Freebyrd's 81 KZ1000 Build

Thanks TraingleLaguna!

Mark, According to the VIN and title its an 1981 LTD. Do I need to add any more bracing you think? Could it be a different type of frame??

Bump!! Any ideas or recommendations? any additional bracing needed? I had to switch to another post and rest my eyes a little. Almost at the end of testarossas! I got a lil far behind :lol:

Man it looks like you already have most of the bracing that I added. The only things that you might consider are the triangular gussets above the swingarm pivot. I also have that x shaped brace in front of the battery box. My upper monoshock mount acts as a cross brace as well as my welded in battery box. It probably adds up to overkill in my case, but who knows?

I can't remember, but did you ride this bike stock? If so, how did it handle then?

testarossa wrote:

Man it looks like you already have most of the bracing that I added. The only things that you might consider are the triangular gussets above the swingarm pivot. I also have that x shaped brace in front of the battery box. My upper monoshock mount acts as a cross brace as well as my welded in battery box. It probably adds up to overkill in my case, but who knows?

I can't remember, but did you ride this bike stock? If so, how did it handle then?

Unfortunately when I first got the bike it took forever to start it, and I could tell the motor was hurt and something wasn't right. I was planning a 1075 build project anyway but I didn't get to put any miles on it, just up and down my street. I found a nice scored piston upon disassembly!

My frame does have some extra support around the pivot, but I will look into how to brace it a bit more. It can't hurt!

Have you read any of Tony Foale's work about bracing Kawasaki frames yet?

testarossa wrote:

Have you read any of Tony Foale's work about bracing Kawasaki frames yet?

I have not. Do you have a link to that? Should I just search online for it?

Also I hope to catch up on your build today! I'm chugging through it and almost caught up, lots of good information and I'm even gathering some ideas from it for inspiration! Very cool!!

Thanks man, I was hoping that all my efforts wouldn't fall on deaf ears. Anyway, I think that I still have the info on my computer at the house. I'll check when I get home. It's in PDF form, so just pm me with an email addy, and I'll send it over if I still have it. I know that mark1122 has the same stuff (he sent it to me) and porchev914 had it as well.

Here's a link to the Kawa specific stuff on his website:
www.tonyfoale.com/

Lots of good info there, but I have some other info that I can send to you. As long as it's still where I think it is. I have been shuffling computers a lot this year.

Ok that link doesn't work like I expected. It takes you to his homepage. Click the articles tab at the top of the page, then scroll down under the Practical header. Click frame stiffening Kawa 750 as an example. That's where I was trying to send you.

I think I am going to make this thread my main build thread, is there a way to change the title of the entire thread?

Sorry for the slow progress and lack of updates, but it's tough with an unheated garage and a snow storm dumping a foot of snow every damn week! I might have to buy a large propane heater, even though the garage is not insulated.

Here's where my 650 is sleeping...


Anyways, I brought my upper triple, handlebar clamps, and a set of handlebars into my basement, and had a couple of questions for anyone who has done this before. Here are the clamps I was thinking of using...


Now I'm not sure what size to make the holes for these clamps. I'm going to drill two holes in the upper triple for them. Should they be the diameter of the bolt itself and the rubbers rest on either side? If should the bottom tapered part of the rubbers be inside the hole?

Second, what should the spacing be? I can get a decent idea based on the stock set of handlebars I have, which I will probably use initially, but if I wanted to change to another set of bars, I'm curious if there is a standard width for handlebars? For example using random dimensions, if I set the bars 5 inches apart and most bars come with an area of only 3 inches in which you can clamp them on, I'll be screwed.

I may be over thinking it, but just want to pick some peoples brains before drilling holes!

I'll probably take Mark's route as well and trim the underside of the triple to get some height back.



Lots of excess material underneath...

Thanks everyone!

Mods, I'd love to move this to projects and rename if possible.

Freebyrd's 81 KZ1000 Build

Freebyrd's 81 KZ1000 Build

Patton, is there a way to bring everything over from the other thread in the chassis form where I had it?

freebyrd24 wrote:

.

Anyways, I brought my upper triple, handlebar clamps, and a set of handlebars into my basement, and had a couple of questions for anyone who has done this before. Here are the clamps I was thinking of using...

Now I'm not sure what size to make the holes for these clamps. I'm going to drill two holes in the upper triple for them. Should they be the diameter of the bolt itself and the rubbers rest on either side? If should the bottom tapered part of the rubbers be inside the hole?

Second, what should the spacing be? I'm curious if there is a standard width for handlebars?

Thanks everyone!

Just drill the hole the same size as the bolt that u will put in the hole.(5/16",3/8"?)
u can mount them with or without the rubbers. i have the same risers,and i just put a thick rubber washer under the riser and i used 1 of the tapered rubbers underneath and just compressed it with a nut and washer.u could have a space cut out of the bottom rib to accept the rubbers.
if u have a 650, just measure the riser spacing on that.mine are about 3 3/4".