77 kz650b1 cafe build

Started the transformation on my 77 into a cafe racer. The seat/tail section is a hacked up CB550 gas tank welded to the stock seat pan (everything will sit on the stock seat pan hinges and flip up for access). The tail light mounts were added to the back of the seat pan, under the cowl, and the light tucks up nicely in the contour of the tail. I still need to fab a bracket to bolt to the stock mounts for the duck bill that will become a plate holder and hide the stock frame from view under the tail, that'll be a piece o cake though. I still need to strip and fill dents/emblem mounts in the gas tank I'm using for this, paint (HoK Tangelo with a checkered flag stripe down the center), cover the seat (using 3/8" high density interlock flooring foam stuff for the pad, just need to skin that over with something after painting).
Also I'm switching over to vm26 carbs (from a GS750) and electronic ignition from an 81 kz650 CSR. More pics as progress is made, but these should hold you over for awhile.

tail light mocked up

not much padding there, but it doesn't feel too bad in riding position.

The tail after putty (found that an old, empty frame works great as a work/painting stand).

And the tail after primer coat #1

another angle

And one more...

looks good man!!!!!

Thanks!! I'm hoping to have it all finished up within the month. I'm getting really anxious to ride it and turn some heads. I've got an 81 650 CSR that's a fun bike to ride, but it's just not sexy.

Worked on stripping the tank today to get it ready for putty and primer. I'm thinking about naming this bike "the Everlasting Gobstopper" based on how many layers of paint I had to go through to get the tank stripped!!! When I got it off fleabay it was dark green with replicated factory pinstriping. I used aircraft stripper (twice) to get the bulk of the stripping done, but was still left with a LOT of sanding after two applications of remover because there was so damned much paint. As near as I can tell the tank started out red, then was sprayed blue, then orange, then Kaw green before finally being painted the dark green it was when I got it!!!! I didn't take any pics of the process (was too busy working to run in for the camera) but I'll get some during the putty/primer process. Once I get that step outta the way it's time for the silver base coat and the candy orange!! w00t!!!

Lookin' good.
-KR

No new pics as of yet, my tank and tail are off getting painted and will hopefully be back within the next week. I'm getting them painted candied tangerine with spades ghosted in on the sides of the tank. Should look pretty sweet!!!

In the past week I've done a little with the mechanical side of the transformation. I swapped the points ignition over to a stock electronic ignition from an 81 kz650 CSR, very easy bolt on mod that should prove itself worthwhile. I also got my vm26 carbs baseline jetted and mounted up. I had to take my dremel to the carb holders to make them accept the larger carbs. Hopefully this will work for awhile until I can afford to buy the proper holders. The bike did start up, rather easily actually for having sat for the winter without running, so I'm thinking the carb boots aren't leaking. I couldn't run it long though because the idle was very high. I'm going to have to check the slide heights on the carbs and tinker with the airscrews which will hopefully resolve the high idle issue.

More to come!!!