77 kz1k restomod

Been floating around the boards a bit and figured it’d be fun to share progress on a 1977 kawasaki kz1000.
The story goes somewhat like this...
Dad bought this from an estate sale a few years ago and my brothers and I ended up tearing it apart to rebuild with some of the spares we had laying around the barn.
Engine went out to the builder shortly after and a few minor parts came in the mail in the mean time. Got it to a rolling chassis then it sat and started collecting dust.
3 years later my dad talked me into taking it home. So I broke down what we had and packed it into my hatchback. Started measuring tings up, making parts list and dropping parts off to various places.
I figured I will have it mostly together by this spring but the goal is to have this ready to give back to dear old Dad in June 2020 for his 60th birthday.

Pics so far...


So far I am nearing completion on the front end. Using a 94-96 zx9 forks/wheels/brakes/clip-ones with stock gauges/bracket. Luckily the kz speedo runs off the speedo sensor from the zx9.
Using the stock gas tank, side panels, rear fender with zx9 front fender painted to match. Gas tank needs restored inside though unfortunately but the other panels look great. My dads a big fan of chrome so I polished up the chrome and have been adding chrome nuts and bolts throughout to keep that look.
Well be using the gs1100 swingarm with dual shocks and a modified rear brake system. This will use the stock brake pedal set up with modern rear master and custom pieces to go from master to pedal. Rear caliper will be from zx10 using zx9 rear caliper mount and custom wheel spacers and 520 chain to fit the 180 wide rear tire.
The goal is to have a retro bike with great power, reliability and updated brakes/tires/suspension.

Few more pics I had in my phone yet

Ended up getting an aftermarket engine mounting kit from a place here in Wisconsin and came across a brand new Vance and Hines exhaust for a great price on eBay.
It’s a fun bike to tinker on but it’s prety complex for a simple bike.

What you've done so far looks great! Is that the original tank shown in '73 colours? It must have been repainted at some point.

For some reason I don’t have permission to see your first set of pictures which makes me want them even more.

I’m dying to ride my kz1000 glad to see others are still crazy enough to modify this classic. I ALMOST regret not doing a restoration instead of the restmod Route.

This was originally blue but was repainted by kawasaki cause the blue paint was shit. That’s the story which can be confirmed by looking at the under side of the tank.

Ya pics don’t show up for me either! Haha I’ll try to edit and repair.

Hopefully these work...

Engines almost done!
Going to have it in the chassis by the end of the month.
Got the front calipers rebuilt and the fender just got back from paint. Hard to tell from photos but it is identical to stock paint.
Ordered some odds and ends the wrapping up the front brake lines and the onto the rear end.
Need to order foot pegs and a seat as well.

Looking clean. Are you going with clipons? And engine pics? I’m sending my cases off to be refinished this weekend I hope

waktaylor wrote: Looking clean. Are you going with clipons? And engine pics? I’m sending my cases off to be refinished this weekend I hope

Yes I’m using a 94-96 zx9 front end “as-is”.
Here’s the engine from a few months ago.

Very nice! Im running risers and a fatbar on a cognito moto top clamp on my USD. The clipons are too low for my liking.

Did you polish that case?