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The B models |
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Z650B1 1976/77
The B1 was first introduce late
1976 and a future classic was born.
The B1 had a dual overhead
camshaft engine with 2 valves per cylinder and was rated at 64
hp. Its light weight and good handling made it a hard bike to
beat even for the bigger capacity bikes. It was intended to take
up the fight with the 750 bikes. And it almost did. Only the
strongest 750 bikes (Honda CB and Suzuki GS) was just slightly
ahead. Even compared to the Z1 it was just 10miles/hour slower
and much easier to drive at top speed.
The B1 can be easily recon
iced by the front brake caliper in front of the fork's and its
round front brake
master cylinder. The engine is all
aluminum color and the
engine casing had no ribs.
It was offered in three colors, candy super red, candy emerald green.
and
Candy Emerald Blue. (not quite sure about the blue one)
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Instruments European version |
Instruments Japanese version |
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<The Z650 engine |
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< Candy
Emerald Green |
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< Candy
Super Red |
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<
Candy Emerald Blue |
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Z650B2 B2/A 1978
The B2, look much like the B1,
but the new model have some notable changes. Most
notable change was moving the front brake caliper behind the
forks. This was also done on most all other Kawasaki's in 1978.
There was a new triangular
master cylinder replacing the previous
round one from 1977. The
generator cover was new,
see picture, and the ignition engine cover slightly
different from the B1. But a lot of smaller changes was
done, there was a minor updates to parts like the battery case, speedometer cable
was modified,
fuse assay was new, there was a new vacuum fuel tap, and a
slightly different gearing in the gearbox.
The charging system was changed from a three-phase system to a
two phase and the regulator and rectifier was now a combined
unit. (regulator with cooling ribs)
Two colours were offered for 1978, luminous dark blue or luminous
burnt red.
The B2/A was much the same
as the B2, not sure but its probably a late production B2. There
are some minor changes like changed carburetor assy and some
changes to carburetor internal parts. And right hand switch gear
got (another) lightning switch. You can find the changes in the
parts list.
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Source: Cycle World. |
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Z650B2 Ryan Pedersen, Denmark |
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< Luminous Dark Blue
Luminous
Burnt Red > |
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Z650B3 1979 &
Z650B4 1980
The B3, last of the B series. The
easiest way to tell if its an B2 or B3, the B3 had "small"
letters in the
Kawasaki badges and the B2 had "big" letters like
KAWASAKI. The colors was a return to the one for the
B1 model, witch was more popular then the B2 color scheme.
This time the red color was described as
candy persimmon red.
Some minor changes was also done:
The
cam-chain tensioner was modified. New wiring harness. New
engine
top cover, new square front and rear footrest. The
switchgear was slightly different, small changes to the exhaust
system etc. Fore more details look in the
parts list.
The Z650-B4. The service
manual list it. And it have the same specifications as the C4
but with B model wheels and brakes. Its listed as a European
only model. Anyone???
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Pictures at left, note engine
cover from newer bike, and aftermarket rear shock. |
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Serial numbers: |
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Model |
Year |
Engine
no. |
Frame
no. |
Color |
KZ650 B1 |
1977 |
KZ650BE000001
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007860 |
KZ650B-000001
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500001 |
Candy
Emerald Green,
Candy
Super Red |
KZ650 B1* |
1977 |
KZ650BE000101 - 045147 |
KZ650B000101 - 026990 |
Candy
Emerald Green,
Candy
Super Red |
KZ650B1* |
1977 |
KZ650BE000101 - 043949 |
KZ650B500001 - 508015 |
Candy
Emerald Green,
Candy
Super Red |
KZ650 B2 |
1978 |
KZ650BE-046001 -
027501 |
KZ650B027501 |
Luminous Dark Blue, Luminous
Burnt Red |
KZ650 B2* |
1978 |
KZ650BE508016 -
515325 |
KZ650B027501- 032200 |
Luminous Dark Blue, Luminous
Burnt Red |
KZ650 B2/A |
1978 |
KZ650BE046873-
/L |
KZ6500508016- /L |
Luminous Dark Blue, Luminous
Burnt Red |
KZ650 B2/A* |
1978 |
KZ650BE061299 - 090685
/L |
KZ650B033551 - 044828 /L |
Luminous Dark Blue, Luminous
Burnt Red |
KZ650 B2/A* |
1978 |
KZ650BE061299 - 092000
/L |
KZ650B515326 - 523523 /L |
Luminous Dark Blue, Luminous
Burnt Red |
KZ650 B3* |
1979 |
KZ650BE092001 |
KZ650B046201- |
Candy Emerald Green, Candy Persimmon Red |
KZ650B4(E)* |
1980 |
KZ650BE092001 |
KZ650B523524 |
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L Lincoln Factory USA |
*/Sorce: a nice to have book called
"Motorcycle Identification Guide" by/Joe Holmes and J.Jeffrey Joyal. |
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