TOPIC:

porchev914 wrote:

How's the luggage mounts comming along? I'm also curious what headers you find that could be adapted to the KZ. Keep us posted! [/quote]

Well, my little trip the the wrecker yeilded some interesting results. First off, I had no luck even finding a KZ header, let alone anything else that would work. He had tons of unmarked, twisted, dented, rusty pipes. One that sure looked like a Kerker megaphone, but one of the primary tubes was too rotten on the end that connects to the head. It also had a dime sized hole in the bottom of the muffler.

I also found a CB900RR that had a gorgeous polished swingarm which I think would look killer on testarossa's 2.0. He wanted $350 for the swinger, shock, wheel and linkage. Too rich for my blood.

They had lots of donor GS, CB, and KZ parts bikes, but most of the good stuff was gone. I did score a set of dirt-bike style bars from a GS1100, and a neat little aluminium luggage rack. Not too many newer bikes mostly 70's, 80's and tons of dirtbikes and quads.



Not sure if I'll use these, but it does give me an option to the clip-ons.

See my luggage rack thread for update photos of that aspect of this project.

BTW Larry thanks for your input on my bearings. I respect your opinion and I may reconsider my bearings when I get to my engine.

Quick update. I finished phase one of my modular luggage rack system. The complete thread can be found here: kzrider.com/index.php?option=com_kunena&...ew&catid=5&id=348190

Got my new Michelin Power Pilot 2CT's in today. I had really wanted to try some sport touring tires but these were such a good price that I couldn't pass the deal. I'll try to detail my el cheapo DIY tire mount and balance system in the near future.

I also got 90% of the crusty metallic teal paint off of that rear wheel and started polishing the rim. I couldn't stand the thought of mounting a new tire on that atrocity.

Here's a shot of the new back tire on the bike. I can give the tire mount and balance tutorial yet. Getting that old tire off became a fistfight. I had to put the camera down and show that tire who's boss.

testarossa wrote:

I had to put the camera down and show that tire who's boss.

Ha! I hear that!

I fought with my rear tire for probably three hours; two rim locks and a tube is a real PITA. Once I got it back together and found out that I pinched the tube I vowed never to touch another tire ever again!

Until the next day when I learned that the cheapest price to mount a tire was $25 per wheel...and only if you bought the tire from them and brought the wheels in off of the bike.

So I spent $50 on the right tools and got the rear tire on in about 25 minutes without any leaks!

The tire looks good. Are you going to leave the wheel like it is, I kind of like the polished rim against the rough natural aluminum.

Bring on the tutorial and keep going!

Thanks Jake. Its definantly a little easier when you don't have rim locks and a tube, but that back tire was really old and hard. If you have ever tried to remove a tire that has been on for about 10 years then you know what I mean. As for the wheel, I want the polished rim, but I may have to paint the spokes. What that picture doesn't show very well, is how much blue is left in the casting which I couldn't get out without sanding it all down smooth. I'm thinking a charcoal grey metallic or black. I've aways been a fan of Torque Thrust D wheels for cars, so I could sort of achieve that look.

I plan on building my own balance stand with some scrap steel, so I'll need to do that before I post the tutorial. I'll save the front tire for that one. Usually fronts are easier than the really wide, low profile sport bike rears. I'll also show the extra cheap barstool tire balance trick.

I'll also show the extra cheap barstool tire balance trick.

That sounds like something i could use in the Man cave. lol.

Yea Mark,
In your case you'll need one red and one green barstool. Did you get the compressor yet?

No , not yet.
Crank?

Not yet. Canada post says 10-12 buisness days in their FAQ.

Nice Josh! I'm clueless about your crank issues though. Thanks for the lathe tutorial, I need to read through it again a little more carefully then try it out.

I'm with jake on the tire changing- there isn't much worse than spending 2 hours wrestling a skinny tire on a skinny rim with 2 rim locks fixing a tube only to find out that you pinched the new tube during installation This is probably the only reason I'm doing my swingarm swap, to get away from those damn tubes! I wish I had a rear wheel and brand new sticky tire I'm jelous Josh!

I have a KZ900 crank en route from Canada thanks to Mark. New Michelins rule! So supple that I didn't even need tools to get either bead over the rim. Well except me, I'm a tool!

Hey, its the Tools of the world that get shit done, right?