Late 70's and 80's were an amazing time to be into motorcycles. They got better each year. Your 78 is a beautiful bike and I hope you can ride it more often!

Showing the mistakes really makes your videos so great. Seeing issues come up and watching you handle them is encouraging.

I remember seeing that bike in one of your videos a long time ago. So glad you finally brought it out. I had a 78 KZ1000 Ltd with a factory Kerker header. One if the coolest bikes I've ever had and yes I miss it. Been keeping my eyes open for another one to restore. One of the best sounding motorcycles ever. Reminds me of mad max!

As a long time supporter of this channel I can say for myself and I'm sure many others this 5 to 10 seconds of Gus is ridiculous , I mean he is the star of the show!! Lets get him on here more for god sakes!!

dont you love how internet experts sitting in their parents basement always have something to say while never holding a wrench

Pro tip, take the old tube press it flat and cut of each edge (right inside, left side) then the center section is now rubber rim tape.

First motorcycle I ever rode was a 76 KZ900 with green paint. Last bike I ever rode was a KZ750 LTD shafty. Thank you for sharing your ride with us. As a disabled former rider, it's soul food for me.

The KZ1000 along with the CBX1000, XS1100 ,GS1000 of th late 70s were the birth of the superbikes of the modern era. The OGs if you will. I remember when they all started hitting show rooms. Great time in motorcycle history. And the quality of the bikes were amazing. Love your video's and your new shop, keep on having fun. 😊

@bigjohnson7415

8 ай бұрын

The Yammy XS 650 parallel twin was pretty iconic for the day!

@davids1702

4 ай бұрын

not to mention the gsmodels rembering I was sporting a triple500 racing my buddy on his 78gs550 we were doing 90 and his helmet was on top of his sissy bar flewoff and bounced offmy front wheel of my h2 off course gs couldn't hold a candle off the line to a triple but. higher topend now I am saddling up on a 2012 ninja 1k love that bike but still have a collection of old Hondas and kawasaki from63to78 and a Daytona 400too many projects but you. Thema keep posting love the clip with kyou cruising in the river inthe ice I had a similar experience my girl friend needed a idiot to ride her 800 yamaha jet skiing to the boat launch. her e I go out in the middle of the Columbia River 4ft chop it was. totally stupid but made it recently was laid up in the hospitol for7months so really enjoy watching you knock out projects have learned alot thx Chris and Jen you 2 are awesome ty dave

Man, so many years later and that style just ages better with age. Still a sharp mean looking bike and has plenty of power. What a great design bike

Nice old bike Chris. Just some routine maintenance and a light cleaning and this bike deserves to live its own life on the roads. Nothing superficial, just ride freely. (2 wheels and an engine). Thank you for the ride in your countryside and cities in this area of USA. Hope to go back on the US soil someday. 😃

"90 year olds don't want to look 20" They may not want to look 20, but they do want to look their best and still shower regularly.

@mwilliamshs

8 ай бұрын

Not recognizing that as a joke makes me think your mental age is higher than 90 or less than 2

@phillipromaine1342

6 ай бұрын

Just a little trick to let you know about replacing tires from an old man if you're slightly inflate the tube before you insert it you won't get the pinch 😊

Such a cool video Chris, I had a 1974 Z1 900. They have that old mad max sound. 😂 The ride thru the fall colors and then the passenger train. Makes everything seem normal for a while. Thanks again. ❤

Hey Chris I’m with you on keeping the bike as is, as far as maintenance that goes without saying it’s a must. Actually it was just another learning experience for me at least that you had to patch the tube… & of course Gus making his entrance always makes it even better. Appreciate the effort you make to show & explain things. Thanks

@carlbernard4197

8 ай бұрын

Funny when Gus's ear went inside out 😂😂😂

A million subs between this and main channel. Man that’s pretty cool. Congrats! Love the maintenance videos. Not enough people know how to do it and that probably kills a lot of beautiful machines

@TXH1138

8 ай бұрын

why have 3 channels? Why not just post all videos on the same channel? Extra money for having the same 200-300K subscribers on the different channels? Seems the views would be the same. Just curious.

@p9raceway759

2 ай бұрын

@@TXH1138tell me how KZread works. If based on watched minutes diversifying makes sense. Algorithm wants to see video watched beginning to end therefore 2 channels cover fan base. KZreadrs have successfully operated 2 channels so main channel income is optimized

Those Vance & Hines pipes have always sounded the best! Sweet ride, Chris!

Changing that oil showed me you don't ride them hard and put them up wet.This was honest and down to earth.

Chris on a motorcycle with a train going by is peak NNKH. I love it. Chris, you're the man.

Man!!! That reminds me of my 550 Maxim days in the 80's in northern Virginia!!!! Good times!!!

The KZ1000 is an iconic bike for sure! Most of the bikes used in the og Mad Max movie were Kz's. I had a 78 with an extended swing arm and a 100 shot of nitrous. Killer scary!!

@derekdavis6508

8 ай бұрын

That's the reason I want one like toecutters.

@carlbernard4197

8 ай бұрын

That would be one hell of a ride especially the roads NNKH was on 😮😂😂😂

Those Kawasaki kZ and z1 are awesome bikes…I had several back in the 70’s… thanks for the video buddy…

Awesome bike and awesome video, helps give me the motivation to keep moving with my 79 gs750 project! Can’t help but to appreciate these early manufacturer battle bikes that are so well engineered and are virtually impossible to kill.

@sinjin90ful

8 ай бұрын

Yep need so work on 1980 Gs750

Love the KZs….. that’s what we rode back in the day.

Let me give you a tiny bit of advice when changing tube tires (having been a motorcycle mechanic throughout the 70s and literally changed hundreds of tires by hand). First do yourself a favor and heat up that tire and make it more pliable. Also slightly inflate the tube, that helps keep it out of the way of the iron. Leave the nut on, some tubes rely on that to hold in the stem on the tube. Yes, yours didn't come with one but that is usually a sign of someone robbing it from the package, better safe than sorry. Also the rim locks go into the holes 180 apart and the stem goes into the other hole. The 180s are to keep the tire in somewhat of a balance. To avoid pinching, never bring the tire iron beyond "0" degrees(ish), moving it beyond "0" is where you pinch it. Just lube up the iron so the tire slides on. Also, if you don't want it restored, just clean it up, remove the rust so it doesn't get any worse, fix the starter, they are super simple (on the Z1s and KZs, make sure the wires seal in the rubber). Nothing wrong with a clean bike, leave the patina if that floats your boat. But you are a really good mechanic, one of the best on KZread, so you know to treat the machine with a little respect. Just saying....

Awesome bike! When i wasxa kid, my dads friend had a brand new kz900 ... i believe it was the fastest production bike at the time. I was in love with it. Yours is fantastic ... love the sound of that Vance and Hines. Have a blast ... im jealous ❤😊

@Darryl603

8 ай бұрын

Nope, sorry. It was the KZ750 2 stroke, triple cylinder. I had one : )

@wesdauer158

8 ай бұрын

78 z1 900

🤛🏾😎 totally agree with you. Ride that bad boy. I have an 81kz1000 and 82 shaft driven kz1100 that I just want running again. Great seeing these bikes on the road in their vintage glory.👍🏽😎🏁🏁🏁

Folks still put 1500 kits in these kz1000’s and they are still competitive. Awesome engines, thanks for the vid👍🙏👋

It brings back memories. I had a 78 Kawasaki kz1000 Z1-R in high school in the late 70’s. I thought I was all that and a bag of chips lol. I can’t believe it didn’t kill me.

Fanatic episode mate - love the bike, and would love to see more bike content on your channel. Keep up the great content 👌🏻

When I started as a motor officer (2000), the department I worked with was using the KZ1000's. I only got to ride them for about a year before going to the BMW R1150rtp's, but I remember how much faster the KZ was on take off compared to the BMW. The beemers were great on the highway and would do 100mph all day long, but the Kawasaki would beat the BMW to 100 by far. KZ's didn't do well in high temp's though, I remember at slow speeds, mine would tend to over heat if it was above 100 degrees.

Gawd! That thing sounds good. Brings back some great memories!

I survived a KZ 900. Very lightly modded with a KerKer pipe balanced bigger carbs. Scariest thing I ever threw a leg over. Skinny little friend of mine could run that thing in the high-9s. Not me I didn't have the nerve to get it out of the hole. These were the OG's of the super bikes of today. To go 9's on a street bike in the '70s was crazy. Love your channel Chris Don't change a thing.

Good to see someone from a much younger generation interested in these bikes.

Love it mate, Here in Australia those old "KZ" bikes were just "Z" I bought my maroon 1978 Z1000 in 1980, sadly, I traded it, not sadly on a brand new Z1R MK11, both bikes I wish I still own. I still have my 1984 GPz1100a, which is not for the purist. That bike is stabled with my ZX14r, my 1400GTR (pronounced Concours in the USA) and my 1981 KE175 dirt bike. You mentioned your bikes' appearance a few times, it looks outstanding for a 45 year old bike. You ride it like it was built to be ridden, have fun mate, and stay safe. On a side note, there is another Aussie movie that features the old Z1 bikes...lots of them, it's called, "STONE", directed by Sandy Harbutt, it's probably a little corny for todays audience, but us crusty Australian bikers love it, you might enjoy it too, if you get time. Love ya work mate.

The burnout at the end *chefs kiss*. The hero we need, but don't deserve.

How could you not ride this beauty every single day it sounds and looks glorious …such a lovely machine…would be my pride and glory if I had it😁🦾🔥🔥🔥

I do enjoy the car content, but no one does motorcycles and motorcycles are my thing. So, this is great.

No other sound is like that sound the Kawis make.

Man I started watching you because of the xr and kz vids miss these vids. I built my 1980 with a 1075 big bore kit cams carbs it was a rocket!

Just one man's opinion but I like that round 70s looking side mirror. Everything modern just looks like melted plastic with no character to it.

KZ1000 was an awesome bike back in the day. My dad had a Z900, the predecessor to that bike. If memory serves it was a 1974. I was barely a teen not licensed yet but would cruise it when he wasn't home.

That exhaust note is fantastic. KZs will forever be cool.

couple of psi in the tube can help against pinching

I've loved motorcycles since I first sat on one at age 12. I own an old Ninja zx6 with mods and an older vulcan 500. Just love riding. I know it's not the safest thing. I gave it up for 35 years because people said you will die and I hear on the radio all the time. But at age 50 I couldn't stand it anymore. I bought the one bike for $650 from a buddy in 2017. Vulcan 500 1997 with 1950 miles original tires. Bought the ninja with 8600 miles in 2019 for $1250. I've done my own work and the ninja has required quite a bit but. The vulcan 500 is at 20000 miles now and the ninja at 22000 miles. Again, I know it's not safe but nothing I can afford really feels like riding.

Another great video Chris. The ride shots were fantastic as were the aerial shots. Regarding the bike, as the saying goes - 'you do you'! If it ain't broke don't fix it. Hope Turbo is feeling better since your last video. 😸

That is a great bike! My friend Mark had one back in the early 80's. It was fast and fun. Better to ride it and do the maintenance on it than shine it up and never use it. I would probably give it a bath and polish it up a bit just to help it last longer and look good. But, it's your bike and it's your call.

I’ve had a couple of them in my time I also found it hard to ride inside city limits. I was either short shifting or speeding. Try riding one of those down the road with a posted 35mph. If you hit second you’re speeding if you rap out first you’re rattling windows and P people off. Open roads nothing but smiles and adrenaline

I'm 61 and had a CB750F SS back in the day. Man I'd love to have that KZ.

Fan location is ok because Carbon Monoxide relative density (specific gravity) is 0.97 and Nitrogen which makes up 4/5ths of the air we breathe is also 0.97 and air is 1.0 so the CO will just mix in with the general body air.

I Loved watching this video especially some of the camera work with the trains brought back memories for me of my first Motorcycles being KH 250 Z 650 and Z750 all in the 70s and early 80s moved on to have GPZ1100 B2 Kawasaki when I was 23 years old good memories love the video

It’s your bike treat it how you like. My friends lil brother had one just like it back in the 80’s he rode it hard and fast all the time and had a blast.

Beats the shit out of another ebike video! That bike is a sweet cruiser! Just like it is. Nice power and a cool sound. Great vid! Love the shop..

1982 I had the pleasure of a summer afternoon on a buddy's kz 1000 o my God wildest bike I ever rode nice peace new shop killer cheers 🥂 guys 😊

A little hint- inflate the tube until it just barely holds its shape before putting it in the tire. That way it’s pushing out against the inside of the tread of the tire and not near where you are using your tire tools and not near the bead:) Presto, no pinched tubes👋

I had a 78 Z1-R I bought brand new when I was 19 and when I sold it 40 years later the odometer showed 96585.8. It was best carving up from Albany thru the Adirondacks up to Lake Placid. I easily hit 100mph on I-87 above Lake George Village. I blew a speed trap at over 90 and luckily hoped off a ramp and never got caught stupid luck.

The train was so cool to see! Love seeing the area you live in on your ride.

@NNKH2

Ай бұрын

Yeah definitely I really neat train! Especially in the winter. Thank you for tuning in

I just love all your video's on both of your channels, they are a combination of repairs (and what not to do), ideas, creativity, enthusiasm, (and not losing your rag, f'in and j'fin, and throwing tools around the workshop when things go wrong like the rest of us) part travel tourist views, and of course, they have to have Gus ! I'm still on my original bike battery that is over 5 years old, but then I use it at least twice a week commuting 60 miles a day. Keep it up !

I love the 1970s styling.

Fall colors, Trains and a vintage unrestored rider motorcycle. It dosen't get any better.🏍😃

Those old kawasakis are worth a fair bit today ,nice to see it restored

My favorite bike of all time !!!

Great vid Chris, that's a lovely old bike, I had a Z750 back in the early 80's, always wanted a ZZR1100 but marriage got in the way of that plan. I know what you mean about not restoring it, but surely a lovely old bike like that deserves a bit of TLC and maybe to be kept in your basement. Whatever great vid, and I enjoyed the drone footage at the end.

I love the sound of a KZ. I've had 2 KZ 750 4cyl's and a ZR7-S which also used the KZ engine. Great bikes. Sounds even better with the baffles taken out of the pipes. Also sets off every car alarm!

@bigjohnson7415

8 ай бұрын

Yes, great bikes! I had a 78 KZ 750 Standard in 1980. Kerker 4 into one header, that thing would sing!👍

I had a 78 KZ 750 back in 1980, that was a running machine! The 1000 was just a little too big for me!😜

I love the way they sound!

I built a couple of different bead breakers years back out of scrap when I was a welder/fabricator and lived in my workshop . Used an old scissor Jack to help break the beads on the car one I made . Worked pretty good . I’m living in a 1 bed first floor flat now so no workshop . Really do miss being able to work on stuff under a roof (especially this time of year) so get my fix from watching here . Love both the channels 👍

Man I’m glad you said that about motorcycle batteries , I can’t make one last more than 3 years , I don’t keep them on tender 24/7 but when I’m out in shop I put them on it and they just don’t seem to last , I’ve also seen a lot of decline in automotive batteries recently

for almost a 50 year old bike, that thing sounds like a beast

I had a 1978 Kawasaki KZ1000 Z1R back in 1978, it was the fastest production motorcycle made. for a while.

Wow, such a sweet sounding bike.

Chris I love your down and dirty approach to this bike 🏍️ so cool that you can give it some love after sitting so long and it just goes. Just wanted to say thanks for keeping “Us” couch potatoes entertained on the weekend lol. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

The community that you shot the drone footage of, all I can say is 'WOW' so, so charming. You really live in a beautiful part of PA, I believe that's where you are if I recall you gave your Tundra a bath in the Deleware, a story for the ages and the grandkids...hint, hint another 'WOW' for different reasons, BTW... Just wonderful videography, 1st Class! Five out of 5 's ... A wee late (01/28/2024) viewing but that's the magic of this medium.

Thats a cool old Kawasaki, my buddy let me ride his back yrs. ago I gave it back soon after it scared me I had not ridden anything that fast before 😂.but then I got a mint V65 Magna and learned to respect fast bikes. I still have it tucked away downstairs. Good video!

Absolutely love those ole KZs, my dad had one, loved hearing that thing shreik through the gears as he left for work, dream bike for sure

I had a Z1-R, that sound almost makes me cry. Thank you!

I ride a 20 year old Yamaha VStar. Watching you reminded me why I take my tires to the shop. I guarantee I’d pinch the tube.

A friend of mine back in 79 built a KZ900 with a shot of NOZ on a old school coffin tank copper Called Ron’s Kawie . It made a couple of bike rag lorn House and another one I can’t remember. But you hit the button in your eyes, turned into diamond slots for blocks..

Definitely cannot beat the sound of a kwaka with 4into 1s grouse bike fella 👍👍

You really have some of the best KZread content man.

Chris, very nice. On top of seeing the bike run, i saw what beautiful long roads and country you have. Gongrats.

Your dirt dauber nest under seat just reminded me. I sat on my back steps one summer several years ago and watched a dirt dauber building on a mud tube that ended up being about 5 inches long. Absolutely fascinating!!

You got the perfect attitude, ride it and enjoy it.

This video had it all classic bike, covered bridges, steam train and phenomenal roads and scenery, bike sounds great

Chris, at 68, I'm twice your age but man, we could be brothers, I just think a lot like you but you have a better memory haha!

This is the kind of weather Chris, jump on the bike get on 32 ride it up to Bowman's Tower, find that old covered bridge road, head up into the hills and take all the winding roads back down the and around the West side around.. Man this is the time of year. Well, it's almost over now!!

You need to keep that bike clean...More drag bikes have been made out of the KZ1000 than any other motorcycle in modern history. It's a piece of motorcycle history.

I've been waiting so long for this video, Saturday just got better! That specialty tire lube is just vegetable oil based grease, no negative reaction with rubber. It's the same red rubber grease without the dye.

I rode a 78 LTD 1000 for 15 years or so. I put a big bore kit in it some andrews x2 cams a header and I had it up to 160 several times. I couldn't keep a back tire on it. I have a 77 1000 LTD now but it needs some work. My brother in law had a 1000 kaw drag bike and I rode it at the drag strip and ran a 6.19 in the 1/8 mile with a 1250 bore nitrous and a 6 inch slick. What a ride.

The kz 1000 episodes are some of the best!

I had the Suzuki GS1000E, adjustable front forks, repainted blacked out chrome and corvette yellow. same black V&H pipe, very similar performance and sound. Respect the bike,like a lady and she will thrill you to no end - rule number 1. A joy for years. Looking for a GSXR 1100 here in japan.

Love that sound, brings back lots of good memories.

The burnout scene gave off mad max vibes 👍

I had a 1977 KZ1000 back when I was around 22. Fun and fast. I'm surprised I lived to tell about it, lol...

It's always nice to see some cool bike content. You've got enough bikes. Time for a bike lift? Those Vance and Hines pipes do sound good, always have. Great train drone shots, but that cool old train in town was excellent...

love it first bike i got on was a 78 kz1000 that was back in 1983 i was 16 fell in love would love to get one of my own before i leave this planet lol hello everyone

Love the old vintage bikes…That KZ sound incredible:)

"kawasaki" was popular in the late 70s to early 80s' with city officals & law Enforcement ... popular with the tv show "Chips" and also on the movie MAD MAX " .

love the old bikes 70's &80's The phoenix police still use KZ 1000 ask me how i know! keep it ready and ride it. fuel tank full of gas and stabilizer, fluids changed and a good battery. rip ready

Lovely growl off of the quakker...

Love your videos bud! Awesome work! btw… your fly is open at 26:43. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone 😁

Carbon monoxide is lighter than air. It also rises with warm air.

@NNKH2

8 ай бұрын

Gosh dang it. The guy commenting said carbon monoxide was heavier. But I was too lazy to Google it. In either case, the fan up high does great.

@richardthomas1743

8 ай бұрын

@@NNKH2 Absolutely Chris , you have good instincts.

@natarem

8 ай бұрын

@@NNKH2 fan up high is really perfect in the summer to evacuate the heat and pull in lower cooler air. not so ideal temp-wise in the winter but it works well enough for your purposes and it's not like you can just move around the holes in your walls.