1981 KZ1000 CSR Project

I recently bought a 1981 K1000 CSR. Other than the tires, it's an all original low mileage (for how old it is) bike. Still looks and sounds great. That said, it's a cruiser and not really my style. I want to mod it to achieve old school cafe racer performance and looks. That's where I need help to ensure I'm doing the right things the right way.

A quick history, I have loved these bikes since I saw the original Mad Max when I was 10. The way Toecutter and his gang looked riding through Australia really appealed to my young self. Fast forward 30+ years later and I decided I wanted one of those bikes. I did, what I thought was, diligent research to find out what the bikes in the movie were, about the Airtech fairings, the riders, etc. In doing my searches I saw that although there were different models of the KZ1000, I wasn't reading that there were any fundamental differences in the frame, engine, forks, etc. This lead me to think the only differences were in the appointments like handlebars, fairings, seat and what-have-you. So when my 1981 low-mileage cruiser showed up on craigslist I thought I'd found the perfect bike to recreate what I wanted as a child.

When I first got the bike, given what I mentioned above, I figured all I'd need to do would be the appropriate services, remove the cruiser fairings, change the handlebars, update the gauge cluster, maybe add the Airtech fairings and I'd be golden. Give or take a few things of course. But then I started seeing pictures and videos on the net of how people are currently modding these bikes. I figured that these people were just doing todays version of what riders back in the late 70's/early 80's did to these bikes. I thought maybe that was the way to go to improve the performance and looks of the bike I bought up to a modern standard.

That's where I knew I need help. I've been a car guy my adult life and I needed help if I was going to do any work on my bike right. The first forum I went to seek help was caferacer.net. Being a know-nothing noob those guys quickly brought me down to earth and reset my expectations. They explained that most of the bikes out on the net are more-or-less art projects and not necessarily safe well performing bikes. I didn't explain myself well and I really got some hate from those guys. But I took their criticism and advice and eventually earned a modicum of trust from them. The advice they gave me was to change out the leading axle front forks, triples and swing arm to Z1 pieces, put on superbike bars (I was warned against clip-ons) and some other odds and ends. Or they said I could do a mild front end swap (nothing as intense as a GSXR or R1 swap) and rear end swap along with the other things I mentioned.

So that's where I'm at. I turned to this forum because although those guys are very knowledgeable, that forum is more generalized concerning makes and models. I felt I should seek out some help from KZ enthusiasts. What I'm asking for is advice on how to proceed? How would a veteran KZ rider mod the bike I purchased to achieve that old school cafe racer performance and look? I have no problem doing things affordably or doing the opposite and spending a lot more to reach my goal. Like I was warned, I'm not after a bike that is unsafe and all form over function. I want to do it right and end up with a fun to ride, safe, well-performing bike that follows a function with form philosophy. I take criticism and advice well. I am really here to learn as I've realized I know very little about these bikes. I have to start some place and I figure that's here. Please help me out and thank you for your time.

Best of luck with the build, you wont be lacking help and know how here, blood, sweat and tears will be your new friends. start by stripping everything off and keep it all cataloged and take pictures of where and how it came off in case it needs to go back on again.

This was my hardtail cafe, nearly the same bike as you have there.

That's definitely the plan. I've also discovered some things that weren't apparent when I bought the bike I have to address. Thank you for the response.

Very nice. Do you mind explaining what you've done? I'd really be interested to know.

She was goto work bike, good flat roads, i wanted her low and long so i stripped her down, well i say stripped she was a junk yard beater i kept stripped. Found a 4in longer drag arm on ebay, made the struts. dropped the front end by letting the forks come through the trees and then hung the clip on bars from what was extending through. found a drag exhaust on ebay so it wouldn't bottom out and modified cbr rear sets to make her a little more rid able to a 6.2 footer like me.

Oh i think i turned the headlight bracket upside down too, to drop the profile of the light, its been a while and i had to leave her back in Canada.

I wouldn't go hardtail though..its a brave and stupid man that runs a makeshift hardtail, im still paying for the 3 years i rode that bike today...

Yeah I'd do hardtail if I was doing a Harley but not these bikes. I don't really want to do a mono shock conversion either. I want to keep the dual shocks.

I hope my long ass original post didn't scare anyone off. I probably didn't explain myself very well. I was hoping to get a lot of input from members.

Well, since you asked........ I suggest you sell the bike and buy one that is not in such great condition. The funds you get from selling the bike should more than pay for the next bike plus changes you decide to make. There aren't very many original bikes like the one shown in your photos, so modifying it would be a waste not just in the sense that another one bites the dust but also in $$$. Ed

I hear you Ed. Really I do. The thing is I live in eastern Washington on the border with Idaho. The bike I bought was on craigslist for a while. It had some interest but I was the first serious party. If I tried to flip it here after it was just posted, I would not only be sitting on it for a while, but the likelihood of me making money off it is pretty nil. I understand trying to keep original survivors as is on the road but I don't have many options. I'm not trying to commit a sin here by butchering a bike. These bikes don't come up often around here so it's kinda take what you can get. So I hear what you have to say, I just don't see what else I can do.