another \"know-it-all\"..........

...... I'm definitely not! I'm fairly new (3.5years) to bikes, but have to take a minute to thank everyone here for unknowingly helping me get my $600.00 first bike on the road. I have to admit that I have been lurking in the shadows for a couple years sucking up the vast knowledge available here anonymously. I'm not sure I can provide anything new or valuable to others, but I pledge to help where and when I can.

without further adieu, here's the culmination of my time spent lurking here:
www.bikepics.com/members/kz650sr/79kz650sr/

feel free to offer suggestions, as it's still a work in progress and I need excuses to get out in the garage!

G-man,

I'm a n00b here too and keep saying everyone here Rocks! for a reason.

I am WAY impressed with your bike man!

I just picked-up a '79 KZ650 yesterday:

So I've been surfin' around here looking for end-results of ppl's restorations.
Yours gives me hope

How does one tell if a '79 650 gets the "SR" designation? My bike is missing alot of stuff including the side covers...
--
PS: I just got a new desktop image Thanks!

Hey shortyyyyyy, Awesome bike and thanks for sharing it with us!

Wrenchmonkey Your new 650 is a KZ650 C-3 aka KZ650 Custom. The SR's were different in that they have a 16" rear wheel, different seat, no rear tail section, and painted fenders among other things.

Nice bike Shorty.
What kind of paint and what color green did you use?

Nice looking bike... if you are looking for suggestions... FIRST: Black plastic mirrors... SECOND: I would like the bike better if the green paint was offset just a tad by some black striping of some sort. Black pinstripes or a horizontal black stripe on the tank would make the bike look very finished...

It is hard to give "suggestions" as the nature of a bike's looks is very personal and subjective.

Great job, shorty!
Another KZ rescued, and back on the road... nicely done!

mariozappa wrote:

Nice bike Shorty.
What kind of paint and what color green did you use?

I was cheap and lazy-- Dupli Color Engine Enamel-- Grabber Green. 3 coats, wet sanded to 2000 grit and two final coats. It's been a year and a half since I buffed it out and decided it looked good enough for the short term, but until it starts looking like poop, I'm concentrating on other stuff. I definitely like the enamel paint for shine, but we'll see about durability..

Cool. I've used the Grabber Green, your pics just looked a little lighter shade of green.

wiredgeorge wrote:

Nice looking bike... if you are looking for suggestions... FIRST: Black plastic mirrors... SECOND: I would like the bike better if the green paint was offset just a tad by some black striping of some sort. Black pinstripes or a horizontal black stripe on the tank would make the bike look very finished...

It is hard to give "suggestions" as the nature of a bike's looks is very personal and subjective.

Thanx! As for bikes being subjective, I know what you mean- I'm open to suggestions from anyone who understands that-- because they don't get their feelings hurt if I don't choose to do what they would

I'm torn between chrome and black mirrors! I went with black on an old Magna and it just didn't seem to fit, so I'm still trying to convince myself it won't look like a cheap add on.

As for the pinstriping, I removed the original "blurple" paint and super-hip brown and yellow stripes when I decided on green and planned to replicate them with a black and gray combo...... as this has been the daily driver for a year and some change now, I'm thinking it's gonna happen with the next paint job!

Post edited by: shortyyyyyy, at: 2007/11/14 14:10

Mariozappa:
I had the same problem-- I had two cans from many moons ago and bought some more when I started the project. The "new" cans said they included a ceramic additive to increase the strength of the paint and they were definitely lighter (like more white pigment) than the old ones:sick: hence, the final two coats to color match everything.....again.:whistle:

Post edited by: shortyyyyyy, at: 2007/11/14 14:19

Welcome aboard Shorty. I just have to wonder....
I'v seen lots of short guys with SR's. I'm about five feet tall, my dad was shorter than me, and I've seen a few other short people with SR's. Do you fall in this catagory as well?
Anyway, welcome!