KV75 Tank Needed

#1
First off I will introduce myself to the forum... Tune from Tennessee 52 year old motorcycle enthusiast and tinkerer ???

I just picked up one of these little dirt squirts and got it running good but the tank is really bad. My search led me here and as usual I need a few things the tank being first and foremost, but a set of wheels will be needed also and a front brake plate as for some reason it has a Honda plate.

adding some pics of the process here:

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Wire fire caused the sale:

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The reason I found this site:

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Got it Friday and were already painted just need a few things:

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Any help is deeply appreciated,
Tune:thumbsup:
 

Gatecrasher

Well-Known Member
#2
You have Honda z50 wheels & hubs on the front and back. In order to switch back to Kawasaki you will need two rims, hubs, and front & rear brake assemblies. You will also need the correct wheel spacers and brake cables.

It’s a shame that the current crop of guys on eBay are asking ridiculous prices for stuff like this. You can probably buy an entire parts bike cheaper than you can buy all the parts you need individually. Even used parts. Keep an eye open for parts bikes on Craigslist. I've picked them up before for $100 or less with blown engines or some other issues.

I currently have five of these bikes and have a spare gas tank but am not really looking to get rid of it. I could sell you some of the stuff you need though. It looks like you could use an air cleaner too. Send me a PM if you want me to look through my parts inventory for you.

Your bike looks to either be a 1972 MT1A or a 1973 MT1B. Both were orange. You can tell for sure by looking at the serial numbers on the frame and engine. They didn't change the name to "KV75" until 1976.

I have been into these bikes for a while and actually had a 1971 back in the early 70s when I was a kid too. One of the parts that was real hard to find were the rear sprockets so I had some made and sell them on eBay. The shortage of Kawasaki parts is the reason some people swapped parts from the Honda z50. Almost all of the z50 parts are being reproduced.

They only made about 60,000 of the Kawasakis from 1971 to 1980. On the other hand, Honda produced over 500,000 z50s from 1967 to 1999 and clones are still being manufactured in China today.

Here’s a picture of one of my 1972 MT1As.
 
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maverick1

Active Member
#7
Not a lot of traffic for this type of bike as most of the interest is with the 4 cycle mini bikes but a great bunch of people and a big source of information. My interest lies with the motorcycle engine powered mini's but I read and learn something new on OldMiniBikes every day.
 
#8
Thanks Mav!! I learned today that these things are way more expensive to fix up than the big ones. $100 for a used wheel haha... I can buy a sport bike wheel with rotors and a slick for that on eBay haha another 100 for an air filter BWahahaha never gonna happen... 100 for a tail light lens... oh heavens no, I will cut a 65 impala lens to fit.

I have my little gem all spiffed up and ready for the parts, I got one wheel for $40 with shipping and will find another, I can tig weld the carb and re drill the post, nothing I can't make here in the shop so sadly i will begin and end my affair with the mini's here.

Have a blast!! :thumbsup:

P.S. Anyone want to buy the little 1972 MT1 It will be done and for sale in a week or two... I think based on parts prices $3000 aoughta do it
 
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Gatecrasher

Well-Known Member
#9
I think you'll find that the majority of people on here are more interested in the old-school American minibikes as maverick1 mentioned but there are a few who dabble in the Japanese minis too. If you want to learn more about the MT1/KV75 minibikes, you can check out the Yahoo KV75 group:
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/kv75/info

You can usually find parts easier (and less expensive) there. I have a massive inventory of both used and NOS parts for these bikes. Send me a list of what you need and I'll let you know what I can help you with. Like I said earlier though, buying a parts bike is usually your cheapest option when you need as much stuff as you do.

Although the Honda z50 is more popular (largely due to the fact that over tens times as many were made over several decades), the Kawasakis are still extremely popular with a more niche' group. I know a guy who has over 30 of them. There just aren't as many reproduction parts being made which drives the cost of used parts up significantly.

I have two in my basement and three in my garage.

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As you can see I am also into the old school American minibikes too and have a 1976 long frame Ruttman Spyder. I wouldn't mind getting another one. I also own a 1972 Honda z50 that is probably going to wind-up being my next major restoration project after I finish the 1971 Kawasaki "Parnelli Jones" Dynamite I am working on.

Minibikes are just too cool!
 
#10
Thanks for the skinny on the Kawi Mini parts! I did send a message, but I think I was still under the TOS block.

I have located and purchased all but a tank and air filter, cables will be needed but I have a friend at Motion Pro who can make any cable up I need with the old ones or some simple measuring. I would be very happy to find a tank, but I know these are gold so I may have to sit at the TIG for an afternoon and repair mine and hope it doesn't disintegrate haha!

Oh also I found the front brake plate with really good shoes for $40 shipped!!

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Gatecrasher

Well-Known Member
#12
Wow that's a lot of coin for that tank but it does look pretty-decent and has the cap too. What's it look like on the inside?

Does it include the petcock? They are hard to find too but you can adapt the much easier to find (and less expensive) z50 petcock to it if you have to.

Here's something like I was suggesting you should keep an eye open for:

Kawasaki KV75 MT1 | eBay

The seller says he won't ship it but if it sells close to the opening bid you could always tell him to just ship you the stuff you need and scrap the rest. The wheels & hubs alone are worth $35.

I sent you a PayPal request for the new sprockets and chain set you requested.

I can also hook you up with a used or NOS tail light lens and a new K&N filter for your carb if you are interested. I also have correct reproduction front & rear fenders for your bike brand-new if you need them as well as new fuel and oil lines and might even have a used petcock somewhere. I paid $100 for an NOS petcock I'm using on my 1971 MT1 project. They are real hard to find. Since it looks like you are serious with your restoration, you should probably also plan on giving the bike a nice tune-up with new points, condenser and the correct NGK plug.
 
#13
The price is insane, but $350 less than a resto from Vintage Kawasaki... I have the petcock and its nice. I am restoring it as cost allows but the bikes don't have a lot of value so I can't justify going too far. Spending a grand for something worth $500 seems nuts, I did buy a Suzuki GT550 this year for $500 and spent the same restoring it then sold it for $2800 so things even out.

Good news is so far I have traded junk parts for the bike, and spent $295 so far on parts, if I keep it under $400 I can make $.50 an hour labor ;)
 

Gatecrasher

Well-Known Member
#16
Yeah I have other similar hobbies that are the same way. I've always been into classic cars and have also been restoring classic pinball machines for several years too and there are definitely similarities between the hobbies. You can dump a small fortune into a pinball restoration and while the market narrows for potential buyer who would be willing to spend the big bucks a high-end restoration warrants, there are still people out there who are looking for the best. The same is true with cars.

I'm not into any of my hobbies to make money though. They would cease to be hobbies then if I was. I build my stuff the way I want it and don't really care if it costs a little extra. The MT1/KV75s I restore have tons of super-expensive NOS parts and a couple thousand dollars into them. They are like brand-new though when done. Too nice to ride. That's why I have "riders" too.

I've paid over $1,000 for several KV75s before. They were all very nice survivors though and were well-worth it IMO. On the other hand I see guys asking outrageous amounts of coin for junker z50s and I just laugh at that. I remember when I was buying them for like $50. Now I occasionally see suckers paying big bucks for basket cases.

The z50 is a little more popular than the KV75 largely because they were more popular new and over ten times as many were made over a longer period. My favorite years for the z50 is 1972-1977 (the years they had full suspensions, lights, chrome steel fenders and steel gas tanks). The later years are still OK but not nearly as sought after.

But I always liked the KV75s a little better than the z50s. Largely because that's what I had when I was a kid and also because an MT1/KV75 will literally blow any z50 away like it is standing still. No contest. But z50s handled a little better around the turns. I think that's always been the legacy of vintage Kawasakis though. They always made the fastest bikes but there were others that handled a little better. That was the case back in the later 70s when I had my Kawasaki H2 triple street bike too.
 
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#18
Wow... I guess I deserved that, but I am no amateur at this stuff.

I don't intend to restore mini's for a collection so yeah this one's about ROI. That said, parts are worth what someone will pay and same for the bikes, but in a true sell it market... I see an MT1 on ebay buy it now for $550 and it's not moving... thaaat IS where my evaluation came from. Now a fully restored with correct NOS no paint change on tank, correct down to the seat cover being factory new, I can see 2 grand.

This: is the 550 I sold, nothing was painted, everything replaced was NOS accurate to the model year. Cost $1150 Sold $2800... In todays money it should of sold for +5K so it's really only worth what you can get.

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This is the Heavily modified 1972 Honda CB750 I am finishing up now.

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I will be offering the MT1 for sale when it's done, it won't be a restoration but it will be a decent reliable runner with only stock parts if possible. I won't be expecting a grand for it.
 

Gatecrasher

Well-Known Member
#19
Seems like a lot of work just to break even or make peanuts. The KV75 sold for $499 when new back in the 1970s. The bikes you see languishing for sale for $375 are generally beaters that need a lot of work. People aren't that familiar with them so the market is relatively small. I'd pay $375 for that 1971 MT1 any day though. That's the best year and is worth the most money so if you are in this just to flip them, that was the one you should have bought and restored with the parts from both bikes.

I keep mine and use them too. When I go to the drags I always take a couple minibikes with me to use a pit bikes and to ride around the complex plus I ride them around the house all the time. Whenever friends come over the first thing they want to do is go out back and ride the minibikes. Just like when we were kids.

lol
 
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