78 KZ1000 project

What do u mean by, new tripple tree collar?
the zx9 stem must be pressed put from top to bot. there is a c clip imbedded into the bottom . u will need to grind or mill the bottom to reveal it, then press out the stem.
i just used the top tree as is.i reused the kz stem and bolt. i had to reduce the diameter of the kz stem washer to fit into the zx9 top tree bolt hole.

I was actualy going to cut off the top and bottom bearing cups and lathe up a new set so I could use tapered timken bearings on top and bottom. Doing so I would have to roto-zip/grind off the cups, cut the stem on the triple tree and shorten it to size. Doesn't have to be pretty because no one will see it anyways as long as its sturdy. If I made a grove in the bottom of the cup the same diameter as the O.D. of the collar on the frame I should be able to weld them right on and be plum/true to the frame if I make the grove deep enough. That way if my cutting/grinding job taking off the old cups isn't perfect then it also can be consealed. :blush:

But I took the bike for a ride today.....in the back seat of my car.....next purchase is going to be a trailer hitch and a trailer.

you do not have to cut the cups off to get tapered baerings.you can buy tapered bearings that fit the kzstem from z1enterprise.hth

leon holmes

U can buy tapered bearings from Z1E or many others. there an everyday item now. No cutting called for.
But if u feel the need to cut something, look into how well yout neck is aligned . It was very common for them to be out of alignment by 1/4" , so i am told. I took great pains to line up my rear rim to the front rim, and my rear looks out of wack now.
Just put the KZ stem in the zx tree and u are done.
I have allways thought that the tapered bearings were better than ball, but the new bikes still use balls??
Next time u take your bike for a ride, place it between the front seats. Leave the handle bars and seat on it ,then u can sit on it while mommy drives u around.lol:lol:

just read an article from kieth code about racing suprebikes in the late seventies and he said that some of them(steering heads) were off center as much as 3/8ths.he also said that the more hp they added the more they bent one side of the swingarm up.said he took it off the bike and one leg was bent up a 1/2 inch more than the other side.

leon holmes

Here is some pic's of my zx9 to kz tree's.
steering stopps at the back.

The KZ brake y is a direct bolt on.i have since removed it and use a zx12 brake master witch has a built in switch.


Here is the top with the guage mounts. i just had the mounts cut off of my old kz top tree, and welded onto the zx9 top.

I just used some bar rizers off a dirt bike.theres lots to choose from.

Then i found an LTD light braket . it hange from the guage mounts.i had to make a bracket to hold the turn sig. my sig.bolts were not long enough to go through the headlight, as before.

531blackbanshee wrote:

just read an article from kieth code about racing suprebikes in the late seventies and he said that some of them(steering heads) were off center as much as 3/8ths.he also said that the more hp they added the more they bent one side of the swingarm up.said he took it off the bike and one leg was bent up a 1/2 inch more than the other side.

leon holmes

Leon
What does he mean by bent up? What would cause that? How can 1 bend without the other?

the power from the motor on the top run of chain trying to bend the swingarm in two(by pulling the two sprockets together).like curling your arm up.then it causes the rear wheel to lean over at the top and change camber.the left leg of the swingarm bends up which tilts the wheel over at the top towards the right side.

leon holmes

made a mockup mount with poster board, traced onto another piece and kept the master. Used the trace piece to transfer size to metal, used a 4" cutoff wheel and notched it, then ground the rest.

what ya making?

Mocked up the thing using copper wire because it is easy to work with and you can to about anything with it.





measured and welded, I need to clean up the welds but I won't mess with it untill I get all my welds done.

531blackbanshee wrote:

the power from the motor on the top run of chain trying to bend the swingarm in two(by pulling the two sprockets together).like curling your arm up.then it causes the rear wheel to lean over at the top and change camber.the left leg of the swingarm bends up which tilts the wheel over at the top towards the right side.

leon holmes

definately all the hp is being forced on left side of arm thats why you see clubfoot swingarms with outboard brace on left side.as far as steering heads being off im guessing thats a mass production issue and adding serious hp and sticky rubber in hard corners really magnifys it!