'83 KZ1000-R2 going Cafe

OK.....by now he gets the idea.........he made a mistake. Let him buiild what he likes and see the outcome.

LETS PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE.

Joe Blow got a 1860's colt army revolver in 100% mint condition. Must be worth $15,000 to $20,000

BUT Joe is a dumb - azz and wanted to modify it.

The barrel is to long so I'm going to cut off 2 inches
The bluing finish of the gun looks like crap, I'm going to use a buffing wheel and shine it up.

Why is it worth $1,000 now ?????????????????

You just destroyed over 155 years of history. That gun was appreciated by every owner in till now. It was preserved in mint condition, not by accident. Many owners before Joe understood what Joe doesn't.

You really aren't the owner of this gun Joe, as the ones before relinquished ownership ......... Joe is just the caretaker of the gun / property for a period of time or until you pass away and another person gets to enjoy the gun. Don't be the one that ends the history, value or collectability of an item.

You have to be smart enough to understand what is collectable, important and what is junk.

Think about it.

4TheKZ1000 wrote: Look I got a 1860's colt army revolver in 100% mint condition. Must be worth $15,000 to $20,000

BUT Im a dumb - azz and I want to modify it.

The barrel is to long so I'm going to cut off 2 inches
The bluing finish of the gun looks like crap, I'm going to use a buffing wheel and shine it up.

Why is it worth $1,000 now ?????????????????

You just destroyed over 155 years of history. That gun was appreciated by every owner in till now. It was preserved in mint condition, not by accident. People must understand, You really aren't the owner of this gun as the ones before relinquished ownership ......... You are just the caretaker of the gun / property for a period of time or until you pass away and another person gets to enjoy the gun and history. Think about it.

Reminds me of years ago when I wanted to cut off Dad's old double barrel shotgun(about 80+ years old). It was too nice to do that to it so I didn't and glad I still have it. Figured I would buy a junker if I needed to do that, but I never did anyways. I bought it from a pawn shop after Dad did some horse trading with them. I do also have Dad's old 30/30 Marlin and his Army bring back K98 8 mm Mauser in unissued condition. I have to keep these and hand them down to my daughter's one day. I have oiled and cared for them since I was a very young kid growing up.

Tommyboah@gmail.com wrote: I've been working on my '83 KZ1000-R2 doing a cafe racer build. This is my first build ever so things are moving along slowly, but I have a vision
Thought I'd post some shots of what's going on with the project, so I can get some feedback and maybe give somebody some ideas . . . .

Got some feedback. :woohoo:

Tommyboah@gmail.com wrote: Wow guys. I really appreciate all the kind words and constructive feedback . . . Way to disencourage somebody!! Is there no respect for other peoples visions and dreams? . . . .

Oops :pinch: --- perhaps the original post should have invited only kind and encouraging feedback, supportive of the vision.

Tommyboah@gmail.com wrote: . . . ["asshole" video directed to the unkind discouraging feedbackers]

Double Oops. :pinch: :pinch:

80B4 wrote: . . . The people who have whined the loudest are just jealous because you have a nicer bike than they do. Pay them no mind . . . .

Is there no respect for loud jealous whiners? :huh:



Good Fortune!

All the whiners are beating a dead horse. What's done is done... :side:

"When I see what this kid did, something my Grandfather said comes to mind.

STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES"
Pretty sure you are related to Forrest Gump then.

I thought the ELR was a motorcycle . Bought and yours to do with as you please.
I think I should probably leave this site as I have done something terrible.
I have ridden my bikes in all sorts of bad weather
I have crashed them
I have changed bits on them
I have painted them
I did not realise that I should not do these things.
I never realised that KZ ownership was about money.
I thought it was about pleasure.

Could you tell me what bike would be ok to modify?
I know some would say the one you own, but that seems not to be true.

If you want to save these bikes you should buy them all and vacuum seal them to save any more damage.
Whatever you do don't ride it out where weather and other traffic may damage it.
don't even remove it ever again from its protective bubble

Thought Id add this

Anyone see themselves?

Thanks oldzed. The guy is cutting up a KZ1000 R2 after all... not the original KZ1000 R1

I just came across this thread. It's your bike and you can do whatever you want with it, however just because you can does not mean you should. I have been looking for an ELR, 82 or 83 for over 20 years. I saved up money for years working overtime and selling stuff, I had cash, $15.000 in hand and was never able to get one. I ended up spending my money on making a clone. I read this thread and felt sick to my stomach. Why couldn't you just sell it to someone like me who would appreciate it for what it is. You could have spent the $15,000 that I would have paid you for it and build a cafe bike from something not so rare. Unbelievable, this is like that show, "Cafe Racer" where I watched an episode where Bryon Fuller hacked up a prestine 1969 Honda 750 sandcast model and make it into a cafe bike. Once we all start hacking up historical pieces they are gone, period they never come back. Ok, I will now get off my soapbox.

baldy110 wrote: I just came across this thread. It's your bike and you can do whatever you want with it, however just because you can does not mean you should. I have been looking for an ELR, 82 or 83 for over 20 years. I saved up money for years working overtime and selling stuff, I had cash, $15.000 in hand and was never able to get one. I ended up spending my money on making a clone. I read this thread and felt sick to my stomach. Why couldn't you just sell it to someone like me who would appreciate it for what it is. You could have spent the $15,000 that I would have paid you for it and build a cafe bike from something not so rare. Unbelievable, this is like that show, "Cafe Racer" where I watched an episode where Bryon Fuller hacked up a prestine 1969 Honda 750 sandcast model and make it into a cafe bike. Once we all start hacking up historical pieces they are gone, period they never come back. Ok, I will now get off my soapbox.

Since I started this "mess" (and a real mess it has become), I might as well sort a couple of things out:

Look, I do get your point and I respect your (and everybody elses, for that matter) opinion about it. And I'm sorry that you never got around getting your KZ1000-R2. It is a sweet bike to ride.
If I knew what I know now, that this bike is a holy object to many of you, I would have considered a second time which bike I would have chosen for this Cafe build. All I can say is that the bike has already been chopped and the damage cannot be reversed, so the build will go on.

For the ones who cannot bear to watch this one: nobody is forcing you. Grow up, and ditch the negative vibes. I can respect a good argument for not chopping up the ELR any day, but all the shit throwing I cannot respect.

For the ones of you who want to know how things move along and how it all turns out, I will post as soon as there is anything new.

I would also like to say thanks to everybody who is supporting this build and realise that a kick ass bike on the road is as good (or better?) than a sweet original classic in the ol' garage :whistle:

Peace.

Tommy, good reply man. Always good to take the high road. I was bit shocked myself when I saw an ELR modified. But I respect your decision, I think your post was very respectful in taking the time to explain that you had no idea what the bike really was in terms of value and history. I for one, know that it will make some these old timers feel better knowing that. Keep in mind, a lot of these frayed emotions come from our past. Its the motorcycles we loved in our youth, and yearned for in those glossy magazines. But even if you knew exactly what you had, it doesn't matter. Its your bike, and people should state their opinions but leave insults, name calling and harsh words out! Like you said, what's done is done. That ship has sailed. I'm sure that if you knew then you know now, you may have done things different. I'm sure you would have first tested the waters to see how much you can get for it. Or maybe even try to sell it to the Japanese market and get an even higher sale price. I'm a supporter mate. Look forward to see you bike completed. Good luck.