KAWASAKI KH & S SERIES FORUM

b7hs · Joined: 04 May 2009 Posts: 15 Location: Seattle

Nice, that there's a forum especially for the KH and S series.

I found this KH400 last month in April after searching for the last 2 years or so. I owned an S3a from 1984 to about 2003 when, from what must have been a misunderstanding, it got sold by a friend who was storing it for me ... for a song! It was complete and stock except for Dencos and only had about 3000 miles on it. I'm still reeling from the loss.

I didn't like touring on it, and I had to commute an hour by train to get to it (I lived in New York City back then) so it didn't get much use after a while - hence the low mileage. <sigh>

So, I've been looking to find a .. well, something to take it's place. I don't think I'll ever find a replacement without putting up a lot of dosh. I haven't even tried to start this one yet. It hasn't ran for about 4 years and the gas in the tank looks .. mmm kind of like a light soy sauce. The odometer reads 10217miles. This one leaves a lot to be desired, but I am rationalizing that this one wlll have to do until if and when a nicer one comes around.

Living in an apartment, I don't have a garage to do a proper restoration. My game plan is to try replace what can/needs to be replaced and clean it up as best I can. I'm going to try and avoid any major disassembly as I have noticed many bikes never come together again afterwards.

I hope that no one minds if I post here instead of starting a blog somewhere. I want to try and keep some kind of journal of this KH400's journey to better health. I also hope that no one minds if I upload (lots of) photos directly to this forum too. I've read through many older posts on forums where hosted photos are "no longer available" and I'm thinking that uploaded photos (here) may have a better chance of lasting, at least as long as the forum exists. Is there a preference here one way or another for full images vs. thumbnails?

Btw, my first (dirt) bike was a Yamaha GT-1 (later known as a GT-80). It used an NGK B7HS and for some reason that number stayed with me. I think it rolls off the tongue better than B8HS fwiw...

-kim

It followed me home!

Click to see full size image
Pic in seller's driveway:

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The seller's ad claimed "Always garaged, No rust."

Click to see full size image

The Wolfman · Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 10:54 pm Post subject:

Once you have gone to visit and found that it's a shed, you're more likely to buy anyway or it's simply your own time and money you have wasted not the sellers.
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simonh · Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 10:55 pm Post subject:

looks fine to me, carbs off and clean, clean out the tank, put some gas in, she'll run

great find

that's be $1500 - $2000 here at least

ErlingW · Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 10:59 pm Post subject:

Oh yeah! That's about how I want a bike to look like if / when I buy... And from there, all the fun can begin...

ErlingW
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8400 rpms! Constantly...

b7hs · Joined: 04 May 2009 Posts: 15 Location: Seattle

b7hs · Joined: 04 May 2009 Posts: 15 Location: Seattle

So, I was pretty stoked when I saw the ad, after having searched for so long. I had seen a couple on ebay, but I'm not crazy about buying a bike I couldn't see up close. Add the cost of shipping or traveling to go get it... not to mention the price they eventually ebayed for.

(I hope no one minds the non KH photos in these journal posts)

The seller was located in Port Orchard that we travel to via a ferry...

Taking a ferry is a pretty nice way to commute..

Port Orchard seems to be a nice area that has the kind of roads that I like to tour on .. perhaps soon when I get the KH road worthy again.

The seller's home is just up the road to the right..

Next post, what am I getting into..

b7hs · Joined: 04 May 2009 Posts: 15 Location: Seattle

So, at first, Oooh, there she is

(I haven't asked the seller's permission, so I cropped him out):

Hmm, not too bad..

Ughh..

So, as The Wolfman noted before, and deciding it was complete and good enough until/if a better one surfaces, we signed on the dotted line and loaded her up..

Next post, a closer look..

kas750 · 5th gear Joined: 26 Dec 2007 Posts: 836 Location: chorley

theres nowt wrong with that bike pal

btw keep the pictures coming we love 'em......
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b7hs · Joined: 04 May 2009 Posts: 15 Location: Seattle

b7hs · Joined: 04 May 2009 Posts: 15 Location: Seattle

After getting her loaded up on the trailer, it's back to the ferry.. The weather was unusually nice on this day. Seattle is typically cloudy with periods of drizzle and showers, and once in a while we have what they call "sun breaks" at this time of year (April).

As we head down the ramp to the ferry, you can tell it's not the rush hour..

While we're que'd up waiting to board, I step out to have a closer look at her..

I'm pretty excited now that I finally got my hands on a triple again!

The right headlight ear is tweaked..

Click to see full size image
wow, what a kludge for the tach cable

Sprocket and chain are toast.. probably front sprocket too.

Something with a sharp corner smacked into this pretty hard.

Looks like I'm going to have to learn to replace a fork seal..

Yokohoma.. I don't remember what the original tires were on a KH..

Tread looks too good to be originals with 10k mi. on the clock?

I've seen several pictures where the kick starter scrapes against the brake pedal. 'Wondering which or if both are tweaked out of alignment..

Clear coat doing a bit of peeling..

Clocks are in pretty good shape .. except for the fading on the tach redline.

Sorry if I've gone a bit overboard with the pictures ..

I'm imagine these images are very familiar to most of you here. Anyway, the ferry has arrived. Time to board and be on our way...

I'm really glad that she's complete, unmolested and mostly intact - especially the exhaust pipes. It also has the original the tool kit,

though it's missing the rubber straps for it and the battery. I've seen posts and pictures of bikes far far worse, (this one isn't in boxes and crates!), so I consider myself rather fortunate. Compared to the S3a that I owned that never spent a night outside in the 20 years that I owned it, this one has lived some harder times though. All in all, as y'all have mentioned, a nice find.

Up ahead: can't wait to get her road worthy again.