A little bit of an upgrade...

Changed out the front wheel and tire for one from a 2003 GSXR1000.  I bought the front and rear wheels cheap locally just because they were mostly complete and $50.  I had been looking for a 1995ish ZX-6R front wheel for too long and decided that it was time to get a (sort of) matching front wheel after all these years.  Lo and behold the rotor diameter (300mm) and the distance between the rotor clamping surface was the same, so I swapped the bearing for some with the same axle diameter as the ZX6 wheel and viola.  We have a lighter wheel and non-warped rotors and matching three spoke straight wheels.  Result!

Now I need to swap in a GPS speedometer to see how fast I am going.

 

Hi, don't mean to but in here? But I seen key word Katana?! And just this morning, I was looking at an older 91-93 Katana swing arm on ebay.
As I have put together and restored  5 - GS1100 conversion swing arms for Z1-KZ's over the past 10-12 years.
My quick question is: Do you or anyone who reads this know any particulars of the original Katana swingarms? Width? Up at frame mounting
I might just buy it for $30 off of ebay for using parts and welding up something out of it wider and a little longer for a Z1/KZ1000.
As I am also redoing an old school Kosman hub with a double weld rim.
By the way! Nice Work on your 650. Certainly looks like you know what your doing!
Good luck and keep it up!
Thanks for your time.
Here is one of my GS conversion projects
Marty in Buffalo 

Out of curiousity what is a ballpark estimate to do a GS 1100E swingarm conversion on my 77' KZ 1000 LTD? I'm not sure what all it takes to do it.
We were going to get an 81' GS 1100E for parts to support the 80' GS and use the swingarm but it was just oil leaks so now we have 2 GS 1100's but no spare swingarm.

Hi Kelly, basically you only need 2 spacers, 1 on each side. Kaw front pivot works of course 16mm. I made my spacers from stainless about .160 or .180" in thickness, I forget, it's been a few years. Some Guys use just plain old 5/8" flat zinc washers from your local hardware box store
Then shocks need to be a clevis U shape for the Suk swinger.
They add only about an inch length. Fit with stock fender position.
Then just space it correct at back wheel for whatever rim you use.
I put one on this bike I sold last summer, With drum brake. I think the axle spacers I made were .970" & 1.375" for the stock drum  Z1 brake hub.
I painted this swinger black with flat aluminum struts. had an  Akront 3.5" rim and a 5.5" drag slick works great!
I hated to see this bike go! It had a FBG 1197 kit with 110 or 109? Web Cams and 38 Lectrons on it. A guy in Byron Ohio bought it. Say's he drives it around for fun! He has 4 other bikes too. That's yellow primer! It sold before I could paint it! It was going all black, but guy said not to paint it.
I loved that perfect vintage RC Eng. 4 into 1 header!
The OINK gang just sold another GS swinger 2 days ago for $126. Prices are starting to go down! Thanks Joe Biden!
Can't wait to see Mecum Vegas Z1 prices this coming January???
But all in all, a basic easy swap.

Marty in Buffalo

This was the bike when I bought it. I bought it because of the LESTERS! They were a hot commodity pre-covid!  That bike's parts I sold paid fr it!
OK, I'm getting off base here.
But like "Steve Cali." say's! Everybody likes pictures!
Vintage body work went to Ireland of all places? $750, plus it took $180 to ship!
Lesters along with my other items added sold for $1200!
Capitalism is wonderful!

Marty in Buffalo

WTF?  This is a build thread, not technical forum post.  

Bdog wrote:

WTF?  This is a build thread, not technical forum post.  

Get your frustration Bdog, happens sometimes that things go off on a "tangent" how about an update to get things back on track 

SO just an FYI, the stem on the KZ650 is pressed in from the top of the lower triple, and then welded in place.  Unlike most modern triples, which press in from the bottom and have a lip that it comes to rest on.  I am in the process of changing the front from the RWU '95 ZX-6R to a '91 GSXR750 USD arrangement.  Only because I have the parts, can do the refurb on them myself, and have access to the machine shop and a machinist here at the school I work for.  

The KZ will have a bushing made that will have the ID cut first, then weld it to the bottom of the stem once pressed on and then the OD taken down to the appropriate measurement once the finish is correct.  I am pretty sure that the All-Balls tapered bearing kit will still work for the new front end and I will only have to sort out the steering stop.  

The stem is with the machinist now, he and I just managed to separate the lower triple and the stem moments ago.  Few days and I will have the remade parts back.

See you then.  With photos.