KZ650 B1

• Parts Diagrams
• KZ650 Wiring Diagram (U.S. & Canadian Models)
• Z650 Wiring Diagram (European Models)
• Owner's Manual in .pdf format (25MB)

Identification

Starting Frame Number	Starting Engine Number	Starting Frame Number (Lincoln Factory)	Starting Engine Number (Lincoln Factory)
KZ650B-000001	KZ650BE000001	KZ650B-500001	KZ650BE007860

Model History

The first of the KZ650 line of motorcycles from Kawasaki, the 1976 KZ650 B1 was first introduced to the world in a "proper" press launch at a little track near Ingliston which is near Edinburgh, Scotland.

The following March after its initial release, the bike proved that it could even compete with the 750cc machines of the time at Daytona Beach, a week or so before Speed Week. Kawasaki launched an attack against on the world 750cc endurance speed records with a trio of mildly tuned machines. They came away with a fist-full of records that would have done credit to a 1000cc machine of the time, let alone a 650. The team ran it for 24 hours around Daytona’s speed bowl at a record average of 117.2 MPH. Team member Paul Dean was one of the members of the trio team.

Dean watched as the record attempt started, then went to his hotel to get some rest before his 3 a.m. stint on the bike. When he woke up, he walked out of his room to see the Florida night blanketed in a thick fog. At the track, Dean found that the record attempt was in jeopardy because several riders declined to ride at top speed around Daytona’s high banks in the fog. Dean, despite having no practice, agreed to ride the extra shifts in the foggy darkness to keep the record run going.

- Paul Dean