TOPIC:

The wife and I finally attacked the shop and got it cleaned up. Now, I can finally get back to work on projects that have been sitting way to long. Now that the Fat Kaw is back together, as a two-wheeler, there is room on the lift for Arkaix's 440. Since he's off in Hawaii for the next few years, he said I could play with the 440.

Arkaix originally set out to build a bobber from an otherwise stock but tired 440 LTD. After he saw and rode my KLR the plan switched to building a dual sport.

The plan is to build a different street bike capable of short jaunts on unimproved roads. It will not be an all out dirt bike.

While Arkaix was home on leave he started fabbing up brackets to mount the seat and tail. It's still in the mock-up stage but I thought I'd share some pics. Thanks to this new section, Arkaix will be able to follow along from Hawaii.

I'm considering filling in the gap between the seat and the top of the frame with aluminum diamond plate. The TT style pipes will go away. I have a brand new (NOS) set of shotgun scrambler pipes that will be modified to give this beast "High - sidepipes". Enduro tires will follow.

The longer front end is from a 750 LTD. The rear shocks are from a KZ1000P. Looks like this should give it plenty of ground clearance.

Arkaix wanted to see what it would look like with one pipe running on each side.

The right pipe fits great, as is. I think it will look best with the other pipe running right above this one, both on the right side. I'll just have to modify the front of the exhaust from the left cylinder to make it fit.

Cool.
I like the pipes. I'll bet they have quite the rap-p-p to 'em.

Who is Arkaix? Inquiring minds an all...

neilage66 wrote:

Cool.
I like the pipes. I'll bet they have quite the rap-p-p to 'em.

Who is Arkaix? Inquiring minds an all...

If the pipes turn out to be too loud I may stuff in some internal baffles.

Arkaix is my #2 son and long time KZ'er.

From the first KZ BBQ. Arkaix is the last one on the right standing next to Mark Wing.

Hey, LTNS Paul!

I like the project, and that exhaust setup is nipple!

Years ago I had a friend that was running enduro tires on a KZ200 so we could play in the dirt.
It was a hoot to ride, but the major drawback aside from the minimal ground clearance was the large amount of weight the little KZ was sporting compared to a KX or KDX.

So what all have you done to make her lighter so far?

I'm thinking you could probably lose a good few pounds of excess weight on the KZ by swapping in a plastic KX/KDX fuel tank, hacking the upper rear of the frame off, and swapping in a front end from an offroad/enduro bike (better ground clearance and travel too).

Hey R4. Good to hear from you.

I'm not too worried about the extra weight as it most likely won't see much dirt use. We have other toys for that (the Baja Bug and our brand new 4x4 mini-limo). For serious off-roading we take the Baja Bug. For comfortable back country adventures we take Mrs. SR's new Jeep. She about freaked when I drove it through Indian Pass, but it came through without a scratch.

One of the easier sections:





So far only the very rear section of frame (behind the shock mounts) and a few un-needed mounting tabs have been removed. Ground clearance is already pretty good with the longer rear shocks and the longer forks up front.

Neat idea but those high pipes look like leg burners. Keep on innovating.

ps: The shop looks great.

Post edited by: 76LTD, at: 2007/01/06 20:40

this is a very cool project!

build a massive bash-plate for under the engine with some diamond tread, some tourances or some trials tires!

that will be stupid fun! i can think of a lot of silly places to take it.

keep us up on this project, it's too cool.

--r

solomrus wrote:

this is a very cool project!

build a massive bash-plate for under the engine with some diamond tread, some tourances or some trials tires!

that will be stupid fun! i can think of a lot of silly places to take it.

keep us up on this project, it's too cool.

--r

oh god dont give solomrus any ideas ,ill go over and find my z1 jacked up with kx500 suspension under it!

wireman wrote: oh god dont give solomrus any ideas ,ill go over and find my z1 jacked up with kx500 suspension under it! [/quote]