1981 J model Endurance racer

I am starting what will be a long and frustrating project. I now have a 1981 KZ that started out as an LTD, but was taken in the right direction by the previous owner. I plan on leaning on you guys to point me in the right direction. I wont be asking any "will this fit" questions because I have don this sort of thing before and as my brother owns a repair shop, with welder/blaster/lathe/mill/powder coater, I know anything can be made to fit. BUT I have too many options and need advice on what would be the most logical, and I have seen the expertise here.

Here is as it as it sits:

My first plan was to bolt in a FZR600 arm, because I have done that before and it is easy. The front was going to be a YZF600 set, because I have one and the wheels match. Upside easy, but still an 18" rear wheel.

Then I thought about using this Seca2 arm because it is also steel and kinda period-look. An FZR600/400 wheel is a bolt on, so I thought I was on my way. Also. the seca has a direct action shock so the possibility of a monshock conversion would be dead simple.

Then, some dude up and GAVE me a battered ZX7, so I thought "job done", but I didnt realize it had a 6" rear wheel. I figured it would be more work, but it has been done and I have access to machinery and guys who know how to use it.

And then again, yesterday I traded a 12 pack of Bud for this GS1100 swinger. (mocked up here with an FZR400 wheel)

So I figured I would go ZX7 wheels and forks, GS arm. But I got to worrying again about that 6" rear wheel and the aggravation of the chain run. So U though maybe I will use the less optimum, but fairly matching 400 rear wheel because it is an 18x4.00(thus the mock up). And now I had my afternoon coffee (i work the midnight shift) and I perused my junk pile and remembered that I have a set of YZF600 wheels. The are 17 and the rear is a 5.5.



I realize that I have a long way to go, but does anyone have an opinion on the first attempt? What combo makes the most sense.? If you think this was long-winded, just wait till I hit you-all up on rearset choices!

Its nice to have a junk pile

peter1958 wrote: Its nice to have a junk pile

not to mention my bro's shop used to be a Kawasaki dealership, so there are goodly bits all over the place there. But he wouldn't sell me his gpz 1100 coffin tank for cheap !

the 17 inch wheels are going to give you a better selection of tire choices.
the 5.5 width rim would allow you to run a 180mm wide tire which should be plenty for track attacks :evil: !
imho

who am i to talk tho,
i built my own arm and shoved a 6.5 wide rear wheel with a 200 mm rear tire under my 80 z1r :laugh: !



leon

a 6.5 and you could still manage the chain run?

it takes tricks.

leon

Im also struggling with the back end on my project CSR1000. I got a GS1100 swing arm from a friend,which slots right in (needs a bit of spacing on the sides but the pivot pin is the same diameter). Im now looking for a wheel. Im waiting on a local seller to get back to me with an axle diameter for a GSXR1100/750 wheel.Unlike you, I dont have access or
the knowhow to be machining bits up to make things fit ,so Im trying to get parts that will work together.
The GSXR wheel is ,I think 5,5inch x 17inch so that would work good with the GS1100 swingarm but I need a 20mm axle.Then I can go with the GSXR wheel,sprocket carrier and brake caliper.(with a torque arm mount). All in one. Very little messing about.
Good luck with yours anyway,looks like youve got a long way to go but with that pile of parts you,ll be spoiled for choice.

I got lazy for 6 months, but this project was never far away in my thoughts. I have decided to go with the Seca2 swingarm becase:
1 I have one
2 it accepts many modern wheels
3 the shock will make mono-shocking the KZ fame very easy
4 it shares the pivot bolt diameter, making it REALLY easy to swap.

So I set about carefully removing the donor item

I left the top mount to save myself a little work later on

I threw the whole arrangement in the direction of the KZ to see if it would stick. It did. Went in really easily, re-using the KZ pivot bolt. I need to make 2 7.5mm spacers for each side of the new arm, but I must have 10,000 axle spacers, so that is the least of my worries. Plus, I want to see the chain run before I commit to locating the new arm ( a benefit of using one that is smaller) I am going to reuse the top shock mount from the Seca. I will fit nicely to the cross brace that has the slot for the rear tank mount. I just have to decide on the correct angle and not go overboard with jacking up the back end.

I also plan on bracing the bottom of the arm with square stock. Completely un needed, I know, but it will have that 80's endurance racer look. I took a step back and decided that I could not live with the tank. I really wanted to use an ST tank, but I am not sure if the mounting was the same and I am trying to minimize time consuming problems. So with a deep hatred for that LTD tank, I rummaged through my brother's shop and found this under 2 inches of dust:

That's a big ol square tank. (if anyone has an ST tank, and they mount the same, I'll swap you). Now I must figure out the seat, The seat will decide how cool this bike is. I know I do not want yet another ill fitting café bubble. Gotta think on that. This experiment shows the lengths I'll go to when I am thinking

A disaster, yes, but I will try anything. So please...I need your help with comments or ideas. Gimme to pros, cons and anything else. fire awat, boys.

i'm thinking that tank with a tucked up square gpz,elr,or z1r tail.
or maybe something like this
japan.webike.net/products/1523100.html

??????

leon

531blackbanshee wrote: i'm thinking that tank with a tucked up square gpz,elr,or z1r tail.
or maybe something like this
japan.webike.net/products/1523100.html

??????

leon

Nice! That would look sweet. :woohoo:

Liking what your doing to the LTD.
Agree the tank looks much better too.
And another vote for a squared tail.



Some Suzuki tails are square too.
I almost used this on a KZ;