1976 Z400 Project

benjamin.p.hall wrote: Whether or not the starting of the bike goes well this weekend, the front disc brake needs a serious coat of looking at. Has anyone used a master cylinder rebuild kit from the internet and can recommend a good supplier (preferably in the UK)? I would ideally like to use a modern braided front brake line, but it is an money spent on a part should the best restoration value come from an original part. Do people have an opinion? Ben

I've been using the K&L kits without any issues. Some people don't like them.
As for the brake lines I always try to go to steel braided as soon as possible. You don't want to have to trust 40+ year old rubber on something so important as braking. You can get them in black so they won't stand out as much as the shiny SS ones.

benjamin.p.hall wrote: Cafe racer: Preffered style, more fabrication (a naive positive for me) and a project of my own to keep. Would mean permanent changes that couldn't be altered back to the Z400.

I haven't found any viable aftermarket rearsets for the [K]Z400, so you would likely need to build your own.

Here is a pic of my previous '79 KZ400B2. I cleaned up the rear section by removing the chrome fender and fabricating brackets to hold the combination tail/brake light and license plate holder. I made smaller brackets to hold the turn signals; they are attached using the upper license plate bolts.

It's not an actual cafe bike, but I didn't have to cut anything and all the changes are easily reversible.

This has been a hugely successful weekend with the bike starting for the first time and the front brake piston being released. There is now some go and stop!

I am looking for a rebuild kit, and maybe even diaphragm replacements. Does anyone have experience with these?

Ben