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Considering selling my 1300 2 years 7 months ago #29575

  • Raygun
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I think it's been over 2 years since I've posted here so howdy folks. I think it's time to sell my KZ1300. I used it daily for quite a while as  commuter while I was in grad school but after completing my PhD, my little family moved to California (awful) for a little while for work at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and we couldn't afford more than a 2 bedroom townhouse so close to the bay area. So my 1300 languished at my folks' house for some time until we recently moved to Nevada. The bike and I are reunited now but I've lost the interest and excitement I once had for it. I'm looking for something newer, lighter, and cheaper/easier to buy parts for. I also need something that makes me want to ride more often. I still get out a bunch on my dual sport but haven't ridden a street bike in over a year and a half. Any thoughts? Will I regret this? I feel that someone else will enjoy it more than I currently do but this bike was the first street bike I bought so I'm conflicted. Any thoughts or opinions would be greatly appreciated. 
1982 KZ1300
2003 KLX400SR
1999 KDX220
Wife
Son
Daughter
Cat x 3

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Considering selling my 1300 2 years 7 months ago #29576

  • Kawboy
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You ask this question at a time in my life when I've decided to pivot in how to enjoy life. Let me explain.
I've always enjoy variety in life and tried to fill my life with different experiences. I've had one of each of the Kawasaki triples and each one provides a different riding experience. I also had a KX125 and a KX250 and raced both as an amateur. I loved flying off a ridge and being airborne for 3-4 seconds before landing.  I had a Fiat 124 Spyder that I did a cannonball run from Alliston Ontario to Montreal and back in 7 hours at an average speed of 90 mph only to have 3 tires blow out 2 weeks later. I had a 1974 Plymouth Barracuda with a 440 6 pack. During the times that I had all of these different rides, I never had the storage room to keep them all and enjoy them when I wanted to and always regretted that. My best buddy who I've hung out with for the past 48 years as had the room for storing all his treasures and still chooses to keep his treasures close because it reminds him of all his past experiences to which he can build on.
This has been a funny year for me. I'm now 65 years old and found that the wife and I needed to consolidate somewhat. I've lost my 5 car garage and down to a 2 car garage. Since losing the space, I no longer have room to store the 928 Porsche so I decided to sell it. We also had a 36ft fifth wheel which we used to travel south to the USA for a couple of months of winter relief. With all the turmoil going on in the USA politically and after 2 experiences with Americans lashing out at us, we no longer feel safe traveling to the USA, so the trailer just got sold. Since we no longer have the trailer, I no longer need the F250 truck so it's gone too. A new 2022 Ford Maverick truck is ordered and hopefully will be built in the next 2 months. 
So all the play toys are gone and Pat and I thought maybe we would replace the Porsche with a SLK350 Benz, but I got the notion that what we really should be doing is buying a really nice daily runner and enjoying that daily rather than having a play toy for the once in a while rides. So I also sold off our Lincoln MKX and replaced that with a Mercedes GLC300 Coupe. What a lovely car.
As far as my KZ1300 - I bought it as a basket case and it needs a lot of help. I'm at a point where I'm half way through replacing the valve seats and returning the head to a "as new" condition. Something that's not been tried by most if not all of the members here. I want to do it just to prove the method and hopefully give the group a new perspective on overcoming lack of parts availability. I'm also going to modify the camshafts for adjustable sprockets and I've had a new grind put on the camshafts. I also have a new set of primary and secondary drive chains manufactured by Ramsey chain to go in. The voltage regulator will be a series regulator from RM stator.  I have $700 worth of House of Kolor paint to squirt on the bike in Candy Glory Red (the same color of my previous 2 CBX's) All of this is to see just where I can take this bike. Just thinking of the project puts a smile on my face. I'm currently working on the 2 car garage to make something of a work shop so I can get back to working on the KZ. For me, the build is more than the ride, although once it's running, twisting the throttle to the max will really get me going.

So bottom line here I guess, is that at one point in my life I really regretted not being able to keep all of my treasures but at this point in my life, I really look forward to simplifying my life and not having all of those treasures that consumed my time cleaning polishing repairing etc. so that I could enjoy a few moments pleasure. Just remember that whatever you decide to do, the goal is to put a smile on your face.  

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Considering selling my 1300 2 years 7 months ago #29577

  • tackelhappy
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It's rather timely topic , as I haven't been on this forum for quite awhile myself- altho I read most of posts.
The way I see it is -any hobby has varying degrees of commitment/ interest stretched over time.  Got to be very committed to stay with one thing over your whole life.
Specifically to the Kz1300.
Unless we have a massive upheaval in our social  structure, there will always be a bike for sale somewhere, should you decide to sell now and in 10 years time you'd like to buy another one.
It doesn't appear that prices are going to skyrocket much from what they have been recently- relative to everything else. So a couple or three thousand less than  CBX,  and about a third of the cost of a Z1 or Mach IV.
They have never been high on most collector bike lists of highly desirable - so you should be able to find an affordable replacement should the time come.
If your bike has some hard to find extras- like the large oil pan, and it performs like new- that will be hard to replicate.
If you have some extra heated space , get it up on the centre stand , change the fluids, take the battery out  and leave it for better days.
But there is no getting around it's bulk/weight, parts availability and cost - and a newer bike functions better  on every level  than old ones. Except the sound !  If there is no big kick in owning it/ riding it versus the time and effort to keep owning it, maybe its time to move onto something else.
Parts - Zed Parts in Britain- the German shop. So long as they survive , there are a lot of new bits available in view of the numbers of bikes built. Try rebuilding something Italian.
" If you can't say what you think, very soon you won't be able to think !
OKANAGAN FALLS. BC ,Canada

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Considering selling my 1300 2 years 7 months ago #29584

  • biltonjim
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If I was in your shoes, unless I needed the money from the sale of the bike, I would keep it.  I’m sure you must have some good memories associated with owning it, and there could be more to come.  One of my biggest regrets is parting with my XS Eleven, bought new in 1978 and sold in 2001. I spent so much time with that bike, it was almost a family member.  I sold it in a rush to raise cash to continue my courting of a girl.  What a fool I was -  the girl is gone now too.

Kawboy, that’s a great post. Very wise words too. Have you ever thought about writing a book?

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Considering selling my 1300 2 years 7 months ago #29585

  • Kawboy
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Everyone of my English teachers are rolling in their graves just thinking about me writing a book. I hated English and they all knew it. I think every year I passed English by a mere 1% Just so I couldn't get held back. LMAO !!

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