78 KZ650 SR Frankenstein Commuter Build

Keep it comin'!
-KR

can you please post some info/pics on how the tank mounts were altered to fit the xs1100 tank to the kz frame. i just picked up the same tank on ebay last nite. many thx!

duncan wrote:

can you please post some info/pics on how the tank mounts were altered to fit the xs1100 tank to the kz frame. i just picked up the same tank on ebay last nite. many thx!

Until I grind down some welds it will not be pretty . I cut the bottom section with mounts out of an old cx500 tank I had. I then fitted and welded this in place underneath the xs eleven tank while the tank was on the bike so that I had it all lined up. Another option is to build new mounts on the bike, which may or may not be easier to do, but will be easier when it comes time for body work.

For the rear mount I welded a bar across the frame where the tank mount is, and then used a rubber bottle plug I picked up from the local hardware store as the vibration mount in the tank (drilled a hole through the center and cut it down some). Then I simply bolted this to a threaded joiner nut (long nut used on all thread, about .40c at the hardware store) and welded the nut to the cross bar that I had welded in. Also, I placed a washer between the rubber plug and the nut and welded it on as well to give the plug something to sit on. The plug is tapered so it won't go all of the way through the tank hole.

I will post some pics of it later today, and if you want to use the tank mount I did, I have an old honda cb tank that I can cut that section out of.

Ok, here is a side view of the frame tube I added and the mount. (Grinding and powder coating improve the look of my welds as you will see on the tank)

thx for the info, and the pics would be great.

the honda cb tank section sounds like a good head start. i'll send you a pm later today.

thx again!

duncan wrote:

thx for the info, and the pics would be great.

the honda cb tank section sounds like a good head start. i'll send you a pm later today.

thx again!

Other than the cb tank, a better option would be to chop a stock kz tank. Mine is in decent shape so I didn't, though now I kinda wish I would have because the clearances would have been right and I wouldn't have to adapt Honda tank rubber mounts to fit the larger diameter kawi ones. Just an idea, cutting a tank is easy, just wash with simple green a couple times and drill start holes and cut with a jig saw while using plenty of oil or wd-40 to limit heat and sparks. I've cut 3 now with no issues when I do it that way.

Heres another view of the frame mount.

thx, i'll give a stock tank a try. turns out i have several z1/kz tanks around the house. not sure how that came about, but i'm sure it made sense at the time :silly: :laugh:

Here is a view of the rubber plug I made to fit the mounting hole.

And last is my 16lb weld still waiting a visit from the grinder . The tank was free so I was just hoping that it would fit right. The welds were added later to make sure that I didn't have any gaps. Thats what I get for getting impatient. Hopefully by tomorrow I will have the upper triple and the wheels and front fender back. I am looking forward to getting everything but the body work bolted on and ready to go.

thx for your help i'm looking forward to trying it myself.

Ok, parts back from the PC and tires on. I started putting it back together to get an idea of what it will look like. I am still not sold on my caliper paint color choice, but until I can get the rotors drilled and powder coated chrome the calipers will all be silver. Anyways, its late and I need sleep. Heres where I stopped today.

Ok, been a couple of months, and in the meantime I took the top two bikes and put them together to get the bottom bike. The summer is the downtime for working on dirtbikes and I couldn't pick a color to paint my bike (way to many choices :laugh: ). Finally settled on a "chrome yellow" version of yellow non metallic paint. Since I don't have time to do lots of work on the paint, nor do I have lots of experience painting (read that to mean none) I decided on a simple primer, paint, and clear coat and then I will put on a decal or two. Anyways, here it is ready for the paint. Hopefully tomorrow night I will have finished the side panels and tank and have an updated picture to show! Wish me luck. (oh, the cr125 pic is just representative, I had to buy mine in pieces ).

Here is the bike this is actually about :blush: sorry.