STUNNING 1977 Kawasaki KZ1000LTD

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[@3XTS]

Could be just me but this bike sounds way better than those newer bikes! What a beauty an absolute work of art!

[@stratolestele7611]

Fuel injection, digital ignition, emissions, etc. Yup they sound great, but the new ones can sound pretty sweet with a few light mods. Of course, the performance is night and day with the new ones being a great evolution of a great motorcycle. Me? I'd love to have a one of these sit sit alongside my z900rs café.

[@stratolestele7611]

Steppenwolf - I love it! "Born To Be Wild" and so many other great songs!

[@st-qd8wg]

LTD is not as great as the original style KZ

[@ChatNick]

​@@ISEEORBSNew...plastic fantastic . 😂

[@7dayvisa]

​@@ISEEORBSClearly you have never ridden one of these.

[@tonyrappa4611]

That could be the best sounding bike I've ever heard

[@nathanielwaters6730]

I own 5 of these Kawasaki's, they sound just like that!!! Kawasaki Nate Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

[@stratolestele7611]

That bike is a piece of beautiful art.

[@uan588]

Timeless beauty

[@pablocespedes5880]

The sound of Zs, KZs, LTDs just make something feeling different in my pants!!! that sound... Those lines of old Kawies are fantastic, true classic!

[@sonnyseabury4051]

I thought I was the only one! 😂😂

[@uan588]

Still have running decent 1979 kz 1000.

[@bluzzjazz]

My first big bike was a KZ900, the 1k came out the following year. That bike was awesome until an old man in a Crown Victoria pulled out making a left turn in front of me. Had just started raining and I only had time to lock up the brakes. I hit the rear quarter, the impact snapped my femur and threw me over the trunk about 50 feet. I was running about 35-40 but it totaled the bike. The impact disintegrated the outside shell of my full coverage helmet, but I didn't even have a headache from it. I didn't ride again for a long time after that. Now I'm cruising on an Indian Springfield with stage 2 upgrades and TABs and having a blast!

[@Bricklinsv1970]

That bike just scares me. Probably because my dad's friend gave me a ride on the back of one when I was like 16 on one wheel! That bike can keep up with modern sport bikes for the most part!

[@allanturner9902]

Wow! My neighbor had exact same bike in early 80s and its the first bike that actually scared me on the road it was scary powerful and fast he took the baffle out too lol man you dig up some deep memories thank you i see your true love for bikes and I love it brother ❤

[@barronvonpitbull4544]

I had a 79 ltd 1000 red with mags! Mad max style! Miss it ! Got it for 900 bucks in 91! Their awesome! Fun bike!

[@dougney3026]

Had one for years, great drag bike 👍🇺🇸

[@dylanplumley280]

This is my dream bike. As a 20 year old suffering from the depressing modern age. I dream of owning one of these rocking a retro look picking up babes. There is nothing cooler than a ripped dude on a kz1000 slicked back hair, aviator sunglasses and beautiful women holding on for dear life to the epic manly rider hauling ass down the road with the furious sound of the bike roaring. I envy my parents. I really do, they had it made in the 80s.

[@rhettpimentel7778]

Got one for sale if you’re interested

[@alanshumway2541]

I like the way you think young man! 🙌 🔥

[@nathanielwaters6730]

I have a '76 Kawasaki KZ900 LTD, and a '77 KZ1000 LTD, spitting ' image of yours, it's just plain BADASSERY!!! Also Dude, you look great on that bike!!! I'm a Kawasaki Z-1 and KZ enthusiasts and collector!!! Kawasaki Nate Philadelphia,Pennsylvania

[@BreakStuffClub]

I’m in the Reading area, I have an ‘80 ltd1000. I want an ‘82 or ‘83 Katana for my next project if I can find one for a decent price.

[@user-sh5dy5tr9d]

This was the bike of my dreams! The bike that I would get when I "grew up". The baddest looking streetbike at the Kawasaki dealership in 1978 when I was 11yrs old. (the one with the mag wheels and the sexy look!) It is a very fond memory of mine, that day, by total surprise, getting my first bike, the massive 78 KE100! I remember seeing that LTD sitting in the showroom though. **ten years later, my first streetbike, ending up being a beautiful black 81 XS1100 Special....and later an 83 V65Magna. I absolutely loved those bikes! I started on the street, sort of maxing out in a way. I still would love to have that LTD! Eric in NC

[@EvokDubstep]

Had to revisit this video. Cant believe how good that bike sounds.❤

[@ChatNick]

Sounds like old school F1 ;)

[@sonnyseabury4051]

Beautiful Beast, with the exhaust note, that lifetime motorcycle lovers want to hear, that were born in the 70's, even, to this day. Love it, and she's quick.

[@matthewpiper1421]

I having a flash back to the kz 1000 bikes that ponch and john rode on chips back in the 80's, very cool bike.👍👍

[@hypervigilance1465]

killer bike I remember my uncle steve gave me a ride on his 77 kz1000 that's what got me hooked.

[@robert-nb7hw]

beautiful machine another muscle bike from the 70s the golden era awesome ken

[@moriwaki1105]

Always loved that model year paint job.

[@Extremegaz25]

Nice ken, that brings back memories, I went to the isle of man TT In 96 on a Kawasaki 1000 with the wife, great bike, heavy but reliable.

[@propdoctor21564]

What a beautiful machine. I love these old LTDs and actually had two of them back in the 1980s. One was a 1978 and the other one was a 1980 which had my favorite paint scheme where the two-tone inlays were metallic silver which looked great on the black base.

[@scottwheaton9689]

Great bike you have there. Fyi,1977 is the 1st yr for the 1000 LTD but the 1st yr for Kawasaki’s big four LTD was actually the 1976 900 LTD. I currently have a 78 Kawi 1000 LTD with 28k original miles on it with just like yours a new Delkavic 4 into 1 though I prefer the better looking kerker 4into 1 that’s a whopping $1,199! I also have 2 1974 H1 triples,1 original paint dark metal flake maroon w-8k miles & the other im currently doing a cosmetic resto on in its original dark metallic green with 11k original miles. All 3 of the above bikes are now road worthy running well & registered that now in my retirement (67yrs old) I often ride. Just an fyi on a comment you made on jetting 1000 do thst even cold need little to no choke on cold fire up to run well. When you can start a Kawi big four (z1/kz900 or kz1000) cold with little to no choke it’s setup too rich that will also result piss poor mpg. Take that bike for a nice afternoon ride to chk mpg & more importantly check the plugs which I bet will look pitch black or very dark brown running stock NGK b8es plugs. That over rich setup is best suited for very aggressive riding & or track use & not best for street use by a long shot that results in black carbon fouled plugs & poor mpg. The proper carb jetting & syn setup (even with pipe) should require full choke for initial start then immediately reduce to 1/2 choke for a min or 2 to warm a bit & then turn choke off & get on your way to full normal motor operation a min or 3 later. Believe it or not all you need with that stock motor (& the 4 into 1 pipe) is increasing pilot jet from stock 15 to 17.5 along with also going from stock 107.5 main jets to 3 steps up 115’s (open header) & 2 steps up 112’s (baffle wrapped & installed) leaving jet needle clips in stock position & then re-sync carbs & readjust idle mixture/pilot screws to obtain the best smooth idle. Many people make the mistake of running a very rich 2 steps richer 20 pilot jet,dropping needle clips down 1 slot to raise them to be richer along with running approx 125-130 main jetting that ends up being a full race track setup (really too rich for street use)where you can start motor with little to no choke like you said your bike does running nice cold that will result in too rich mixture with black plugs that may fuel/carbon foul if your not on it hard all the time or get into slow traffic along with poor mpg. My 78 1000 Ltd was setup too rich when I got it getting 25 mpg with pitch black plugs too! To fix it I raised the needle clips 1 slot dropping the needles down a bit/leaner back to stock position. Then I removed the 130 main jets & installed 112’s(running a baffle in my 4into 1) along with removing the 20 pilot jets & installed 1 step richer 17.5 pilots. Then I sync’d the carbs & re-adjusted the idle mix/pilot screws for best smooth idle set idle to 950-1k rpm. After that the bike fired up quick cold in full choke,then run on half choke for 1-2 mins & turn choke off. After that plugs now look med to light tan & mpg went from 25mpg to 45mpg cruising around country roads at 55-65 mph. This coming from 5+ decades of 1st hand experience owning & wrenching rebuilding restoring Kawi big fours & triples fas a hobby since the early 70’s. Happy motoring!

[@KaplanCycles]

Wrongo, the pilot circuit was enrichned at zero to 1/8 throttle. You have no clue of the manic mechanic jeff castines skill?

[@adhambarghi]

Memories. The year was 1989, I was 14 years old. Grandpa had this bike parked in the barn for about 5 or more years. I pulled it out, aired up the tires and filled up the tank. Jumped it and got her running again. Ran terribly on the low end, needed a carb clean. I didn't know how to do that so I did the next best thing. Held her wide open because she ran perfectly. Took her out for spin not letting off the throttle and got her up to 135 on a straight. Came back to park in the barn and saw the front tire was coming apart. That was my last ride on Grandpa's bike, but I was hooked. Just happy to be alive and share the story, what a bike🏍️

[@prestonrobert2625]

Sure made my Saturday wow!

[@masdbo]

Beautiful bike, great video. You know that little voice that’s telling you to grab a helmet, do not ignore it.

[@jaredterry4653]

1977 the year of bad ass bikes and cool people this ltd sounds awesome

[@michaelreed9805]

I owned this bike. Thing was bullet proof. I drove it hard more than i should have....it didnt miss a beat. About pissed myself when i found this video. Great bike in great days

[@davidmccall4776]

I had a '76 KZ900, and I absolutely loved it! The frame had a tendency to get a little squirrely at high speed, but other than that it was great! ☆☆☆☆☆

[@tonyohalloran8817]

That bike looks like it was made for you!! Cool as!

[@RockinGuy1994]

Miss riding with my dad 😢

[@Alexios9090]

Motorcycle old school! Um abraço do Brasil!

[@KaplanCycles]

Im workimg on kz1000ltd now

[@michaelrobbins9292]

Brings back memories.

[@richardknight7782]

i have one of these in my collection, absolutely love it..nice video

[@moosewild4239]

Very nice. Had a red one in the Navy. Fun times. Went from that to a Z1R.

[@nigelbowler1601]

Topman need to pop in to your museum you show & have top draw bikes brother keep your videos rolling all the best from the UK.

[@MrSakamotothecat]

That bike sounds awesome, my uncle had one, and he rode it like a mad maniac with me holding for my dear life 😸 I found me a kz1000p it's a police interceptor bike that has been modified, it doesn't look like a police bike, but more like an aggressive bull, although I do have some questions about that bike that's for sale. Thanks for sharing your videos, I love that bike old school rocks

[@jamesdaple9951]

Great job!

[@user-jc7jb3bu5s]

Wow...one owner...i was 2 years out of high school in 77. my friend had one. i was in awe..

[@superzuki5831]

Now that's a Mad Max bike, I love it!!

[@incognito5986]

Hahaha, just noticed the tag. Steppenwolf. Which means one thing here in application: “ Born to be Wild”, some of us get it, I tried to buy that exact bike in ‘77 in Newport News, Va. I was stationed at Ft Eustice, Va, the bike in particular I was looking at was in “Midnight Blue”. My parents wouldn’t co-sign, sigh…. What a bike, thanks for posting such a great memory. What I don’t understand is why don’t they make them again. Exactly like they were, again? They’re timeless in design and looks, and I GUARANTEE YOU they would sell. Including Yamaha DT 1’s, Kawasaki 500 HT 1, and 750 too. Suzuki GT 250 Ram Airs 500s too, hell I can keep naming. Limited batches would ensure sales and protect from surplus sitting. I’d buy a new/old version in a heartbeat.

[@LiquidAudio]

That's a beauty, best example I've seen anyway!

[@ar2043]

Definitely a showstopper!!! 👍👍🔥🔥💨💨

[@toddjacobs5660]

Good ol bike & it sounds good 👍

[@jaysongraft3627]

Dosen't get any better than that. Badass

[@CynthiaGreene-il1fe]

the toe cutter!!! nice bike Kaptain!!!

[@mokokawi]

Great classic bike

[@jpdaddy678]

That's beautiful!

[@LostinFrance626]

That sounds sooo good. Nice bike

[@laurent4561]

I ride it in the 80 it is a real super bike and the engin is fantastic, the noise it does too.

[@lostinsperry1988]

I had a 1980 kawi 750ltd.. it was a blast! But I upgraded to the 1980 Yamaha 1100 midnight special....

[@maskedman1980]

Damn that bike sounds good. 😮

[@terencephilipstrydom4838]

Absolutely beautiful bike!❤

[@tyslink]

Love the sound of this bad boy

[@sveneklund6775]

That rumble from the absolutely beautiful KayZee sounds amazing 😍😊

[@EvokDubstep]

That thing sounds soooo nice!

[@billbright1755]

I had an 82 KZ 750 four in metallic midnight blue with powder blue pin stripes. I traded it for my current 91 GSX 1100 G and after test rides on my new Suzuki when I rode my 750 in to trade I honestly stopped to see if my brakes were dragging. The power differential was astounding. This Kawasaki here is a ten❤.

[@billbright1755]

Ken I’m getting a 24 Kawasaki “ yellow ball “ Z 900 RS to customize to my personal specifications. It will be the coolest retro ever 😊.

[@sifusays9242]

I have a 78 black Ltd 4 into 1 Kerker love it .

[@MrJvl1960]

Clean 📷

[@brantleymyers884]

I like that helmet? Damn Kap need ya to be around- I thought we talked about this lol I'm sure 69 can custom make you one

[@pbmachines972]

Wow love that 👌

[@igoramambai7650]

Perfect motorcycle,nice sound

[@agnesrenoncourt5655]

Salut kaplan america ,quelle superbe moto des années mad max.le film que j adore et le bruit moteur époustouflant.j ai 48 et je vais passer le permis moto.merci pour tes vidéos et vive l Amérique ❤

[@johnhargis4566]

Kawasaki made some awsome air cooled line 4 's ❤ 😊

[@user-jr1cs6ob3m]

Love the Historic District street sign.

[@bartholomewnathaniel807]

Funny I ran into you when you were doing a video on an old Honda 450CB and I told you that was my same bike- same 'color'! When my second bike ws what you showing off here- Kawai KZ 1000. Yeah I 'by chance' moved-up to this bike like this- I had been working grava yard shift at 'ol Greyhound SF wayy back in 1980 when this guy shows up about some info about his bus? Anyway- we started talking and I got along well with this guy so well indeed he said to me. 'I'm catching a 7AM bus and I have my motorcycle with me and I don't want to have to figure out how to ship it home- so what don't (I- me!) keep iy for him until he gets back to SF! Well his bike was a Red '78 Kawai 1000 and boy was it a rather HUGE up-grade from my old Honda 450! Ahh, today I'm 70 and as I've been reduced to a Mini van- video's like this really make me want to say- Fuck it and buy another bike and Go for it (Maybe a Honda 750 this time??) Thanks!

[@strvenoconnell4061]

Oh yeah that sound of the 80s , used to hear that every day , those modern bikes don't have exhaust that sounds like this bike

[@Jbrooks7177]

I need that. Makes me remember gooses

[@peterhoulis1184]

Let the good times roll with KAWASAKI

[@gixxerboyroyluvdrumswaters9023]

Beautiful machine.

[@pumadocaca8813]

Kawasaki KZ1000LTD the perfect motorcycle for me..

[@paullavergne2477]

Goose bumps

[@philhotchkin8269]

I have a 77 900LTD gunna tinker ride it soon.

[@rickfernald3452]

I am the fortunate owner of a 1977 kz1000b ltd exactly like this one,except mine has original jardine exhaust, and sounds better. It has all original including paint and decals 49,985 miles, runs like new, may be up for sale soon! stay tuned!

[@mikeknuckles6430]

I bought the first Ltd in 1974. The only thing I did to it was have the dealer install a electronic ignition instead of points. When your rpm is above 7k the points would start to float.

[@MajorTom6]

What a beauty!!

[@user-mc7ut4qp3b]

This was not the first LTD...It was the 1976 900cc LTD.

[@richardmorris7063]

Bought one new in 1980, had the fins on the engine painted black & chromed out both side casing & carb top & bottom. Kerker headers & jetting was done ,waited a month to get it back. After I had it back one week it was stolen. Still hurts to see it!

[@Docshelby1]

Is this bike available ? I had the exact beauty when they first came out. Best looking motorcycle ever

[@keeptwowheelsdown]

Great bike! But I think I'd rather have the 900 kz you guys brought in with 6 Elsinore load! Good Sunday to you all

[@carlopulsone9341]

Nel 1982 acquistai un Kawasaki z1 900 testa nera del 1974 , 4 in 1 senza silenziatore, filtri aria a cono , era talmente potente che quando davi gas sembrava che slittasse la frizione, una bestia

[@erickdorsey556]

Those were the few bikes with front and rear disc's, in those early years.

[@jean-pierrefernandez2460]

lovely

[@sergiopiresbr]

What a sound!!!!!

[@greggstankowski5073]

Ken,,can you think of any bike you Haven't ridden?!

[@unclemike1206]

You got it made

[@mcgee1703]

She's badass!

[@raspybob9905]

Very nice! I love old bikes. To high tech now! Lmao

[@raspybob9905]

Ps, anyone know where i can get a 1979 honda cx500 custom speedometer, hit me up please lol

[@geometromonkey]

Perfect license plate steppenwolf forever

[@nathanielwaters6730]

This is Kawasaki Nate from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, like to visit your Museum, perhaps purchase that '77 Kawasaki KZ1000 LTD, I had 5 of 'em, gotta have another!!!

[@kevinlabombard6033]

Nice

[@01968752]

I sure do miss my '78 LTD!

[@laurent4561]

I should visit Kaplan’s site and leave this boring France for the USA. Good old America ❤️God bless America ride on !

[@125southernnh2]

Ah yes. The famous Kawi One thou-ee. So many of my Bay Area buddies rode these in the day.

[@uan588]

I still do. Call me Z Leader

[@travisguide4516]

That bike rips

[@rover100bunson]

does the number plate read steppenwolf?

[@drewwilson45]

I wish man 😢

[@CalmApron-nl7lw]

My dream bike about 15 plus

[@truthwins9044]

You still have this one?

[@susannahfranks894]

You chaps run a extreme restorers dream factory growing 4cyl🤠