Upgrading my 79 KZ1000 st

Believe it, or not I haven't lowered my bike yet!!! Going to do it very soon (or at least attempt it). Look out for pics on how to do it soon...

rslingshot wrote: Watch your self when putting in the 3inch lowering blocks it is a real bitch to get the fork caps on it can be a little dangerous,there is a ton of spring pressure because you are adding spacers inside the fork and not cutting the springs. 3 inches is going to slam that bike down a good bit and your forks will be very stiff.

I have not installed the lowering blocks, but I did purchase side covers, and have them sandblasted, prepped for chrome powder coating. Yes! Chrome color, powder coat!

was talking to the owner of our Local Commercially viable powder coating company about the chrome powder coating. He was pretty enthusiastic about the finished product as he says "it's shiney and has a similar reflectivity but isn't show chrome, closer to polished silver" please post some pic's when finished I haven't seen it yet.

We mount and dismount the tires on the wheels he does (which is allot) and so far the black wrinkle/textured and the plain silver seem to be what we do most of.

ramtough_63 wrote: was talking to the owner of our Local Commercially viable powder coating company about the chrome powder coating. He was pretty enthusiastic about the finished product as he says "it's shiney and has a similar reflectivity but isn't show chrome, closer to polished silver" please post some pic's when finished I haven't seen it yet.

We mount and dismount the tires on the wheels he does (which is allot) and so far the black wrinkle/textured and the plain silver seem to be what we do most of.

I've already done a lot of other pieces on my bike. I love the look of it. It is not quite chrome, not as shinny. It does look like polished silver… sorta. It does have a defined, natural metallic, look to it which I'm after (in my opinion), even more so than chrome. A more realistic, metal look similar to chrome. It will bring out the metal, braided, brake lines, once I do them. Kind of a Mad Max, meets, cafe racer, meets OEM+ look to it! That's the look I'm after.

i have several engine covers done in chrome powder coat on a couple different engines.

it's kinda like dull polished aluminum.

the reason i went with it was because you can just wash it and let it go and it still looks good.

but once it starts chippin it doesn't look as good and you can't just re-polish it like polished aluminum.

leon

531blackbanshee wrote: i have several engine covers done in chrome powder coat on a couple different engines.

it's kinda like dull polished aluminum.

the reason i went with it was because you can just wash it and let it go and it still looks good.

but once it starts chippin it doesn't look as good and you can't just re-polish it like polished aluminum.

leon

Yeah, that is the downside (chipping vrs. polishing). Powdercoat should be strong enough to withstand most (lol) rock chips. However, polishing would be much easier when the time comes.

i have a clutch cover on my banshee done in the chrome powder and the bottom of it has taken a pounding from gravel roost off my front tires.
so maybe it did resist the first few gravel chips :silly: but,
the rest went to work on it .

and then the powder starts coming loose around the edges of the chips and flaking off.



it should last a long time on the street tho.

you will definitely get your moneys worth out of it .

leon

LOL!!! Wow, 7 years later... Never installed the lowering blocks. Because my bike is a KZ1000E (40mm forks) with the larger forks, I am pretty sure those blocks are for a KZ1000 chain with the smaller 35mm forks. Having the bike completely torn down and gone through. Carbs rebuilt with Stage 3 Jet kit, Forks rebuilt, ShaftDrive serviced. New front and rear tires. New front master cylendar. All new fuel lines, T's, fittings and connectors. New K&N pods (got rid of the no-name cheapo's I had originally run) All new synthetic lubricants. K&N oil filter. All side covers are now powder coated chrome, New clip-on handle bars and grips. And a new AGM battery!
I will post pics asap.

Only took 7 freaking years! Other than my cool looking brake lines, she is 100% complete! Here is a pic to to show you what it looks like now! I have not cleaned her up yet. I'm hoping to put some soap and water on her this weekend... Without further adu:

Gorgeous bike! Beautiful paint!

You should insert your pics into the message so that it shows up in your post.

You mean like this?