1981 KZ650 Basket Case

A few updated photos. I'll probably ride it like this for a month or two before I tear it back apart. The clubman bars are definitely uncomfortable, so I ordered a pair of superbike bend bars for giggles. I may or may not use them, but I want to give them a try and see how they look. If I don't use them on the KZ, I have a GL1000 waiting in the wings that they might go on.

Nice!

Vroom-vroom!

Turned out pretty nice and the super bike bars would be my pick too...... your other projects turned out good too.... I need to get my lazy old butt off the couch and do a few things to mine too.

An extended swingarm and knobbies and a bike like that would make a really fun flattrack rider too! :laugh: ................................Mike

Vroom-vroom!!!

Wow! Super nice work there. That looks so good, you almost should sign it somewhere

Excellent.... I really appreciate the effort there.

I haven't posted an update for a couple of months, but that's because I've actually been riding it. I've pretty much got all the kinks worked out, so a couple of weeks ago I tore it back apart and started the cleaning and polishing process. I got the frame detabbed, smoothed and painted, and I've given the engine a thorough cleaning and a coat of paint. Things are starting to come together, but it's slow going. Everything gets degreased, polished or painted, so it takes a while.

Next up will be installation of the rear suspension and new seals and oil for the forks. I'm on the fence as to whether I'll paint or polish the fork lowers, so I'll listen to suggestions. I'm leaning toward paint since everything else on this bike except the tins is black.

More pics to come as the project progresses.

Nice job on both the ZX11 and the KZ. I'm glad you painted the front fender and the design is sweet. But there's still, to me, something "off" with the front end. Can't pin point it, but it doesn't flow with the rest of the bike.

Just looking at it again...maybe a 7" headlight or a small fairing?

Quick photoshop, hope you dont mind.

I don't disagree. Larger headlight, or maybe a smaller front wheel would look better. I also think a bigger rear wheel would look better, but that's not going to happen. The bike came with new tires and tubes, so I'll be using the stock size, at least for the near term.

I think a narrower set of stripes on the front fender would complete the paint scheme.
Steve

Such a beautiful bike man! I am totally digging those shelby-esque stripes. I kinda' think Steve is right that you should extend the stripes onto the front fender too, in an appropriate scale.
Dayum, it looks good though!

As for your painted or polished forks:
[ Polished forks on my 650 ]

I too, like the painted fork lowers as my 550a has them painted black and with an otherwise all black bike it looks very cool. So I started to sand the lowers for KZombie, thinking I would paint them black as well. I had to sand them just because they seemed to be coated in some kind of clear coat previously. Anyway, as I got into sanding them, it became apparent that polished them would be just as easy. The decision for me was since most of the bike is (or will be) polished or raw alloy - engine, mainly the issue and not painted black like my 550a, that I should stick with polished fork lowers.
1982 KZ550a Back in Black: