{"id":224,"date":"2009-11-26T00:19:44","date_gmt":"2009-11-26T04:19:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kz750twins.com\/?p=224"},"modified":"2010-08-26T21:55:54","modified_gmt":"2010-08-27T01:55:54","slug":"model-i-d-1976-kz750-b1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kz750twins.com\/?p=224","title":{"rendered":"Model I.D. – 1976 KZ750 B1"},"content":{"rendered":"

Model Identification<\/p>\n

Year:\u00a0 1976
\nMake:\u00a0 Kawasaki
\nModel:\u00a0 B1
\nVIN:\u00a0 KZ750B-000001\u00a0 <->\u00a0 KZ750B-014947
\nEngine: KZ750BE000001 <-> KZ750BE015032
\nColors:\u00a0 Diamond Red<\/p>\n

Characteristics that distinguish this model year from the ’77:\u00a0 Early non-indented right sidecover (changed to indented in mid-’76 model year), no starter lockout switch, color, and the ’76 tank pinstripe is rounded at rear, where the ’77 comes to a point<\/p>\n

Characteristics that distinguish the ’76 \/ ’77 model years from the ’78 \/ ’79: \u00a0 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.\u00a0 In ’78 there were also slight design tweaks in the output shaft assembly,\u00a0 recommended fork oil level, and there is some uncertainty about the recommended spark plug (B6ES\/B8ES) between model years.<\/p>\n

Other model characteristics can be found in the Kawasaki Service Manual.<\/p>\n

This picture below (now owned by “Chris”, see comments below) features the earliest version of the B1, with the original un-scalloped sidecover.\u00a0 The bike appears to be fairly true to stock except for paint\/stripes, missing grab rail, and an exhaust from a later model (perhaps a G1):<\/p>\n

\"Early<\/a>

Early B1 with first version of sidecover<\/p><\/div>\n

This B1 below (owner unknown) has the later ’76 sidecover, with the carved-out spot for the kick start lever at rest.\u00a0 It appears fairly stock except for a MAC exhaust (with stock headers and cross-over),\u00a0 and a re-upholstered (and over-stuffed) seat:<\/p>\n

\"Later<\/a>

Later B1 with scalloped sidecover and stock paint<\/p><\/div>\n

This B1 below is a U.K. model (owned by “Peter” from many forums, R.I.P.), featured here for the subtle U.K.-specific differences such as a mid-seat seat strap, the “z750” badge for the everywhere-but-U.S. model name, and rearward-mounted rear turn signals.\u00a0 Oh, and note the early non-indented sidecover again.\u00a0 Of course, it is re-painted, has custom-made exhaust (stainless steel, if I remember correctly), case guards, chrome gauge\/clocks covers, and stainless brake lines:<\/p>\n

\"U.K.<\/a>

U.K. Model B1<\/p><\/div>\n

NOTE: If you know (or are) the owners of the bikes above, please let me know so I can credit you correctly.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Model Identification Year:\u00a0 1976 Make:\u00a0 Kawasaki Model:\u00a0 B1 VIN:\u00a0 KZ750B-000001\u00a0 <->\u00a0 KZ750B-014947 Engine: KZ750BE000001 <-> KZ750BE015032 Colors:\u00a0 Diamond Red Characteristics that distinguish this model year from the ’77:\u00a0 Early non-indented right sidecover (changed to indented in mid-’76 model year), no…
Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-224","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-model-identification"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t