Caffeinated 440LTD

I just wanted to gather some opinions. Would a project like this be feasible for an amateur on a low budget? Mostly this would be cosmetic as opposed to performance, after all im sure i cant really squeeze much out of the 440.. Basically I want to make this bike look nice! If I can get the desired effect, I may just keep it and not sell it...

Bad photo shopping skills aside, whaddya think?



Goals:

-Paint gas tank
-Paint front fender
-Remove rear fender
-Customise/replace seat
-move brake light, plate + rear turn signals
-paint engine fins black
-Install fork gators
(when i have some cash, perhaps a 2-1 might be in order )

Rearsets and clubman handlebar, sticky tires, fork brace, filter pods, rejet and a 2 into 1 pipe. If you want to get crazy, port and polish the head.

Filter pods and a 2-1 would certainly be nice... Perhaps even rearsets also!

For now though, here is an update:

Well, I got the ball rolling today and did some little bits and pieces.



Replaced the starter solenoid, so now I can start the bike once again without having to jam a screwdriver into the side of it it first

I then went on to remove the rear fender. The next job on that front will be getting hold of a new brake light, perhaps with integrated turn signals and mounting that to the rear of the frame. Oh, check out what I found inside the brake light mounting



Started the process of repainting my tank... didn't strip to bare metal, only in the areas with rust. Scratched it up pretty good with some 60gr, The original paint on this thing was pretty hardy, no flaking or anything.



Couple of coats of sandable primer applied, when I next get the time I'll be scuffing it up a little and applying several coats of filler primer. Woot!

Robjb84 wrote:

Perhaps even rearsets

You can make your own rearsets for pretty cheap, actually. Here's how I did mine:

www.kzrider.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=21570

Check this out Rob.

www.kz400.com/GuestbikesFrameset.html


That should keep you busy.

Post edited by: tganek, at: 2007/01/15 03:38

tganek wrote:

Check this out Rob.

www.kz400.com/GuestbikesFrameset.html


That should keep you busy.

1979 model modified to road racing in the cafe racer style.
The frame was modified to be more rigid,it s fitted with KZ 250 wheels (rear disc break) and fork,a light alloy swing arm (originally bilt for XT 500) , 2 in 1 exhaust and modified carbs and
fiber glass saddle and gas tank,rear foot rests and clipp ons to adjust to a racing position.

That's pretty sano...

Post edited by: guitargeek, at: 2007/01/15 05:54

KZ250LTD: Yeah thats the general kind of styling im going to aim for. Will have to see how handy I am when I attempt to make a seat and cowl

guitargeek: Nice job on the rearsets! I actually checked that thread out just a couple of days ago, may have to take that route..

Todd: Sweet pics bro, this one looks pretty sweet:

This is the tank with 8 coats of black (4 coats, cure, sand then another 4 coats). Just need to spray the same number of coats for the white side stripe (note the masking tape)then i'll be leaving to cure then clearcoating. Sure its an amateur rattlecan job but it beats the crappy look it had previously



Hoping me painting in the cold garage isnt going to drastically shorten the lifetime of this rattlecan job... at one point when i was wet sanding my fender, the water was freezing on contact

Well, im no artiste, thats for sure But on the plus side, its better than it was I guess.




Gas tank painted gloss black with white stripe, fender painted gloss black. Going to attempt to flip the headlight mount so i can lower it some, perhaps tomorrow.

Post edited by: Robjb84, at: 2007/02/11 23:45

Damn, dude! Painting in freezing cold? I'm amazed you wound up with anything like a paint job on that tank! Read the side of the rattle can, what's it recommend for temperatures?

I've got a fiberglass and paint project that's waiting for warmer weather...

Paint doesnt seem to have suffered so far, though im going to try to get the clearcoating done indoors.

For now my update is:

Installed Clubman Bars

Loving the look already Ordered some headlight mounts so that I can lower that some also. Then ill be thinking about different gauges perhaps. And i keep putting off the seat but sooner or later I'm going to have to get to work on that too.