TOPIC:

This project started for me a couple years ago. I'm getting close to done so I figured I'd start documenting my build. The bike is a 78 KZ750B with 9900 original miles that I got for $500. Not being a fan of the original look (I apologize to the purist) I wanted to change the whole attitude of bike. I started by taking parts off and reshaping the bike to my liking

Next was stripping the bike down and figuring out how I wanted to reshape it.

One thing I decided wasn't going to work was how the tanks on these bike sit at a slope toward the back. Also how the subframe angles up in the rear. I wanted the tank to sit flat and the subframe to sit flat across (fab for that comes later). I also cleaned up the wheels, replaced the chain and sprockets, and wrapped the exhaust system.

Next I decided to take the whole front end apart to powder coat everything and rebuild the forks with fresh oil and new seals. Brake calipers were removed. I stripped the paint, polished them, then powder coated them clear to preserve the look. I then reassembled the front end. Now was also a good time to toss out the bars and add the new set of clip-ons I purchased.

I purchased a set of universal rearsets. These required fabricating a mount and ditching the stock rear brake master. I ended up using a rear master from a ZX10R because I could mount it horizontally.

Next was cutting out the top rails of the subframe and welding in my own. I wanted the seat pan to be flat across and not have that slope up in the rear that the kawi's have. Also on the list was creating a battery box (lithium) and an electronics tray. I wanted the battery box to look similar to an oil tank so I got the idea to weld two 4wd hubcaps together and cut out the top. Then finally I made a seat pan.

During the process I decided I liked the tank better from a CB900. It slimmed the bike down quite a bit. The Kawi tank was just too bulky for my taste. I also fabbed a set of number plates which I may ditch later on. I'm not quite sold on them yet. I also fount a slick way to mount the speedometer so that it looks like its floating there. In an effort to keep the bike simple I decided to ditch the tach.

Next was the seat. Not being my forte I sent it off to my buddy who does upholstery. He added a little more foam to what I had so that it would fit seamless with the tank. I'm not a fan of the super flat seats on most cafe's and brat bikes. And finally after months and months of tossing around color ideas I settled on a paint scheme for the tank. Honda tank painted Harley orange mounted on a Kawasaki. (If you think I'm high I do live in Colorado )

This is where I've left off. In the coming weeks I'm going to completely disassemble the bike, powder coat the frame, and soda blast the motor. I've also gotta pick out tires and have some steel braded brake lines made. I'll keep you posted as I go.

i seen (and commented on)this bike on face book.
thanks for coming over here and showing the pics and telling the story ...

very nicely done ,

leon

Nice!
is that the stock speedo, stripped of paint? i like it.

Thanks Leon

That is the stock speedo. The chrome is a trim kit for dressing the gauges up. The kit came with the bike along with a box of other misc parts.