My '76 z900 'Strip-fighter...sorta

Doug, I have a friend that uses the material that cast are made of. You just soak it in water and apply.He gets the rolls on eBay. He uses it to make custom seat pans. Roy


Bring a bike to ohio this year. Slim Jim is wanting to have a group ride.

roy-b-boy-b wrote:

Doug, I have a friend that uses the material that cast are made of. You just soak it in water and apply.He gets the rolls on eBay. He uses it to make custom seat pans. Roy


Bring a bike to ohio this year. Slim Jim is wanting to have a group ride.

The cast material is a great idea. I'll see if I can pick some up.

I'll also do my best to bring a bike to VMD. I know it won't be the 900 but perhaps I can finally get my butt into gear and give my 1000 the TLC it's been needing lately.

Later, Doug

Got a few things done last weekend. It's all small stuff but had to be done sooner or later.

Not alot of people attempt it but since I want the lower fork ends powder coated I had to remove the chrome inner tubes.
A vise, a propane torch used for plumbing, and a screwdriver...



I don't know about all USD forks but the Gsxr ones have some really good thread locker that needs some heat to melt. When the residual fork oil starts to smoke off then the tempt is getting close. I just kept swapping the heat from one side to the other side and trying to evenly heat everything. Once melted the inner tube just unscrews out of the lower fork bracket. Make sure that the compression adjuster is taken out before heating the parts.



Next up was the first step to making the front end fit.
I pressed out the steering stem using a 12 ton press. Once I get a chance, the stem and lower triple will be machined to recess the stem about 1/8" further into the clamp.


During mockup, I found the stock Gsxr steering stops won't work with a Kz frame. I used a hacksaw to cut the stops as close as I could without gouging the clamp. Next up was a flap wheel on my 4" angle grinder, followed up by a file, then finally a once over with a mouse sander.





I don't have any pics, but I also smoothed over the seam left by the casting process when the clamp was made. I used the angle grinder, flat and round files, and the mouse sander to smooth everything. This step really iwasn't neccessary but the 20mins it took to do it will make the part much better looking after its powdercoated.


While I had the angle grinder out, I started on the first step for my swingarm extensions.



I cut through the middle of the factory welds. After I thought I went deep enough all the way around, a few raps of a hammer and the adjusterjust popped out. Next step will be to make sure the cuts are even and square all the way around each tube so that each side of the arm will be equal lengths with the extensions are welded in.

That's all I have to report. I know I've been jumping around lately, but I can only do so much with what I have to work with and I figure all this stuff will have to be done sooner or later.

Later, Doug

StreetfighterKz wrote:

Well, I bought the 'Busa rim and the fork legs for $150 so the fork legs cost me $75 then I bought an axle from the salvage yard for $25 and I had a deal to buy a set of 750K2 triples for $40 plus shipping so I'll say $50 so I was looking at $150 and the parts wouldn't have all worked together so I didn't gain/lose money but at least it all works together now.

Bad Kaw wrote:

What are the paint plans?

-KR

The plan since the beginning is all blacked out with gold rims, gold engine cover bolts and other assorted hardware.
I'd like to incorporate some gold ghost flames with "stock" looking gold pinstriping. Or maybe the same scheme but with some medium/dark shade of blue.

I found this pic somewhere and it's almost exactly what I'm shooting for if I go with the black scheme.

Later, Doug

you know thats a suzuki air/oil cooled motor (early gsxr 1100/katana 1100/bandit 1200)in that kaw, don't you?

Ronin wrote:

you know thats a suzuki air/oil cooled motor (early gsxr 1100/katana 1100/bandit 1200)in that kaw, don't you?

Yup. Along with a 01-02 Gsxr1000 front end running a Slingy front rim and fender and a Kz650 tail section.....I pay attention to details.

Later, Doug

nice work on the trees and legs.might as well do what you can when you can,gets you that much closer to the final results:cheer: .keep us posted.

I finally bit the bullet and decided that I'm probably not going to use the stock Gsxr fender so I'll need new mounts for whatever fender I do go with so a couple hours with a hacksaw and a half dozen different files and here's what happens...











Comparison...


Both done...


Later, Doug

Keep the pics coming. Nice progress. I'm gettin some ideas now.

Yeah, that's pretty cool.
-KR

I love this project, one for thinking outside of the box and making his own parts & modifications and the other for StreetfighterKz is like a Japanese tourist with a digital camera...

You are the new King of picture taking.... I relinquish my title....

Sick him Homer....

StreetfighterKz wrote:

I finally bit the bullet and decided that I'm probably not going to use the stock Gsxr fender so I'll need new mounts for whatever fender I do go with so a couple hours with a hacksaw and a half dozen different files and here's what happens...

Comparison...

Both done...

Later, Doug

look at him go,ya make the plumber proud!i thought i was the only guy in the world who was that anal retentive!:laugh:

I don't care which one of you is more detail oriented! I'm just glad you do what you do and you have the kindness to post it up! I set around and think motorcycle-porn thoughts like this but then I think "aw, probably can't do that" or "probably too much work" ... then you guys do this! Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!

Drive on,
-KR