5500 and I just couldn’t spend that much. I went into Facebook market place and the same bike was 2800. I left a message and for days I never heard back. Finally, I got the message. I could come look at it. I knew I was going to buy it. I had 2400 in one pocket and two hundred in the other. The owner opened the garage and I nearly fainted. This bike doesn’t have an ounce of rust and I doubt that it has ever seen rain. When I looked at the odometer I nearly fainted again. 10,283. I had to listen to his story and all I wanted to do was ride it. He was a little hesitant because the wheatherman said there was a 30% chance of rain. I took the 2400 from one pocket and the two from the other and handed it to him without riding it. May sound dumb, but I could tell this was the find of the century. If you want to see a picture just google image search KZ750. It is maroon with gold pen stripping. It is showroom clean. Not a scratch anywhere. No rust just a little putting on the pipes. Just took it for my first ride over twenty miles. Ran over to Napa for wedding. I stopped in at a bar and was quickly surrounded by two Harley’s. No I wasn’t interested they both looked at the bike and were understanding of the history and they both said OMG.
I HAVE 7 OF THEM EXTRA MOTORS AND PARTS TEXT 269 719 9636
I HAVE 7 OF THEM K Z 650 EXTRA MOTORS AND PARTS CALL OR TEXT 269 719 9636
Have a 82kz650 like to sell if anyone's looking can call or text 217 390 8733
Hey guys looking to trade my harley chopper for either a Kawasaki Honda or Suzuki trike older model in decent shape 813)786-1886
hi nice bike .I have a 1980 Kawasaki kz650 near mint well maintained 20,000 miles but don't look it or run like it for $2400 obo 9313712582
Very nice Rick. I have had several 650 Kawi's over the years, New 78 and 79, then a few used ones later. They still turn my head. I still have my 78 factory shop manual that I bought new back then, just in case. One of the best UJM's ever made.
Hi Rick, What type of project bike are you looking for. In my shopping through the summer I encountered a few Kawasakis. I finally settled on a KZ440 Ltd in Milwaukee. But I know of a 650 in the Chicago area and a 550 in Whitewater. I've ridden the 550. Actually it is in pretty good shape. But it runs rough at idle. It has stock pipes and rebuilt carbs. Feel free to give me a call at 630-235-7617. I'm in N IL. Tim
Great deal! I always think the right bike finds you. I agree with Neil; what's the point of having that bike, it was made to be ridden! Enjoy it, let others see what a great bike it is; not some cookie cutter new sport bike, but a true classic. Ride it, don't hide it! Fred
I love bartering! Nice deal! As for the mileage, as they say, "Ride it, don't hide it". I had my '79 Beemer off the road for over a year and I regret it. Dried out seals and sticking front brake, not to mention a terminally dead battery, are the maladies I'm working through after reviving it. I say keep it running and let a few miles rack up each year.