should i start cutting her up?

my 1980 Z500 that is, (theres pics up on here somewhere of her)

well when i say cutting it up really i mean grinding/cuting bits off.

i want to turn my Z500 into a cafe racer style bike, i have added dropped bars and tried hiding the indicators but i want to do some other subtle things which involve cutting/moving/shaping various bits and bobs.

now i can't find much out about the Z500 but it seems there were only(?) 16000 made and i have never seen another one, just spoken to people who used to have them. i'm not sure if the bike will ever go up in value but i feel abit guilty for wanting to start cutting chunks out of her!?!?!

what do you reckon, stop being a wuss and get the grinder out? or leave her as she is so the mods are easily reversable?

Iand

here she is before the dropped bars and stripes



Post edited by: iandz500, at: 2007/11/07 18:52

Post edited by: iandz500, at: 2007/11/07 19:07

I don't know what to tell you because if it was my bike i would do what i wanted regardless; however have you thought about a project bike?


This bike looks very nice and as you say it is not a common model. I would hold on to it as is and then get a gpz550 or an old kz650, maybe a nice 750 4 cylinder to cut up and play with.

Just a thought.

It seems universally true to all things auto/moto:
The value is in stock.
The fun is in custom.

I have to agree with hardr0ck68.
I'd consider another project if you feel cafe is what you really want. Your bike just seems so nice as it is. However, it's YOUR bike so do with it as you will.

I always think about this when it comes to my old vehicles - "were it not for me, this old (car/bike/etc) would prolly not even be on the road still"

I would agree and get a different project bike; however, a Z500 cafe racer would look baaaaad ass.

There is a chance that I will have an extra kz750 frame with brakes, handle bars and controls, wiring harness... it is almost a complete bike... doesnt have spedo or tacho... anyways this of course you live near the Arizona area

Let us know what you do and if you turn that Z into a cafe racer you must post pics!

From what I understand the 500 is just a 550 with a smaller bore, and was produced to fit in with some sort of import tariff or licensing scheme.

They're an unusual model, but not any more collectible (see the KZ700).

It's your bike, grind away until you're happy with the results. Just remember that it's easier to remove something than it is to put it back. Keep it safe, try not to remove anything that'll weaken the frame.

terps19 wrote:

I would agree and get a different project bike; however, a Z500 cafe racer would look baaaaad ass.

There is a chance that I will have an extra kz750 frame with brakes, handle bars and controls, wiring harness... it is almost a complete bike... doesnt have spedo or tacho... anyways this of course you live near the Arizona area

Let us know what you do and if you turn that Z into a cafe racer you must post pics!

slight problem with that, theres a rather large pond between us!!!