Finally got my 81 KZ750 Cafe on the road.

I've been working on and off on this bike for about three years now. I rolled it into my garage during a snowstorm and started stripping it. Piece by piece I've gotten it back together the way I think it should look.

The shake-down run consisted of a 250 mile run from my house to Danbury, CT and back. It ran great, but now, a hundred miles later, it won't start (starter button does nothing, but bridging the solenoid turns the engine), so it's back into the garage with it.

Here's a couple of pictures I took with an old box camera. Hope you like.

Later,
Jay





Post edited by: KnuckleBuster, at: 2007/09/20 11:40

The bike is beautiful but the 'period' photos are a terrific touch. I like what you have done:)

That second photo is money. Nice.

DETAILS MAN!

Bike looks great, love the black & white pictures. Check your fuses and the wiring up at the handle bars for a pinched wire.
Mark

Thanks for the kind words, guys. I haven't had a chance to tear into the thing to find the problem yet, but I'm sure it's some stupid wiring glitch. It happened one time on the shake-down run: I went to start it and I could hear a click (just once) from the left side where the fuses, etc. are ant the lights went out. I switched the ignition off, then on again and the lights came back on but went off after the click when I pressed the starter. I took the fuse cover apart and shook some crap and it started right up. This time around, it did the click - lights out thing a couple of times then stopped clicking, but the lights stay on. I'll figure it out. I wonder if it has something to do with the wiring for the clutch safety switch I bypassed.

I'm at work, so it's hard to type a lot without getting caught, so I'll post some details with some more pictures a little later.

Great pix! Nice work.

I know this is an old thread but I saw it and had to add.


This is my 85 KZ750 that I finished up this last summer. I traded an old RC car for it, around $450.

Complete tear down to nuts and bolts. All new gaskets a seals, Honed out the cylinders and cleaned up the valves. Rebuilt the Carbs with a stage 3 Dynojet kit to match the Open Kerkers. Added a new front master cylinder and rebuilt all the brakes and forks. Almost all new electronics. Clip on bars. Custom tail and tons of polished alluminum. Custom Leather 2up seat.

Handles like a dream...

Nice bike!

Not to get off topic but what sort of Box camera are you using? I've got an old Agfa but I haven't been able to find any useable film for it so far from any camera shops I've tried. Some recommended to try modifying some Brownie film. Any suggestions?