KZ650 Models '77-'78 with Mechanical Slide Mikuni VM22 and VM24

This is the KZ650 first gen VM mechanical slide carbs. All the years listed will interchange physically so it is very common to have any set on any year from past servicing. Also, a very important fact about these carbs is there are two types available for some years. Kawasaki produced these bikes In Japan for US import AND they were also built in the US for the US market. They are NOT the same and can be a huge issue when re-building a set. Some (Not all) US built models are VM22 and show an "A" after the stamped number as opposed to Japanese built models being VM24's. Along with the US models having a very different spring loaded jet needle which makes both the slide and associated needle parts incompatible. A lot of kits only supply the Japanese built needles along with other incorrect parts. It is imperative to ID the carb correctly before acquiring any parts or you may end up with a very poor running bike or a bike that does not run at all. Although I always recommend installing the proper set of carbs your bike calls for, as long as you match the parts to the ID on the carb set you are typically fine.

Disclaimer: I would NOT go with this list as 100% accurate in all carb ID's matching years and models. These are the most contrived bikes and carbs produced. I have seen people who owned a bike from new and they don't match. As far as any info for internal tuning by carb ID alone, it is pretty solid. However, year of the bike, US or NOT US....meeeh. I have seen Japanese numbers on US and visa versa. So every time I rebuild any KZ650, some extensive research from REAL microfiche, manuals, and Kawasaki tech books is used to verify, no matter HOW sure I think I am.

Pictured below is a '77 KZ650B 272-A VM22 set with a few pictures of a '77 KZ650B 272-01 VM24 set, so you can see some of the many differences. All models and years listed here will physically interchange, but the different ID numbers do not have the same internal tuning.

'77 KZ650B1 VM22-----------------------------272-A Made in USA
'77 KZ650B1 VM24-----------------------------272-01 Made in Japan
'77 KZ650C1 VM24-----------------------------1020 Made in Japan
78 KZ650B2A VM22------------------------------1026 Made in USA
78 KZ650B2 VM24------------------------------1069 Made in Japan
78 KZ650C2 VM22------------------------------1026A Made in USA
78 KZ650C2 VM24------------------------------1069 Made in Japan
78 KZ650D1 VM22------------------------------1026 Made in USA
78 KZ650D1 VM24------------------------------1069 Made in Japan

KZ650-77-272-A '77 KZ650B 272-A VM22