KZ650 Forward Controls?

I got to looking at my bike today and noticed what looks like a bolt/mounting hole on the side of the frame just under the engine. There's an identical one on the other side. I was wondering if this was for a forward control option? I'll include pics altho I'll have to do a second post cause I haven't figured out how to post more than one pic per post yet.:blink:



Post edited by: Bud1, at: 2005/10/16 22:07

Here's the other side....



was thinking if the case guards weren't installed the holes used for them in conjunction with these holes might be for a forward control setup. I'd really like to put forward controls on the bike. My knees have a tendency to hurt if bent to long and to much.

Post edited by: Bud1, at: 2005/10/16 22:11

I have never seen mounts in that location. When I looked at the '83 frame pic (below), it doesn't seem to show them either. Is it the same on the other side? And is it welded onto the frame? Does it look stock or like someone added it on?

Post edited by: rstnick, at: 2005/10/16 22:45

It is welded onto the frame on both sides. Near as I can tell it looks stock. Or at the very least was modded before a complete frame repaint. Both sides are identical in the exact same position. And look like they are threaded holes. I double check tomorrow to see if they are truly threaded.

Bud, check your u2u, if you didn't yet.

Here's some more pics of these mounting holes. They are threaded and look stock to me. But what do I know?









Photobucket is really cool!:woohoo:

Also anybody know of any forward controls you can buy for a KZ650?

Well I found something interesting. The '84 ZN700 and KZ700 have frames with that mount. I could not find what mounted there though. Maybe if you can find some pictures of those models, you may see what's mounted there.

Here's that mount on Wicked_KZ's KZ700.
.

Post edited by: rstnick, at: 2005/10/18 09:30

I'm not going to say there are no Kawasaki or aftermarket forward controls for the older KZs (I'm talking the inline fours here), but I can say I've never seen them. So I don't think any of these holes, threaded or not, are meant for forwards.

I have, however, seen forwards built for KZs and other inlines, both drum and disc brake rear wheels, over at Chopper Underground, Honda Chopper, and Hardcore Chopper. Many of these same guys hang out at Chopper Crossroads, too, but the site is too new to have a lot of tech files.

Every cold day in Hell or so, I see a set on eBay made for old metrics, but they might not be for KZs. And there are a lot of people who have reworked Sporty forwards, the ones you can get for cheap from Jireh, onto KZs and other inlines.

The thing to remember when building forwards for inlines is that the motors are essentially mounted perpendicular to the frame, not parallel like V-twins. Consequently, they're a bit wider and have awkward clearance problems.

Go poke around those sites, ask a few questions, look in the tech sections. Let me know how you make out, either here or there. I'm a member on all those forums, but not active in Honda Chopper and not very much in Hardcore.

And I've seen them mounted exactly where you mentioned--the engine guard brackets. The two holes on the brackets are sufficient.

Maybe you can find someone to make them, get a referral, or even a design or an idea to make them yourself.

Post edited by: DanVVArider, at: 2005/10/18 01:17

Maybe the threaded holes are for the OEM Kawasaki engine guard?
Daniel

I just went out and looked at my 77 kz650, no mount, looked at the 78 kz650 parts bike, no mount, I am not sure what they are for

BSKZ650, which "no mount" are you referring to--the single threaded hole mount, or the mounts where an engine guard would go?