1976 kawasaki KE 175

[schmanman]

In the spring, I left a message in this guy down the road's mailbox because he had a three wheeler,and a bunch of golfcart,gokart,minibike, and dirt bike parts in his yard I wanted to buy off him. no reply. until a couple months later. He called, and asked If I was still interested , and that I could have all the stuff I wanted from his yard, because he was cleaning up and trying to get rid of the stuff. while I was there he asked if I was interested in a Kawasaki 175 cc dirt bike. Of course, I said yes.
It is my first dirtbike,and he said it is a four speed. It is street legal, and I have been told It is pretty rare. although It has not been started in 16 years,I cleaned out the petcock on the gas tank ,put some gum out in the carb , cleaned out the gas tank, put new gas and oil in, and Viola, It starts right up. all I need now is a new clutch cable and a battery. I have street tires,and off road tires.

any recommendations on shifting,or riding or anything? tips would be awsome.

[jrrdw]

Pratice taking off in the grass, don't ride the clutch, make sure it's in rideable shape before you take a ride. Rideable meaning: brakes work good, throatle returns like it's saposed to/ all the way, the chain/sprokets are up to par, all the comin sence things, safety type things. WEAR A FREAKING HELMENT, for real! Have pleanty of pratice room, so you can go through the gears, 4 speeds this old are normaly 4 up, meaning nutral is all the way at the bottem, sometimes you have to rock the bike back and forth to get to nutral, (if the engine aint running).

If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.

Happy rideing.

[schmanman]

It was in a barn,not in the weeds like the rest of the stuff. I have now gotten it into ridable condition ( except the clutch cable)

[jrrdw]

Does it have the turn signals and brake light? I don't recall saying it was in weeds?? garage kept is allways better. See if you can get some pics, and let the rest of us see.

[schmanman]

no brake light,I will get it from a motorcycle salvage yard in yale, MI ,an hour and a half drive from my house. It does have turn signals,though. I will post pics.

[jrrdw]

NOW HEAR THIS -- TO ALL MOTORCYCLE BUYERS/BACKYARD MACANICS/AND WANNA BEE'S!

THERE ARE NO SUCH THINGS AS "POWER BANDS" IN MOTORCYCLES NO MATTER WHAT KIND YOU GET ORW WORK ON!

IT'S A MYTH!

HEARS THE SKINNY ON THAT: When you hear the engine RPM's get up near to top end, (wound out), the engine smothes out and is now running at peak preformance, (the engine is now burning the gas mixture like it's saposed to). Thats all there is to it! It is that simple!

2 strokes are made to run at high RPM's, that where the power comes from - - speed!

4 strokes are made to run at lower RPM's, the power comes from the gearing!

2 and 4 strokes are geared way different.

I certinly hope this clears up the "Power Band" thought, because that is all it is, a thought some bragger thought up to make his/her story sound better.

It should all so have a tag light, to be street leagle. Yes most Asain made engines do run well and are relieable, all so easy on gass, easy starting.

Is it a 2 or 4 stroke?

[schmanman]

It is a 2 stroke. thanks for clearing up the power band thing for me. do you mean a light over the license plate by "tag lights"?

[jrrdw]

Yes, i'm talking about the light over the tag. Md. law requires tag lights, as most states probly do.

[schmanman]

heres some pics. I live in michigan, not md. sorry, I'm not trying to be a jerk


Free! can you belive it!!

[Bluetooth]

The chain looks pretty rusted but it looks good.

[schmanman]

no, It is just a little tiny bit rusted,nothing major in any way,but looks worse because It is greasy. the rust on the chain will get worn away just from normal use.

[jrrdw]

You lucked out getting this, i remember these bikes, a friend had one. He could keep up with some bigger bikes other kidds had at the time. Good 1.

[schmanman]

thanks,I really did luck out, how fast did it go ?

[jrrdw]

I never got to ride it, i bet it will do 70/75 mph. If your just learning to ride, be carefull, 2 strokes are pepie, it will pop a wheelie on take off pretty easy.

[schmanman]

cool, I will be carful, I dont really want to crash and screw myself up. I wear a DOT and snell approoved helmet. Will I be able to keep up with any modern dirt bikes ? I weigh between 148-150 pounds.