'78 KZ1000 makeover

camaroguy wrote:

your right with those inspiration pics.the bike is looking good. you stole those forks.I just bought a complete front end with wheel off of 07 1k for 500.still waiting to get it.seeing yours mocked up has me heading out to the garage to get some work done.congrats on the baby.

Thanks you and welcome! $500 is a good deal complete with a wheel too....I just stole these ones :ohmy: I will gladly accept your congradulations. What are YOU building that you need gixxer 1K forks for, hmmmm?

OK Jack, I had NO IDEA that my cases could be anything other than standard 1K engine cases. What code in the engine serial # denotes a MK2?

Josh, I have no idea where I'm going to get a Triumph front wheel. The only matching one on ebay is in England, it has a flat spot and it would be $500 shipped. 500 bones for a damaged wheel......ouch. I am contemplating running a GSXR wheel until I can aquire the correct Triumph front for a reasonable price. We'll see what comes up in the next month or so

Generally the front brakes obscure most of the wheel anyway, so it shouldn't be too noticeable. Patience is a virtue here. I think its McDroid who always says that everything is for sale on ebay eventually. I don't think that I would give $500 for a bent wheel. Dare I ask what Triumph wants for a new one? Have you been trolling the Speed Triple forums?

porchev914 wrote:

OK Jack, I had NO IDEA that my cases could be anything other than standard 1K engine cases. What code in the engine serial # denotes a MK2?

The engines fall into ranges of numbers used in each model year. Check www.zedder.com and go to Bike Info. They list all the 79-80 models with engine and frame serial numbers so it's relatively easy to figure out what you have.

ie. KZT00AE....= STD., KZT00BE....= LTD., KZT00CE....= Police, KZT00GE....= Custom etc.

here is my project

hope it works . dont know what the

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im doing

I just rechecked the engine code on my cases ans cross referenced it with the site you provided Jack- Engine code is KZT00AE066238, which falls under the '78 KZ1000 A2A. I wish I had the MK2 engine! Jack wrote:

porchev914 wrote:

OK Jack, I had NO IDEA that my cases could be anything other than standard 1K engine cases. What code in the engine serial # denotes a MK2?

The engines fall into ranges of numbers used in each model year. Check www.zedder.com and go to Bike Info. They list all the 79-80 models with engine and frame serial numbers so it's relatively easy to figure out what you have.

ie. KZT00AE....= STD., KZT00BE....= LTD., KZT00CE....= Police, KZT00GE....= Custom etc.

camaroguy wrote:

here is my project

If you haven't already, you should start a build thread for that pretty little bike, that way you can post more pics of her. That looks like a nice foundation for a street bike. Are you just planning on the swingarm and gixxer forks, or is there more planned for your project?

sorry about that,not trying to hijack your thread. ill do just that.

Maybe u should count the teeth on your crank. 15 teeth for a z1/kz 16 for a MK11.

camaroguy wrote:

sorry about that,not trying to hijack your thread. ill do just that.

No worries boss, it's just easier for people to follow your project when it has its own thread

Mark, I have a 15 tooth cam sprocket. I don't know, maybe my cases were replaced under warranty 30 years ago and a MK2 unit was substituted for the weaker KZ1K cases? Hell, I din't even know the MK2 had different cases until Jack said something. But Jacks observation is correct on the ribs on the front of the case. Is there another indicator for MK2 cases I can check to confirm guys?

Hey I'm here to humbly apologize for misleading you on this. The reason I put my foot in my mouth was that I've always been told one of the identifiers ( admittedly pre internet )was the larger front ribs on the lower case front. Both sets of my 79 MKll cases have 13 ribs so I jumped to an incorrect opinion looking at your photo.Sorry.

Consulted my guru and he told me another way to identify MKll cases beside the serial#. The reinforcing main ribs inside the lower case from the front to the oil filter cavity is .600 thick for MKll, .545 for ST and Classic. Not sure on LTD, may or may not be MKll spec. 73-78 Z1/ KZ ribs are .300. ST and Classic cases have J Model Style tranny doors, MKll are Z1/KZ 900/1000 style.

Here's an anomoly from Mother Kaw. Bought a set of 80 Classic cases which have .545 thick main ribs but have 18 smaller ribs on the lower cases ( Z1/ KZ style )than the 13 on my MKll cases or the 78 version. Never seen that before and was wondering what I had until I measured.