Kawasaki Z650 - 1977 KZ650-C1

1977 KZ650-C1

This model was offered only in North America (and possibly Japan). It was nicknamed the "Custom" and was introduced as a mid-year model in early 1977. There were few of these models assembled/sold before the model year change to the 1978 models so these are fairly rare machines. The C1 model differed from the B model in the following areas: cast wheels instead of spoked; disc brakes both front and rear with dual discs at the front having the calipers mounted behind the fork legs instead of in front like the B models; different fork sliders to cater for the rear mounted calipers. The C1 also sported a "first" for its time, four-way hazard flashers, which were not fitted to the B1. The pinstriping on the tank was totally different in nature from the B models and pinstripes were also added to the side covers whereas the B model sidecovers had no stripes in that location. The rest of the bike was pure B model in nature.