KZ650 CSR from old to new

I've posted my pictures in the "new Member" forum by mistake. I'll repost here and track my project too.

so I got a 1980 KZ650 CSR from a guy at work who just let it sit in his garage after he bought a new chain. He just never put it on, even after new front gear and rear gears.

it was awfully dirty, with wasps nests and rust. I have a big job ahead, but it's also a complete bike.

Rusty Frame






Wheels are OK, but I'm adding dual front brakes instead of the single.





Engine was oily and dirty, but after, half a gallon of Castrol purple super clean, a power sprayer and scrubbing, it looks much better, but I'll do a second run at cleaning it up too.





The side covers were terrible too but I've been polishing them and they're turning out ok.





I have the proper front forks to do dual brakes, and I'll paint the lowers black too, same with the front fender.
I hope I get it done this year. My project CB550 took way too long, I started in Nov 2010, and finished this May...

I'd be interested in trading my spoked wheels for mags if anyone is interested, I have new rear spokes too, the front is OK, just dirty.

Time to really get busy.

KZ650 CSR's are cool!

Try some Simple Green on that motor and let it soak a bit. OMR swears by it and I have had great results also.

I forgot about Simple Green, I'll give it a shot.

I did use Castrol purple Superclean and a powersprayer. I found drain plugs for the intake 1 inch and exhaust 1 1/8 inch and they worked great.

I cleaned, sanded, primed, and painted the wheels.

If I had the energy/time, and a set or front spokes, I would have re-laced both wheels.

If they start going sour later, then I'll do that otherwise I think they turned out OK.



I used 150 grain, then 400 grain, then a fine scrubbing sponge on the edge only.

Love those spoke wheels.

if I had the money I would have Buchannan do the spokes up with a diamond cut and copper plated, with the Rim Chrome plated.

I'm doing it all black for my brother though, he thinks I may not want to give it up when I'm done, and heck he may be right.

Seat info:
I found a place local that will re-do the whole seat for a decent price:
This is the overall pattern, but not exact, it's a tiered seat, but I'm doing a small tier:



This is the fabric:



This is the seat as it is: Butt ugly now



so the basic pattern won't change much bit instead of a fake stitch it will be real, and I'm taking the rear down a bit as you can see nere about an inch and a half at the rear.



The seat pan is not flat like the older ones, it rises at the rear so the passengers will have a little less padding than the rider, but passengers are supposed to be lighter anyway right?

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That's exactly what this bike looked like, except spoked wheels.

rear fender cover is different too, but it looks good.

I like how the clutch cover is brushed and the stator and points covers are both painted and polished.

I'm doing the same thing and boy is it taking a long time going from where I was to where it is.

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I gotta take the tape off the cover and see what it looks like.

I forgot about the grease trick, so I painted over it all, then I'll lightly sand it off the tops of the ring, and the bars and lettering. I had to do some tricky refilling of the aluminum on one part, so it won't look as good as yours if you look close.

My frame should be done too soon, its at the powder coating. I'm thinking of painting the engine, but I don't know how it will turn out.

the first engine I painted didn't have primer, and the paint came off way too easily. I took a wire wheel to the engine and figure if I scuff it enough, then I don't need Primer, but I may just use the self etching primer, then use an aluminum paint everywhere.

I'll polish the edges of the side covers, so they'll stand out a bit, but nothing else will get the polish treatment like that except maybe the headlight.