80 KZ1000 Kawasaki "Let the Good Times Roll" Restoration Project, Johnny's Vintage Motorcycle Co

Allen from Oregon originally purchased this KZ1000 on ebay, it came from somewhere on the East coast, and he had the bike shipped to us in Ohio. We originally thought it would be a tune-up, carb job kind of thing. After showing the customer our progress, and him seeing what we've done in the past on our project bikes, he wanted the best of the best. And that is what he got. It was such a pleasure to do this bike. This would be a great bike to ride back and forth to work every day, as long as it isn't raining! "I fall in love with them all, but this one is great."

[@michaellawrencemaag7480]

One of my Favorite Kaws of all time.. Joel Bishop, Rick Danko and Tom Tonya all had this bike while I was chasing them around on my H2 750...In Barberton Ohio.... oooh the days..

[@spaceshuttle1]

Amazing!!!

[@garycrisp429]

Absolutely Gorgeous Bike, even the Kerker exhaust looks like it belongs to this LTD 1000 with the red stripe. Nut and Bolts perfect. I like the extention on the handlebars. It has everything I like about a motorcycle, especially that the components are polished and not chromed. I used to feel a little afraid of Kawasaki when I was young. I just liked Suzuki and had a GSX 250. I was tempted to buy a Kawasaki GPZ550 as they were around in the early 90's but I think the 70's and 80's were the best era for Japanese motorcycles by miles. Love what your company does. Thanks Johnny for keeping these early motorcycles alive. 🙏

[@adrianbegbie1556]

Man.. such a nice bike.. thanks for sharing..

[@YTjndallas]

Saweeeet !!!! 😍👍🏻 Another Johnny’s masterpiece!!!

[@IAMREIKI]

It's fun watching these builds . Thanks Every One I see another zx 1200 in my future .

[@jeffrey3498]

Splendid!!!

[@jlewis1688]

Better than new I would say!!!

[@zrkn1]

Thank God you put a flat seat on your SWEET ride. I cannot believe what an improvement the vapor blast did and I thought it looked good before that. Now that is genuinely an LTD. NICE work JVM. Go ahead and brag on yourselves a lil bit and a huge kudos to all your vendors that do top-notch work. You got class Johnny and you're Making Motorcycles Great Again !!!!

[@ronaldwhite5887]

I can’t say enough about your quality of detail and craftsmanship in your work. I also have a “77 A “ I purchased in 79 after working in a Kawasaki dealership in 77. The smooth ride and acceleration sold me. Thanks again

[@hudmoh330]

I love the bike brings back so many old memories. I had a 79 LTD 1000 amost identical to that bike. Once again beautiful bike

[@ApplegateRiverFamilyFarm]

As the owner of this stunning restoration, I want to say thanks to everyone at Johnny’s Vintage Motorcycles. I received the bike yesterday 12/10/19 in Oregon, (Big Foot country) and had the opportunity to ride it around the neighborhood a few times and it’s amazing! I also shipped its unrestored twin so I’m looking forward to you doing this all over again. Let’s call the next one 80 KZ1000 Kawasaki "Let the Good Times Roll" Deja vu.

[@Johnnysvintage]

Thanks, Allen! Glad you're having a good time on it. Love the name for the next project, too! Thanks for your business.

[@Donvonn71]

Hey Allen what's it like to drive the bike with the straight low handlebars....?? I have the same bike & I'm going to do much the same work as what you got done to you bike but 4into4 pipes instead....

[@ApplegateRiverFamilyFarm]

@@Donvonn71 The new handle bars are not straight bars so they feel better than the stock bars. The stock bars are very uncomfortable for me as they rake back too far.

[@danielmiller7693]

How do you like those bars?

[@ApplegateRiverFamilyFarm]

@@danielmiller7693 Absolutely perfect!

[@davidclark7973]

That bike looks so right. Those subtle mods have made it something special. Great work.

[@ApplegateRiverFamilyFarm]

Johnny's came through with exactly what I was asking for. Thanks for noticing the very mild modifications.

[@mattlock5880]

@@ApplegateRiverFamilyFarm I bought one after watching this the same bike it is some bike to drive it just keeps pulling through all the gears Luke a train....

[@paulrunyon5585]

Mr. Clean. "Everything is so clean." I love it!

[@LesWG5]

Another perfect job from Johnny’s. I applaud every decision made regarding removing the Ltd features😎

[@dixienormous3262]

Better than original showroom condition. Well done! Love watching these restorations.

[@Nickel8237]

Oh the memories that bike brought back! Fantastic job!

[@GustavoAntunez2014]

I love this bike, very very good job.

[@MrTechnofear2010]

I would still get a slightly more exciting seat and lose the ducktail, but this is a truly fantastic restoration. For someone who grew up in the 80s, it's the essence of a beautiful motorcycle reborn. I love watching the work that you guys do from Copenhagen.

[@berniepokorski6608]

Very, Very Nice Work! That being said, in the end, the degree of restoration always comes down to affordability.... at least IMHO.😉

[@simonstillborn4951]

Excellent work on this bike.

[@harp440]

Sounds awesome

[@spaceshuttle1]

Just loved this video! It's amazing such a great job restoring this beautiful bike. All of your videos are excellent.

[@Donvonn71]

One the best Zed’s I have ever driven it kills the 900 zed’s mark 2 engine crank unbelievable, no rattles or vibrates beast. Can’t wait to get another one.….

[@kingcracker4275]

You just might have outdone yourself with that one nice job everybody ought to own one if you never did you don't know what you're missing thanks again Johnny

[@roostercogburn809]

I had this same bike in 1980... Wish I still had.

[@charlesemerson6763]

Lovely job Johnny. Never had Z/K model but I did have GPzR.

[@Kevin_747]

Awesome. Makes me miss my '80 Z 1-R.

[@adrianbegbie1556]

This is such a nice Bike.. Thanks for sharing...👌

[@doublenickel1000]

THIS is the bike I've been looking for!!! Changed that funky LTD into a bee-you-tifull no-nonsense rider! Great taste, great mods, great restoration. I'm gonna drive over some time and see your operation and bikes.

[@harp440]

That is one sexy motorcycle....love the new seat

[@KICKSTARTMotorcycleSquad]

Love it, great work, great video - as always... Thx for sharing & keep up the good work! Greetings from Germany!!

[@caroldave4037]

Even your dog aproves... must be one of the best you've done but oh the sound of that motor ...😙 cheers from dave

[@neophobiagarage1845]

Very nice indeed, better than factory new. Such a cool bike WOW!

[@alancarter8396]

Nicest one I’ve seen for a while

[@HoosierRooster]

These were very comfortable bikes to ride and they ran great a kerker 4 into 1 header on them and they were really fun

[@patrickloughridge2420]

Another top notch great running beautiful restoration by Johnny and crew! I too have a 1980 KZ1000 LTD in these colors; and really like the minor changes you all made; to make it a "Standard/LTD" ... the Best of both really IMO. I've NEVER seen a nicer one, and these MK II motors are really THE best of the Z-models too. Keep em coming yesiree ;-)

[@mariodesmo]

The standard flat seat makes a world of difference, IMHO. The stepped seat just looks a little too cheezy! lol I had a 76 KZ900 in green with a 4 into 1 Denco pipe. Ran like a jet, got clocked at 140mph by the Calif Highway Patrol once. Got a real good (heated) lecture on the side of the road. The only thing that saved me from going to jail was I didn't say a word other than, "yes sir" to him, and the officer owned one himself! Should have kept it. Oh well, I still have my 78 Ducati that I replaced it with, and it looks like new too. Nice looking LTD Kawi!

[@SuperAngelles]

Fantastic Classic Kawai. Im glad the flat seat was installed in lieu of the stock stepped seat which just ruins the bikes lines.

[@adlodewijkx7894]

Great job!! Awesome bike. Very very nice! Thanks for sharing. Regards from The Netherlands

[@aspectcarl]

It's beautiful ❤️

[@kalaharimine]

Nice, nice - the big seat and cruiser bars used to put me off the Ltd's.

[@giovannipinzon9289]

Nicely done, I would love to see a 78 kz1000 z1r restoration project as I still own one. I may consider restoring mine some day.

[@spotsterjon74cu]

The flat seat makes it. No one rebuilds them better👍🏻

[@BurkeStanion]

This is another beautiful bike. I’d love to acquire a very similar bike to this one. I currently own a 2015 Vulcan S, but my history is 30 years ago and rode a shaft drive 78 Suzuki GS850 . My friend rode a Kaw 1000. Good times.

[@daves.projects]

that bike came out real nice. i'm working on an old 83 GPZ, dont have much money to throw at it, so doing what i can. next thing to do is paint, but so far now its back on the road.

[@pdxangst]

Man... I put 75000 miles on my 10980 KZ750E. This was a ride back.... Nice bike!

[@burkhardziech9248]

Perfekt mein Traum

[@tysoncott7402]

that bike is awesome! i’d give my arse to have it!!!

[@williamfoltynewicz9780]

All that time on a Beautiful LTD And he did away with the 2 tier seat Wow

[@kaveebee]

yeah I could use that seat on my Z1

[@nigel1154]

Nice

[@richardmorris7063]

I liked the original seat & Goodyear white letters but I bought 1 new. Same kerker,engine painted black w/ everything chrome. 3 months old & was stolen.

[@Kiskassklan]

I have that same bike same color scheme with just 14000 miles.

[@Stephen.C.]

Nice nice.

[@cesarbrito6254]

desde venezuela , te felicito por llevar estas bici a un estado de recuperacion genial . mi hermano compro una usada cuando eramos muy jovenes y la recotruimos totalmente , desde la instalacion electrica original se reconstruyo el motor , se pinto el marco en negro y toda la carroceria en rojo , queera su color orijinal , se le monto escaper 4 en 1 kerker . quedo fantastica , yo tengo un Suzuki GS 750 t año 1983 .tiene ios carburadores dañador si alguien los tiene me gustaria se comunicara por este medio con migo . soy fanatico de este tipo de motocicletas

[@tabajaraaparecidojorge307]

😭😭😭my dream of motorcycle.

[@danielmiller7693]

I’d really like to put a better seat on this 82 I’m about to purchase. Should I destroy the old seat or start looking for a new seat pan and start over.

[@ronmiller1162]

johnny i just watched this video on the 1980 kz 1000 ltd blk /silv with red pinstripe i had the same exact bike year and color, my battery box had the same runs on it, so im thinkin its factory

[@logangray4703]

It’s probably a longshot posting here. I’m starting the restoration of a 1980 Kawasaki KZ 1000, it was my dad‘s bike I’m fairly positive the forks are going to need rebuilt along with the carburetors. If anyone has a link to a website or a scrapyard I can source parts from it would be greatly appreciated.I just returned from naval service and this bike has been sitting for the past four years

[@Johnnysvintage]

Logan I can give you several resources. 1) Go to our website www.johnnysvintagemotorcycle.com and look up parts we have listed for your bike. 2) go to ebay and look up seller number35 to see what we have listed for your bike. 3) you can call us directly at 330-335-7365.

[@BreakStuffClub]

I have an '80 LTD1000 just like this one and I put a flat z1 seat on it. The seat fits but the gas tank slides back a bit when accelerating hard, how did you guys remedy this issue?

[@jerrycagle7565]

Do you ever do any z1r, would love to see one,love your videos.

[@danielkeel9265]

Another fantastic restoration Johnny's! I love the clean cases with the vapour blast, but I always worry about corrosion down the line. I recently had some parts - master cylinders done and got them clear cerakoted. What's your opinion on this? I'm thinking of doing it on me engine cases/block/head (91Zephyr 750). How well do the engine components last after vapour blasting? I'd send you the job but Australia's a bit far away!

[@Johnnysvintage]

The vapor blasting has done real well for us. We have not had much luck with the clear

[@jjrobinson7680]

Making it better would be , smoothbore carbs and a competition baffle in that kerker, 😊

[@davescupper5789]

Nice 😘

[@lukesims6636]

Which renthals are you using and how are they modified? Please

[@johhno9331]

Bike looks great , But needs the classic Z tank look

[@rbszx14r56]

What a very nice LTD excellent job Do you sell the Kerker headers I have a 1979 LTD

[@Johnnysvintage]

yes we do

[@aisakesagaitu1326]

lovely bike used to see it the 70's in fiji islands..how much does it cost now?

[@Johnnysvintage]

This was a customer's bike

[@rmjrmj40]

Wow great work .can u give me a idea of what somthing like that cost to do ??

[@Johnnysvintage]

10-20K depending on your taste

[@aspectcarl]

It's got a kick starter 😜

[@blackmountainboar]

Yep! 1980 was the final year the big Kaw’s had them.

[@ClutchNixon]

What's the difference between LTD1000 and a regular KZ1000 besides the saddle?

[@Ordibana88]

The LTD had diff bars, smaller front turn signals mounted to the handle bars, mag wheels, a fatter 16 inch rear tire, shortened front/rear fenders (chromed, as some were painted to match the body color), 4-2 Jardine exhaust, 1st gen had no center stand, dual disks in the front, higher rear grab bar, chrome chain guard, chrome headlamp bucket

[@YTjndallas]

What does the “1015 and 998 aluminum cylinder head stamp mean? Is it quality of the aluminum?

[@patmclean1951]

YTjndallas displacement. (CC)

[@Johnnysvintage]

1015 was the size of the 77-80 kz1000 as well as 81 police. 998 was the size of the J motor produced in 1981

[@YTjndallas]

Johnnysvintagemotorcycle Thanks!

[@aaronward4467]

How much does it cost to do a resto mod like this one ?

[@Johnnysvintage]

It can be 8-1300 depending on your taste

[@aaronwood8134]

My dad's got a kz 1000 still looks pretty good he just has to get rid of it 600 bucks needs a battery

[@Johnnysvintage]

Aaron are you still looking to get rid of it, and where are you located?

[@terylfountain8060]

How much do y'all want for it

[@MrDmnte]

How much money is the price for a bike like this ? I need one motorcicle and that is my dream come true..

[@Johnnysvintage]

I do not have any for sale at this time , as we are bind of backed upon service work

[@Johnnysvintage]

You should be able to buy a BASIC RUNNING bike like this for $2500-4000 then it has to be restored depending upon your taste

[@skandix]

I know I am nuts, but I liked it better before the Restore.

[@ApplegateRiverFamilyFarm]

You're not crazy. I'm the owner of the bike and I contemplated keeping it all original many times over but then decided to ask Johnny's to make the mild modifications that I thought it needed back in 1980. This is only what I thought it should look like and I never deviated from that opinion.

[@eddwiggins4383]

Wasn't the 1980 ltd1000 fuel injected?

[@peterfallows6802]

Nay ‘

[@richardmorris7063]

They made one that was,the silver on the tank was chrome & it didn't have the duck tail spoiler.

[@masterchief586]

Can you build me one brother? I used to have a 79 kz900, but always wanted a triple.

[@Johnnysvintage]

sorry we are kind of behind at this time

[@mcozpda3392]

all very well, but you don't teach anything about how you restored it .. you just say you did it ,, I wanted to see how you put on electronic ignition and fix that type of carburetors ,, because I have a 79 .. and I want to restore it ..

[@jimclarke1108]

Park it in the lounge room

[@clembuck6006]

Nice job..customer's bike or a bike your selling...?

[@Johnnysvintage]

This is a customer"s bike

[@grahamebrushett6642]

shame you didn't get rid of LTD on side panels / almost perfect

[@ApplegateRiverFamilyFarm]

As the owner of the bike I'm always open to suggestions. Johnny's did exactly what I asked for so that one is on me. I just shipped a second exact duplicate bike to them for another restoration so I'm curious what you would recommend in place of the LTD emblems. I had considered not replacing them but I don't want two holes showing and I don't want decals. Your thoughts are greatly welcomed.

[@peterfallows6802]

@@ApplegateRiverFamilyFarm - i don’t agree at all - as now you can see just how good this model can look ❕!‼️

[@journeyquest1]

Hey lets restore a clean bike. Ugh $$$$$

[@roverwaters3875]

flat seats look better

[@pazerfaust45]

Con dinero puedes sacar de la cola al diablo del infierno, el dueño de esa moto seguramente no sabe ni inflar las llantas de la moto.

[@dmarical14]

I feel a person getting overcharged! i"ll bet the guy talking couldnt do shit!

[@Johnnysvintage]

That is interesting Do you restore bikes also? We are always open to suggestions. Our customer has had the bike back for over 2 years and sent us another one to do

[@chrisriddiford6216]

@@Johnnysvintage Chris Riddiford ☺

[@chrisriddiford6216]

@@Johnnysvintage❤️ Call 330 3357365 Chris Riddiford ☺

[@chrisriddfiord2013]

@@Johnnysvintage❤️ Chris Riddiford ☺ Call 330 3357365 Facebook