I was cruising through the Craigslist ads for motorcycles one night, drink in hand, idly seeing what was out there when I came across this thing: a 1976 Kawasaki KZ400S. The "S" means 'Special', and the only thing I can glean that is 'special' about it is that it's kick-start only, unlike the other KZ400 model of the same year, the only difference being that this kick-start model was cheaper than its 70's sister - the 'KZ400' had an electric start and chromed plastic trim on its side covers, whereas this KZ400 'S' model was kickstart-only and had black trim on the side covers.

Not local, of course (they never are, for some reason). It was up in Pennsylvania, a good four- or five-hour drive away, but ...'It CALLED to Me'...maybe it was the rum, I don't know...but it had everything I look for in a bike to save - complete exhaust, side covers, little if any rust or damage, a decent price...and spoked wheels. There is just something about spoked wheels that is very sexy, not to mention they belong on a motorcycle from that era... 

But anyway - so I called the guy up, talked my wife into making what turned out to be a five-hour drive for a fifteen-minute pickup, came back home and set about saving this one.

I popped up the seat pan and checked out the filter box and the under-seat compartment where you can sometimes find the original owners manual, but alas no manual was found. Everything seemed to be in order...and in pretty good shape, too. Nice.

I did find somebody's home, though...

Some kind of critter had built itself a home in the air filter box, pretty common to find in bikes that sit for along time - but, of course it had to go...

The tank was 'okay', nothing that a little naval jelly or EvapoRust couldn't handle. I needed to change that tank gasket, though.

Truth be told, I don't remember doing much to this bike. I didn't split the cases, and it cranked fine - but I do remember finishing it up...