1980 Z500 Cafe Racer Rolling Project

Just bought a new seat off ebay for my rolling/riding subtle small jap cafe racer project. so i thought i'd start a thread dedicated to it with progress shots as it evolves.

This is how it was i bought it off ebay;



then i added ACE bars, smaller indicators and stripes, all in time for the Ace Cafe reunion run to brighton;







then the new addition just fitted this afternoon, a slightly more racey seat (apparantly off a 1981 gpZ500)

first up how it looked with the old seat:





Then this is the new seat, i love the shape of it compared to the original;








To DO LIST:

Flip the headlight brackets over to drop the light by about 2"

Get some Cafe Style guages

New grips, the ones on are properly uncomfortable

New tyres, probably Avon Roadriders (i know their not classic styles but i've eard very good things about them, and they do them in my size!)

Modify the real light bracket to tuck it up under the rear cowl plus lose the old indicator stalks.

Smaller number plate tucked up under the rear cowl

Cool! Thanks for sharing...and nice seat! I do like the GPz style also.

Nice bike.

I have a z500 too so I'm really interested in all your mods, just my 2 cents, I've tried flipping the headlight brackets and they didn't really lower the light too much, and also I had some problem with the light angle cos after flipping the headlight bracket theres an obstruction which does not allow you to adjust the light any lower, so your headlight will be pointing slightly upwards, cosmetically not really a problem but it is when you are riding home at night, hope you understand what I mean, you might not have the same problem but keep that in mind before you start

I had time for a little fettling the other night, I Stripped down the back end to fit the new light.


This is how it was:






This is how it is now:





I have a new number plate which fits nicely into the cowl.

A bit more street fighter rather than café racer, but still fits in with the stripped down look I am working towards.


Next step, flip the headlight brackets over/ get some new brackets to lower the headlight and indicators. Then look at moving/changing the idiot lights and some new gauges.


Iand

Cool. What is the new tail light from?
-KR

its just an aftermarket street fighter/cafe racer one, picked it up at the NEC bike show for £7.50, bargain seeing as they're around £12 on ebay!!

iandz500 wrote:

its just an aftermarket street fighter/cafe racer one, picked it up at the NEC bike show for £7.50, bargain seeing as they're around £12 on ebay!!

do u know who makes it?.. im building a kz550 and wouldnt mind looking into that light

RollingStock wrote:

iandz500 wrote:

its just an aftermarket street fighter/cafe racer one, picked it up at the NEC bike show for £7.50, bargain seeing as they're around £12 on ebay!!

do u know who makes it?.. im building a kz550 and wouldnt mind looking into that light

not sure, i can't see any markings on it and the box is long gone, there seems to be 2 different types on ebay (uk)
the cheaper ones
cgi.ebay.co.uk/Universal-Rear-Light-Moto...eZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

and more expensive ones
cgi.ebay.co.uk/REAR-LIGHT-TWIN-SHOTGUN-M...QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

doesn't look like there any different to me though!!

just taken a delivery of my latest ebay purchases, having removed the airbox i realised i'd not taken a proper before photo, but theres a half way and a finished photo with the new breather filter and air filters fitted.


took it out for a short test ride and as expected theres a lag in throttle response so i'll be getting it rejetted at some point in the near future, found out theres a rolling road near me specialising in bikes so i may treat myself and take it along there to get it set up properly.





i love the back end now so took another shot of it to go up here! (just think the rear wheel looks a 'little weedy'




i swapped the ace bars back to the std bars, i have a set of flat bars to go on now but am waiting for the new brake and clutch levers to turn up so i can fit them at the same time.

mmmm i dig it.good eye with all the mods,cool seat.

Looks good.
I wish I could get my hands on a Giulari for my 650!

Post edited by: mariozappa, at: 2008/01/30 15:17