Freebyrd's 81 KZ1000 Build

Now comes the fun part.
watch the shipping charges, some guys over charge. also make sure u buy from a seller with a long record of sales. NEVER buy from a relative newbie. i have been burned a few times, It has always been from a guy with no reputation to stand behind. So be sure to buy from a regular seller.
Good luck.
Let the bidding begin . :woohoo:

Got my pressed and cleaned up new stem/tree assembly back yesterday! I'll try to remember to take some pictures tonight for everyone. I have a very busy weekend unfortunately coming up though. I had a question on the bearings though. Can I just order the stock KZ bearings now? I should be able to just use the stock ones I believe, but want to see what others have done. Also, what have people done for the top tree? I'll have to get into it and take a good look, but until I do, I was curious what others have done as far as spacers, and tighenting everything down on top.... Thanks!

I just ordered the All Balls tapered bearing kit from Z1E for my KZ1000, and it works fine. My GSXR top clamp needed to be milled out on the ID of the center hole to fit over the KZ stem. AFter that I just used the standered KZ stem top bolt with a washer underneath.

So the GSXR stem was smaller than the kz stem in your case? I think the zx-9 stem was larger, will I need some sort of spacer then to fill the gap?

Yeah, the top of the GSXR stem was smaller. If you need a spacer, then it should be a simple affair for a machine shop. Just turn a sleeve with a flange at the top which would double as the washer in my setup.

I dont know what u mean by a spacer? the center hole may have to be drilled to the right size. kz stems have a dif diam at the top, than the zx9. i have 2 kz stems, with 2 dif size tops. maybe a z1 and a kz?
i had the kz top washer turned down on its outside diam. this allowed it to sit inside the zx9 trees top hole(recess).
I may be able to trade u mine for yours.
i dont need the turned down washer anymore, since i eliminated the need with my last mod.
I used stock size kz bearings in the tapered style, like testarossa did.
I dont really get why they say the tapered 1's are better? all the new bikes still use rollers. if the old 1's look good i wouldn't be afraid to reuse them.

mark1122 wrote:

I dont know what u mean by a spacer? the center hole may have to be drilled to the right size. kz stems have a dif diam at the top, than the zx9. i have 2 kz stems, with 2 dif size tops. maybe a z1 and a kz?
i had the kz top washer turned down on its outside diam. this allowed it to sit inside the zx9 trees top hole(recess).
I may be able to trade u mine for yours.
i dont need the turned down washer anymore, since i eliminated the need with my last mod.
I used stock size kz bearings in the tapered style, like testarossa did.
I dont really get why they say the tapered 1's are better? all the new bikes still use rollers. if the old 1's look good i wouldn't be afraid to reuse them.

Ooooh I may have to take you up on that for that turned down washer. I will HOPEFULLY have some time to do some test fitting on Sunday, if not I'll have to wait until I get some time on the weekdays to do it. I'll order a set of bearings from Z1 this weekend so maybe next weekend everything can start coming together. Which ones are their "tapered" ones? I'm not sure i completely understand the differences.

Also another question. I'd like to use the brake Master cylinder from the zx-9. Did you use the zx-9 MC on your bike? If so how did you get it to work? Is it part of the "clamp" assembly that the sport bikes have? Sorry for all the obvious questions, I am just brainstorming while I wait for some time to get dirty and get in the garage. I like to go into the garage loaded with info. Thanks!

I haven't had time to look at my bike either.
I will look into weather i need the turned down 1 or not. what is the od of the stock 1 ?
the tapered bearing set replaces all stock bearings , top and bottom.

i dont see any reason u cant use the zx9 master, i used a zx12, or zx9, and as i recall it they were almost identical ? i had booth. i sent the other to Leon.

Is it part of the "clamp" assembly that the sport bikes have?
Sorry.I dont know what u mean?

mark1122 wrote:

I haven't had time to look at my bike either.
I will look into weather i need the turned down 1 or not. what is the od of the stock 1 ?
the tapered bearing set replaces all stock bearings , top and bottom.

i dont see any reason u cant use the zx9 master, i used a zx12, or zx9, and as i recall it they were almost identical ? i had booth. i sent the other to Leon.

Is it part of the "clamp" assembly that the sport bikes have?
Sorry.I dont know what u mean?

I can try to get into more detail and find that dimension for you Sunday I hope. What I mean by the clamp is the handlebar assembly. On the zx-9, the handlebar control slides over the fork as opposed to the standard handlebar layout like on our kz's. Is the master cylinder part of that assembly that just slides onto the fork, or can it be separated from it? I'll be able to tell when I get to the garage and look, but since I am at work, and just curious now, I was seeing if you knew and how you did it.

It's tough for me to try to explain, but do you know what I mean? Thanks!

The master just clamps onto the zx9 clip-on handle bar, just like any other.
U wont have any trouble.

Very cool! Thank you! I can't wait to dig into that this weekend :woohoo:

Have fun. just holler if u need anything.