Model Identification
Year: 1977
Make: Kawasaki
Model: B2
VIN: KZ750B-016101 <-> KZ750B-025629
Engine: KZ750BE016101 <-> KZ750BE025652
Colors: Diamond Navy Blue, Diamond Brown
Characteristics that distinguish this model year from the ’76: Common, indented right sidecover (changed from non-indented in mid-’76 model year, and would remain indented for the rest of the “B” model run), starter lockout switch, color, and the ’76 tank pinstripe is rounded at rear, whereas on the ’77 the pinstripe comes to a sharp point at the tank side rear.
Characteristics that distinguish the ’76 / ’77 model years from the ’78 / ’79: Round front master cylinder, front brake caliper mounted in front of the fork leg (mounted behind the leg in ’78), 3-phase dynamo (changed to single-phase in ’78), separate regulator/rectifier units (changed to combo in ’78), and bushings (changed to needle bearings in ’78) in the swing arm. In ’78 there were also slight design tweaks in the output shaft assembly, recommended fork oil level, and there is some uncertainty about the recommended spark plug (B6ES/B8ES) between model years.
Other model characteristics can be found in the Kawasaki Service Manual.
Thanks for KTOF member Loic, here are some great images from a French brochure for the European version of the ’77 B2. Note that the only real obvious differences are the longer rear fender, the rear turn signals moved to the rearmost position, metric “clocks”, the “z750” naming, the seat strap, and some lighting tweaks for local standards. The best part is that you get a real good look at the stock colors and equipment.
Click on the picture to see the full size image. C’mon, you know you want to….
Page 1 – Here you can see the Euro-style seat strap and blue color
Page 2 – The red color, and a good look at the longer Euro-style rear fender/guard
Page 3 – Note the ’76/’77 style front-mounted front caliper
Page 4 – One other important Euro-style attribute is the high, rear-mounted rear turn signals
Page 5 – Here you get a good look k at the Euro-style lighting controls
Page 6 – It’s a beaut, isn’t it?
Thanks for posting this ad. I have been looking high and low for a pic of the diamond navy blue color used on the 1977 US model B2. I will be starting a full up restore in the near future. Drop by our vintagebikeforum.org some time! wg
@ wiredgeorge
Good to hear from you again George. Thanks for the kind words, but props really go to Loic for donating the ad. I had seen you asking around the forums for the blue color, but I had thought you’d found it by now!
Also, thanks for the link, I’ll definitely drop by!
– ‘Toast