Father Sonish 1974 KZ400

So I found a crazy deal on two bikes. One being a 74 KZ400. My son needs to start learning some of this stuff so the plan is to get him to do as much as possible. I have a degree in Laser Electro Optic Technology and have been building and testing solid state and fiber optic lasers since 2008. Lately I work in Engineering but whatever. I went to a Vocational Agricultural high school where I studied Agricultural mechanics. Lets go FFA!! Any rate this bike is turning out to be my baby so it's getting harder to teach my son as over the years working in production environments has conditioned me to bang out machines. But anyways, I'm a country boy. I grew up with dirt roads, woods, fields, hunting and fishing. I cant believe it took me this long to figure out this bike is what I really needed in my life at this point. It's going to be a retro, street legal, scrambler, fishing spot explorer stunt bike...

I paid.....$190 for both of those bikes...Craigslist King here...

Making good progress

Indeed. Hopefully your son is involved as well. The KZ400 is a great bike to learn on.

Wez wrote: Making good progress

im excited to see this bike develop, nice work and style!

Thanks for the thumbs up. This bike is incredible for it's year. I'm 39 y/o. I grew up with the old timers saying, "they don't make things like they used to." and I see what they mean. Impressed with the steel switches and throttle shaft on the handle bar there. Overall simple rigid design. Both kick and electric start. How cool! There were rear and front extra pegs that are being removed but nice. Disc front brake! Soda blasted the carbs, caliper and small parts looking better than new. The carbs are so cute and adorable too. I broke a few pieces and had to order a new carb set. Just received the replacement set in today. I got it for $15 on ebay. It honestly looked like the worst carb set listed...to the untrained eye. But because it was coming from California, I knew that most of the debris depicted was dust or Cali desert sand. Id prefer that over varnish any day. Should clean up nicely as almost nothing was seized. The slide had a nice vacuum seal during disassembly. Besides, can never have too many spare carb parts...well....yea you can lol hoarders... My son (Mason) has been helping me with many projects! He helped me slide the bike in and out of the basement already. And for a video gaming 12 year old, he was like....whoa!.....I did that. I honestly think this all started when he helped me install the headers on my CB750 Nighthawk. I couldn't believe how much time and my back he saved me. Him below learning how to use the angle grinder and wire wheeling the rims. Excited about the weekend ahead.

A build project like this is good for the inner child in us, its creating something to purpose that we conceive and bring to a practical finish. Its something to look forward to, share with others like your son and when the time comes the first ride is sweeter than any beer... well until the first beer after that ride of course.

Wez wrote: . Him below learning how to use the angle grinder ...

How long did you let him work upside down on the floor before you told him that swingarm comes right off with one nut.

Looks like a great project. Good luck.

Sometimes I tell him he can only use an adjustable wrench for jobs. Just to make sure he knows how to use each tool. He's completely green. Still mastering righty tighty . In due time all will get disassembled and prepared correctly. Right now I'm just breaking him in. He was on a roll so I let him go with it.

Been making slow progress.

This is almost ready to be ridden by Steve McQueen in The Great Escape !

wrote:

This is almost ready to be ridden by Steve McQueen in The Great Escape !

Highest compliment that can be given   Thanks!

Co-Worker and I went for a walk today at lunch and I kept looking down the woods for trails.  Found a perfect pit 30 seconds from work.  I'll probably keep this thing in the back of my pickup when complete.  No need for tags just yet.  Lots of dirt to tear up.  I doubt I'll even worry about jetting until the spring.