Going back in time (bike-wise)

[vhmike73]

Wow...

I had to drop my M50 off at my dealer for it's 600 mile service (at 735 miles...whoops!) yesterday since I'm going to be flying out to Seattle for work next week (appt. was for Monday). So, when I got home, my buddy called me up to go riding, and I broke out the 1980 KZ650 for the trip.

What a difference 25 years of engineering can make! The KZ is an inline 4, carbed, chain drive, and the strangest sensations were the seat height (didn't realize it was so TALL feeling), foot control position (Standard vs. Cruiser, and my M has the forward controls to boot, is a strange sensation), and the bars! (7/8" vs. the 1" + Kury Iso grips on the M)...but after giving her some ether to wake her up, the KZ ran like a champ. Still, the feeling of sitting so "On Top" of the bike, both the more upright seat, controls/pegs directly beneath me that the Standard setup gives, and the tiny handlebars/grips were strange to me now, when last year I thought nothing of it. I thought I felt strange, I know my other friend is going to feel REAL weird when he picks up his '06 Dyna Wide Glide after riding an '82 Virago 920 for the last 6 years!

While the KZ ran strong, and felt smooth all the way through the gears (no vtwin vibration, which again makes me think my M is maladjusted somewhat because it VIBRATES too much- and my buddy who also owns an '05 M50 agrees), the LIGHTING on the KZ sucks...it doesn't help that the headlight is secured by ears that also are the mount points for the front signals, but wow...even the halogen conversion was almost useless to me last night. Basically, I rode about even with Phil on his M so I had HIS light on the road...definately something to tinker with, since my brother will most probably be riding the KZ for a while after he completes the MSF course in July.

All in all, it was a fun rip, and I'm glad the old girl was hanging around the garage so I could get a last ride in before the week in Seattle. Still need to take care of a couple nagging issues- tach drive seal is leaky, the carb boots to the airbox are no longer flexible in the least, and the steering stem bearing will need to be replaced since it flatspotted at the dead-center straight position after sitting 16 years, though it's eminently driveable, my mechanic gave it one more season. Since I have the M50, doing the requisite repairs to the KZ will wait for my brother to do the MSF Course and decide if he'll ride or not, and that means I can procrastinate!! Of course, I have the weekend, but rain is forecast, and since it's raining now, the meteorologist was right. Oh well, when I get back from the left coast, I'll be able to pick up the bike and save the KZ for another few months.

Just wanted to comment. Now back to regularly scheduled posting...

[Trapper]

Cool story, Mike. I jump at the chance to try something different.