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1979 KZ750 Scrambler Build

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15 Feb 2018 09:53 #778810 by BrettKZ750
1979 KZ750 Scrambler Build was created by BrettKZ750
Hey everyone, pretty new to this forum and motorcycling in general but thought I'd share my KZ project with everyone
Im trying to link the pics using google photos, let me know if they're coming out for you guys.

Here's the bike as it was when I bought a few months ago, was cafe'd out and ran alright but had no headlight or tail light and wiring was all over the place. Seat and half the motorcycle seemed to be zip-tied together so decided to tear it down and rewire and go with a scrambler look.



Current working conditions are outside of a frat house in NJ so haven't been able to work on it much over the winter but hoping to get it back up and running when it warms up.

Here's where the bike's it sits at right now, I've been dealing with a no spark issue for the past few weeks. Got a weak yellow spark a few days ago and got it started but it's lost the spark again. I cleaned the points and put a new coil on that are both getting 12V, my next steps are new plugs and boots and condenser - any ideas what the problem might be or should I ask over in electrical forum?

Mocked up with tank, and rear fender:
lh3.googleusercontent.com/BQ6vQatSWbVPFX...oMpgNg=w1299-h974-no

And here's where it is at the moment:
lh3.googleusercontent.com/NhPYRByi26gQ6z...E6MlOD=w1299-h974-no

Ill upload some progress shots from before and keep the thread updated on what's going on.
Im new to all this so any advice is appreciated!

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15 Feb 2018 10:01 #778811 by BrettKZ750
Replied by BrettKZ750 on topic 1979 KZ750 Scrambler Build
First things first tear down and redo the wiring, the harness wasn't in too bad of shape, took everything out of the headlight and routed it under the tank. Got the bike to crank and fire up on first test!
The started clutch is shot but 'll wait to work on that until I get it running and driving.

Found out the hard way the wiring keeps the tank from fitting into the rear rubber cup but should just be a few degrees off.
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15 Feb 2018 10:21 #778812 by BrettKZ750
Replied by BrettKZ750 on topic 1979 KZ750 Scrambler Build
Decided I wanted to go for a scrambler look on the bike which required some longer suspension. Picked up some cheap I think they were 380mm RFY shocks to replace some 11" the previous guy had on there.

Bought a set of 1.5" longer than stock fork tubes to put on the front to give it a little height
I couldn't get the bottom fork bolt out of the forks on my bike but I had a spare set of forks with some crazy 31.5" fork tubes from a parts bike I picked up I was able to get apart.

The rebuild was a lot easier than what I was led to believe but the seals were a huge pita to get out and put back in without a press but eventually got it all back together and on the bike

On a side note if any one needs 31.5" fork tubes around NYC area I'll let em go for cheap or trade them for some labor haha
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15 Feb 2018 13:18 - 15 Feb 2018 13:18 #778817 by ajsfirehawk
Replied by ajsfirehawk on topic 1979 KZ750 Scrambler Build
The KZ twins are not fast but are very reliable. I admire your progress especially considering your working conditions. Do you at least have a Clymers manual? A Kawasaki Service manual is a couple orders of magnitude better, but my sense is you might be flying blind.

79 KZ650 SR
80 KZ1000 Z1 Classic
83 KZ1100 LTD
Z900RS
23 Mach 1
Last edit: 15 Feb 2018 13:18 by ajsfirehawk. Reason: typo

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15 Feb 2018 16:29 #778827 by TexasKZ
Replied by TexasKZ on topic 1979 KZ750 Scrambler Build
This is not a scrambler, but it is a build thread you do not want to miss. Sadly, the pic on the first five or six pages were in Botophucket, so they are no longer visible, but keep at it. Vic's build is inspirational.

kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/598240-sav...50-twin?limitstart=0

1982 KZ1000 LTD parts donor
1981 KZ1000 LTD awaiting resurrection
2000 ZRX1100 not ridden enough

www.kzrider.com/11-projects/620336-anoth...uild-thread?start=24

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15 Feb 2018 21:13 #778843 by BrettKZ750
Replied by BrettKZ750 on topic 1979 KZ750 Scrambler Build
Thanks texas, I saw his KZ1000 build didn't know he had a 750 too both bikes are gorgeous!
Also if you use chrome theres an extension called "photobucket embed fix" I use that lets you see those photobucket pics im sure you can find something if you google it

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16 Feb 2018 07:14 #778853 by TexasKZ
Replied by TexasKZ on topic 1979 KZ750 Scrambler Build
Thanks for the info on the extension. I'll see if there is a version for my antique iPad. It is so old that I cannot run the current version of the browser.
Anyway, I seem to remember somebody starting a 750 twin scrambler build, but I don't remember it getting finished. I hope you do. I think it could be really cool.

1982 KZ1000 LTD parts donor
1981 KZ1000 LTD awaiting resurrection
2000 ZRX1100 not ridden enough

www.kzrider.com/11-projects/620336-anoth...uild-thread?start=24

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16 Feb 2018 07:42 #778855 by TexasKZ
Replied by TexasKZ on topic 1979 KZ750 Scrambler Build
So far as I can find, there is a fix for Chrome and Firefox, but none for any other browser. :angry:

1982 KZ1000 LTD parts donor
1981 KZ1000 LTD awaiting resurrection
2000 ZRX1100 not ridden enough

www.kzrider.com/11-projects/620336-anoth...uild-thread?start=24

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21 Feb 2018 18:09 - 21 Feb 2018 18:10 #779144 by BrettKZ750
Replied by BrettKZ750 on topic 1979 KZ750 Scrambler Build
Had some good weather today so I was able to put some time into it.
The no spark issue was from a bad plug boot so got that replaced and tidied the wiring up.

[img


Got the tank and side panels back to see how she looks.
Mounting seat and fender are going to be tricky, going to have to fab up some seat mounts and get someone to weld those on along with the rear hoop.
Thinking about looking for an old chrome rear fender to try and get some more clearance with tire and match the front what do you guys think?

[img


[img


[img
Last edit: 21 Feb 2018 18:10 by BrettKZ750.

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22 Feb 2018 08:05 #779180 by BrettKZ750
Replied by BrettKZ750 on topic 1979 KZ750 Scrambler Build
Here are some of the photos I couldn't attach earlier

Bike as I bought it

[img


Rewiring:

[img


Mocked Up:

[img



Next steps are to paint the exhaust and get a new muffler, currently its got a baffle-less megaphone thatll make my ears bleed if I ride it for more than 10 min

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  • DoctoRot
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  • Oh, the usual... I bowl, I drive around...
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22 Feb 2018 12:06 #779193 by DoctoRot
Replied by DoctoRot on topic 1979 KZ750 Scrambler Build
Cool project. My vote is for a chrome rear fender, the plastic one looks out of place. Also if you want to ditch those massive sidecovers I believe the 1980 kz750G covers will fit right on there and are much smaller and sleek.

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30 Apr 2018 14:03 #782660 by BrettKZ750
Replied by BrettKZ750 on topic 1979 KZ750 Scrambler Build
Haven't had much time to work on the bike lately with school and the weather but managed to weld on the rear hoop and wire it up
Also took the wrap off the exhaust and painted that black and welded a different muffler on

Still haven't decided what to do for the rear fender I tried a few things I had laying around but couldn't seem to get the angle right

Next Im thinking about shortening up the headlight mount to push the light further back and got some spoked wheels with more knobbie tires I'll throw on
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