Taking the LTD from an LTD!

I own a 1983 KZ440 LTD and I hated the look of the seat, and the handlebars. I love the look of cafe, and I also wanted a bike that can be 2-up. I wanted clubman handlebars at a good enough angle to keep front sets. I wanted a nice paint job and a wrapped exhaust. So I couldn't tell you what kind of motorcycle I'm building but I would call it.. A cafe I guess?

First off:

I took off the seat, removed the cover, cleaned up the seat pan then attacked the foam. I shaved it down fairly low, then added memory foam, and it all ended up fairly straight. I then, with NO sewing skills whatsoever got the idea that sewing a custom seat cover would be a piece of cake. I got a sewer to show me how to work the machine, and TEN hours later, 2 meters of vinyl, one spool of stitches and many thumb stabs, advil's for the backpain from being hunched over and eyedrops for the drying eyes. It didn't turn out half bad! I know if isn't factory, but hell, for a first time ever sewing and a first time ever recovering a seat.. it ain't to bad.











Hope you all don't laugh to hard!

Next, I removed the ugly backrest and commuter rack, and went off to the paint store. I flipped through an automotive paint catalogue until I settled on an apple green, with aluminum to give it a tad of sparkle (Nothing corny though, very mild) and bought a special automotive clear coat in a spray can. It is a 2k system, and has two reservoirs. You push a button, puncturing the wall between the two reservoirs to mic the two parts. It then sprays on very evenly (or so i'm told). To those thinking because it was spray paint it was cheap, it wasn't. The automotive paint that they press into an aerosol can with a machine was 32 a can, the clearcoat 25, and all together it came to 70 bucks (taxes and misc. sandpaper). I will paint it this weekend (tank and side covers) and hopefully it'll turn out nice!

Then i'm going to order a pair of clubmans, and unless I can find an easy fab (no welder) I will need to buy new front blinkers as the LTD model has the blinkers mounted on the handlebars..

So let me know advice, and what you guys think so far.

P.S.- I am in canada, and it is -25 celcius here today.... yikes.

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thanks for all the advice! Ill look into the turn signal situation soon.

for now here is a video of where I am at in the project.



And does anyone have any old clubmans they would sell for cheap? I have paypal.. and I don't need brand new bars.. I will pay shipping and cost of item of course.

Or any other scrap cafe parts lying around let me know!

Thanks,
T.

thanks!

Right on dude.

Lookin good,

thank you!

I appreciate it.

Needed to find a new way to mount my turn signals before I threw on clubmans.. problem solved

I found a way to mod my current turn signals I included pictures to show and I hope its self explanatory. I removed the backing the the two clamps that hold it to the handlebars, drilled two holes in my headlight mount to match, and used the same bolts that held the two clamps together to hold the turn signal with one clamp onto the headlight bracket. It looks great, Holds on as tight as can be, and saved me needing to do any fab work, purchase any parts or even purchase and entire new assembly!








Hope you all enjoy!

If you haven't chucked that backrest and luggage rack, I'd love to take them off your hands...