TOPIC:

So, I got the bike out for a really good ride here on Saturday. I have finished my projects on the bike for now and plan on putting some more miles on the bike before I do anything else (I sold one of my bikes a couple of weeks ago and am currently looking for a new bike buy so the KZ is the primary motorcycle for now). I am still considering finishing the cafe seat, but since the '80 and '81 seats are two pieces, I am also thinking about building a rear section for storage rather than useless seat foam.
I lowered the forks and replaced the fork oil with 15wt. That in combination with a increase in rear ride height with the 18" wheel, I'd say I am spot on. Took the bike out and it handled better than it ever has at all speeds. The gearing is a bit short as it will pull 10000rpm in top gear and still keep pulling. Very nice and I am very happy. A couple of pictures to follow.

Another:

And the last:

Trying to decide if this is going to make it on the bike.

Someone was looking for these handlebars and I just found some on Ebay with a Buy it Now for $34.00

cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Motorcycle-handl...fPartsQ5fAccessories

Well, it has been some time since I have updated this thread. More progress has been made, then lost and made again in the last year. It will take me some time and posts to catch up.
Last June, the KZ and I got to slide on the pavement.
Here is a link to the thread on this:
Low-sided the KZ!
A couple of pictures:
The damage:

The rebuild:

I was fortunate enough to have everything I needed except the taillight lens and the foot peg bracket already from my various parts bikes that I have aquired. It didn't take long to get the bike back on the road.

Well, I rode the bike for a bit that summer and then I decided to do a little motor work on the KZ.
I had an extra motor that I had picked up with a bunch of other parts a few years ago and I wanted to see if it worked. It was from a 1980 KZ750E model. I checked valve clearance and changed the oil and checked the compression (cold). Everything pointed to a motor that should run.
I also had acquired a vintage Kerker pipe that I thought I would throw on for fun (even has the baffle).
At the same time I ditched the air box and re-jetted for pods. I drilled out a set of stock jets from that I had laying around for fun. If it didn't work, I would just end up buying a new from Z1 Enterprises.
Well, after getting everything together and pressing the starter button, the bike fired right up! It ran great and strong; strong enough to smoke the rear tire in the driveway. I wish I would have captured the 15 feet of black carbon being blown out of the pipe from the years of use then non-use. The paint on the header was from the previous owner and it looks like the prep work was lacking a bit.

cafekz750 wrote:

Trying to decide if this is going to make it on the bike.

Ha! It did, but only because the bike slid on the stock master cylinder until it flipped in to the soybean field.

Proof that it runs as is:

At the end of last summer I had thoughts about selling the bike (and all of my KZ750 stuff).
I ended up not riding it much last summer. I had added another motorcycle to the stable and was really focused on the new bike. I also found that I did not like the combination of superbike bars and the rearsets. I missed the clubmans and the bike before the crash. I didn't like the sound of the Kerker as much as my Vance and Hines (or look) pipe I had on before. The bike had also developed dual leaking for seals and needed a new front tire. You know, the usual stuff.
Well, Supercharged (Mike) came through with a set of clubmans that he did not want. He sent them out without payment and then in return he wanted a donation to charity! He's a good guy.
I ordered new fork seals from Z1 and the tire is going to be replaced in a month or so.
This past winter, replaced the fork seals and slugged the front end. The front forks have been shortened an inch. They now have 5" of travel instead of 6", same as the KZ750E. This brings the front end in proportion with the raised rear and also adds a nice helping of preload. Much improved.
I then decided to lower my gauges and headlight. I was able to drop the headlight 2" and the ignition switch 1.5". Now the bars are the tallest thing on the front.
I installed my old pipe.
I have yet to finish (or start) the motor work I was going to do, but I have a set of '83 GPZ cams that are going in and I bought an electronic tachometer.
I also and trying to decide how I am going to finish the tail; either with the seat I cut down or a tail section from a KZ750E that I have or ???
A photograph of how the bike sits as of now:

This looks alot like my 82 KZ550 LTD, in which I am trying to "cafe" a bit. I really like the rework of your seat that you showed in the photo shopped pict, exactly the kinda thing/idea i've been looking for since i'd like to keep at least some of the rear chrome fender.

Mine had the same stock paint job until recenly when we stripped and repainetd.

RaeB)

I just saw this build.Very nice. I had the exact same idea for the rearsets. Using the stock pieces and modding them.