New from Nebraska

Hey everyone,
I'm here because I'm sure this is THE place to go for questions and comments as I convert my 1980 KZ650CRS into a cafe bike, or bobber, or dirt tracker.

Why three types, well to my eye they have similar elements, they also have hard core believers in their respective styles, and I'm not one to keep a bike stock.

I have a Honda CB550 that I'm converting now at SOHC forums under the same name, and I like it so far, but this bike has me going into a different direction and I'm excited about having another project.

Thanks

a few starting pics of the engine case, and there is lots of rust pitting the forks too, but its all there, so the work begins.

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Welcome.
This site will help tons in keeping your kz running for many years.
For some Cafe and Bobber ideas, check out www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?board=3.0 .

Welcome! Congrats on your "new" bike, hope we can answer your questions!

Thanks for the advice on the parts. I guess it could be an 81, the frame says 1908, but I forget what the title says. I'm interested in doing a single shock rear swing arm swap, and maybe bigger front forks, I saw some from a Versys for sale for $500....but I better start small first I guess. The whole thing was only $100, and it runs. The seat is bad and the chrome has rust pits on it, but the aluminum is mostly oxidized and is coming clean pretty easily.

I want to do a blue, white combo, and get new klx250s wheels from the supermoto, or have someone else do 18" rear wheel like buchannan...

On my honda 550 I put dirt bike bars cause I like the feel and stance, but there is a chance I could do clubmans, or clip-ons, those ones that have adjustable height an reach..

See you around the site

Thanks,

I've got big plans, and I think this is the best place to be to talk about them.

I started slowly by taking a few things off and polishing what I can, so we'll see how it goes.

I go to that web site just about every day, thanks, it's been helpful too. I think this site here is the best place I've found so far. I'm surprised how many model specific sites there are out there, thank goodness.

Hello everyone I am new at the forum and I'm a big fan of KZ motorcycle. My wish is to make a replica of Mad Max motorcycle. I hope that on this forum and gain more knowledge with you to exchange their experiences.

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so i took some pictures and after taking the bike apart and cleaning out the wasps nests, here I am















lots of surface rust on the frame

I have a dual front rotor set up Im doing from the single (do I need another brake lever and housing?)

Im not going crazy, keeping it simple, with rattle can paint and lots of labor to clean and polish

more pics

rear tire



tank, not bad a few little dents



rear seat is fair, but I'll recover the whole thing in Suade.



side covers are getting cleaned and polished now..





tail light is OK but I ate the turn signals, they're big and sloppy.


this little guy doesn't sound too excited about the project in general, but he's company anyway.

Looks like you have alot of work a head of you! I am also building a cafe racer and I also live in nebraska.Im sanding everything down right now and its driving me crazy. Im building it out of 78 kz650.