KZ500/750 street tracker project

I thought I would start a thread for my street tracker project.

The starting point is a KZ500b rolling chassis, but fitted with a KZ750 engine (with KZ1000 carbs).



I have started tearing the bike down, I have changed the standard 'square' tank to a KZ650 twin tank and have started removing the clutter from the frame (mounts that are no longer needed).

The biggest job that I will face is to have 19" wheels front and rear with large flat track tyres, so I have sourced two KZ1000 front wheels (19x2.15 size) that will happily hold the tyre width, however the main thing will be to mill a couple of spacers/adapters to enable the front wheel to accept a sprocket and rear disc. I have started with the conversion but have lots more work to do, it shouldn't be too big a problem though. I really wanted to keep the Kawasaki 7 spoke wheels on this bike and of course I could have saved myself a whole load of effort and money by using a standard 18 rear wheel, but where is the fun in that?






I am keeping the original forks and brakes (although will be upgrading the hoses).

I also started today on making a subframe to accept the fibreglass flat track seat unit, it just needs a bit of fibreglassing now to finish the job off as I had to cut the seat unit to sit on the frame the way I want it to.








I will add more pictures as and when the project progresses.

Cool build. That should be a fun ride.
Do you plan any additional frame bracing?

Have you fitted the engine and carbs yet?

Have you fitted the engine and carbs yet?

...just what I'm thinking.

That 750 / 1100R project ex BOTM a while ago took some squeezing in.

Watching this with interest, nice pics.

His photos show a 750 motor and the big carbs installed in that frame. That is not a 500 motor/carbs.
Can you guys not see the photos?

Nice progress so far!

Are those factory Enkei rims? The spoke ribs look to extend out to the outer surface of the rim. I didn't think the factory tubeless wheels did that. Or maybe it's a tube-type wheel? I don't know the 1000 wheels too well, just the 550 and some 650/750.

pic 2 and the kick starter... yes got it.

(400 500 550 /4 all electric start)

That rear tread pattern looks odd? what tyre is it?

Well spotted on the rims...don't look like the standard issue tubeless.

The engine that is in the bike is the 750 with the 1000 carbs fitted, it is snug but fits lovely.

The tyres are Mitas H-18 flat track tyres, they fit very, very snugly in the forks and swingarm with no modifications needed at all.

The wheels are the factory Kawasaki KZ1000 wheels, I am running tubes as the tyres require them.

I will post some new pictures later, I have modified the seat unit to fit the frame now, modified the factory speedo drive to work with the new front wheel, started fitting the new tank, and just about to start hiding the wiring loom under the seat unit.

I am about to start on making the adapters for the rear wheel, so I can fit the factory rear brake disc and new sprocket.

stidds wrote: ......................I have changed the standard 'square' tank to a KZ650 twin tank................

Typo? Ed

Some picture updates on my project.

I have now modified the flat track seat unit to fit the frame, it was too narrow to start with so I have cut it and fibreglassed it wider.




Started on the wiring, by seating the battery in position under the seat, I will build an undertray to house the loom.




Machined the factory speedometer drive to fit the new front wheel and space the wheel correctly

Tank fitment underway, I will have to weld in a new petcock bung as the OEM one is too close to the carbs.



Picture of the 750 engine and 1000 carbs




New front brake master cylinder and matching clutch lever.




Picture of the rear of the seat unit with the LED rear tail/brake light.

Cool project. Im in.