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I see the guys on the forum having fun tearing bikes apart and rebuilding them in crazy amazing ways. I want to find a good bike to try some ideas of my own.

I ran across a 1975 Kz 400 for $150. The only problem is that I've heard horror stories about early 70's kawasakis. Does anyone know anything about this bike good or bad? Does the motor really tear itself apart?

Tear themselves apart? Naw. My Dad used to buy insurance bikes and rebuild them, we started out with two KZ 400 from the late 70's. No problems. At 150 bones, you can't go wrong.

Well that's the thing, I heard they fixed the problem by 78, so anything in the B series or later was alright...

This is what I'm basing it on from kz400.com

There were basically four models of Z400 twin the KZ400, the Z400D, Z400B and Z400G. The first two shared the early engine design which wasn't Kawasaki's best. Among other problems it used to strip the teeth off the balancer shaft drive on the crank which effectively totalled the engine. The motor was redesigned for the Z400B from engine number K4E139801 and was much improved.

I like working on bikes, this one apparently had the engine rebuilt in 1997 which might have addressed this or might not but when the bikes at $150 it makes you wonder if that's the reason.

for $150, you can always try to find a newer model engine for it...

I had a '74 model and didn't have a lick of probs w/it. It was a daily driver interstate/city driving in the summer months in Oklahoma.

If you have further questions go to KZrider there are several members who have these bikes and don't mind giving info.

I plan on getting on the "bobber" bandwagon and I'm going to go w/kz400, as soon as my budget will allow.

Good. Since no one thinks it's a bad idea : )

My first bike was a '76 KZ400D. It was thoroughly used when I bought it, as a couple of other people had learned to ride on it before me. That bike was near bulletproof. I rode it on my 60 mile rountrip commute (highway over a tall mountain pass) for years as well as puttering around town and some long weekend road trips. The engine was still strong when I sold it six years later with around 45K miles on it. The only real problem I had was the seamed exhaust pipes which rusted away rather quickly.

You'll probably have to do quite a bit of teardown and cleaning on a bike of that age, but if you're up for it, you can't beat $150 as a starting price. Ivar at KZ400.com and the gang at KZRider.com will be a huge help. The "bike of the month" on Ivar's site gives you an idea of the potential in your fixer upper.

For $150 you shouldn't expect too much, but you should at least check it out to make sure there aren't any holes in the case and that it will turn over with the kickstarter. If it's frozen or holed, I'd offer way less, or even look for another bike.

hey for a buck and a half I'd buy it just to look at it for a while seriously if its complete just buy it you really can not go wrong I spent more than that taking my wife to dinner it was a good dinner but lets face it you can only rent food by morning you usaully are given it back in one form or another

What does $190 get you?

A trailer for the day, a 75 kz 400 in decent condition (needs some pieces of rubber for the airbox as well as new sprockets but runs, has new tires, and is in fair condition other than the seat having a huge tear in it) and a suzuki gs 750 from 1978.

I love a bargain.

It runs?? wow. You did get quite the bargain.