Kawi2strokes.com Forum

I can't wait to be able to drive this thing!!!
With my winter project nearing completion, it's time to get the bike appraised before I can insure, safety check and license it.
In restoring early 70's Porsches I know there is a real difference in "Insured Value" and "Resale Value" but before I call an appraiser I would like a valued opinion from the guys who know what they are worth. So I am asking here and a couple other triple sites.
A quick description on what was done to the bike.
Every screw and bolt except the center stand and crankcase bolts were removed, cleaned, measured if required, polished or replaced, lubricated and reinstalled. I tried to keep the bike as original as possible.
New parts are as follows;
Tires, master cylinder kit, front brake kit, brake pads and shoes, front forks seals and oil, hand grips, mirrors, seat, battery, engine gaskets and seals (except center crank seals, it passed the pressure and leakdown test) various rubber grommets, gas tank seal, carburetor kits, reflectors, various bolts and screws.
New paint - the photos make it look brighter red than it really is, 2 coats primer (one self etching one sandable), 2 coats basecoat (Toyota Ruby Pearl Flare), 2 coats colored clear (with basecoat colour), one coat red stripe, new decals, 3 light coats clear.
As you can see from the photos, I believe most of the rest is original.
So what is it worth?
Thanks

_________________
Doug
1977 Kawasaki KZ650 being restored
1968 Honda CB450 Hellcat restored
1981 KZ440C recently restored
1974 H1E Restored and sold
2015 Kawasaki Vulcan S 650
2012 Polaris Sportsman
5 Good Months of Riding in my part of Canada

More

_________________
Doug
1977 Kawasaki KZ650 being restored
1968 Honda CB450 Hellcat restored
1981 KZ440C recently restored
1974 H1E Restored and sold
2015 Kawasaki Vulcan S 650
2012 Polaris Sportsman
5 Good Months of Riding in my part of Canada

More

_________________
Doug
1977 Kawasaki KZ650 being restored
1968 Honda CB450 Hellcat restored
1981 KZ440C recently restored
1974 H1E Restored and sold
2015 Kawasaki Vulcan S 650
2012 Polaris Sportsman
5 Good Months of Riding in my part of Canada

Still more

_________________
Doug
1977 Kawasaki KZ650 being restored
1968 Honda CB450 Hellcat restored
1981 KZ440C recently restored
1974 H1E Restored and sold
2015 Kawasaki Vulcan S 650
2012 Polaris Sportsman
5 Good Months of Riding in my part of Canada

Last

_________________
Doug
1977 Kawasaki KZ650 being restored
1968 Honda CB450 Hellcat restored
1981 KZ440C recently restored
1974 H1E Restored and sold
2015 Kawasaki Vulcan S 650
2012 Polaris Sportsman
5 Good Months of Riding in my part of Canada

If it's like most triples the appraised value will be less than you've spent on it.

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If it surges, that's normal, upshift.

I bought it for a pretty good price. It hadn't run in 15+ years.
I feel pretty good about what I have invested in it as I have the ability to do all the work myself.
I just want to insure it for an amount that I could replace it for should anything happen to it.

Hagarty Insurance has a valuation tool listing it as
#1 Concours $12,400
#2 Excellent $10,100
#3 Good $8,200
#4 Fair $5,700
Those seem to be totally absurd figures, that's why I'm asking here.

_________________
Doug
1977 Kawasaki KZ650 being restored
1968 Honda CB450 Hellcat restored
1981 KZ440C recently restored
1974 H1E Restored and sold
2015 Kawasaki Vulcan S 650
2012 Polaris Sportsman
5 Good Months of Riding in my part of Canada

I don't remember...what engine work did you do to it?

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If it surges, that's normal, upshift.

First a pressure vacuum test. Middle cylinder passed, right cylinder passed, left cylinder didn't.
Engine torn down but only sides and top end removed.
Connecting rod play checked and passed.
Cylinders measured, piston measured, rings measured all passed. (Ring gap on all rings were .019-.020 I suspect factory originals???)
Cylinders lightly honed.
Oil scavengers removed , cleaned and reinstalled.
Oil line check valves cleaned, hung and tested.
All parts cleaned and reinstalled. All fins cleaned and cleaned and cleaned.
New crank outer seals installed. New gaskets and seals installed.
Vacuum/pressure tested again. Right passed, center passed, left slowly leaked down after a few minutes.It held vacuum better than pressure. Might have to re-sleeve that seal section of the shaft if its a problem. I'll have to tune up engine, get it for a couple of runs and check to see if it is leaning out. It was running well before and now it can only be better. We will see.
Pressure tested 145,147 and 149 psi.
All new carb kits installed.

Without a fuel tank on the bike I used a syringe to put gas in the carb bowls. After sitting more than 15 years It started on the 5th kick. Right now it starts 1st kick but I have tuning to do.
Today was the first day I ran it up to temp.....my wife hated the smoke and smell. Reminded her of snow machining days....

_________________
Doug
1977 Kawasaki KZ650 being restored
1968 Honda CB450 Hellcat restored
1981 KZ440C recently restored
1974 H1E Restored and sold
2015 Kawasaki Vulcan S 650
2012 Polaris Sportsman
5 Good Months of Riding in my part of Canada

OK, I couldn't remember if you got the crank rebuilt.

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If it surges, that's normal, upshift.