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almost there on my full restore of my 650, which I have owned since new in '83 ....once over pistons & rings, GPz 750 cams, APE valve guides & springs, Barnett extra plate clutch, Earls cooler / steel braid / ANs, steering damper (adjustable), ATK fork brace, Supertrapp, Sproket Specialists front & rear, rear turn signals chopped & tucked in tight, front turn signals mounted on headlight sides, Spectre tail light, rear fender chopped 6.5 inches, chromed: side cases / crankcase breather cover / rear foot peg mounts / starter cover / oil fill cap / bars brackets, racing bars, DID Pro Street 530 chain; all new swing arm & steering head bearings, new fork seals & oil, Dyna coils & hi-per wires, all new spokes & show polish on the factory DID cast aluminum wheels, CR smoothbores, Japan after market shocks, all new igniter / rectifier / ignition / relays / fuses / battery ......know I am leaving some things out !!! (note level of lay-down ability via foot peg grind downs, it loves mountain & back roads) .....color: Ferrari Fast Red ....will post finished pics & vid in the not too distant

A real eye-catcher, well done! Want to see more pics please.

Very nice. Just curious >> how difficult was it to fit the new carburetors? Also, the wheels >> new spokes or zinced or what? Thanks.


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the carbs I bought & installed way back in 1985, they are one of the longest installed mods on the bike, for this restore I just removed them and: electro sound dunk tank, all new seals, o-rings & jets, polished out caps & covers, new fasteners, lubed all pivot & moving points, etc .....you have to remove the factory air box set up entirely, and the vacuum fuel feed, as these carbs are just gravity fed but was very easy ....also, the vacuum line on the petcock has to be capped off (no longer needed), you also need the new engine rubber boots, those you can get direct from Keihen .....on the wheels: BRAND NEW spokes, alloy, all factory spokes were removed & tossed (they were very badly corroded / rusted)

It's a very nice bike, no doubt.

But it's not a GPz and IMO should not have GPz emblems.

This is like the guy who tweaks a base-model '68 Camaro and sticks SS emblems on it; it might be a great car but it's not a genuine SS. Yes, I know these exist and people call them "tribute" cars but that doesn't make the badging any less deceptive.

my 650 is not a "tribute" bike, and as all pro custom bike & car folks realize, "should" has no place in any 1-off creations, there are no rules....in fact, according to my wife, the word "should" only implies another's desire to want or have something only their way, and she's right....I know what a GPz is, I was weened on classic Kaws thru the GPz's entire run & existence, so lighten up ...a guy badging a Camaro as an SS is intentionally trying to deceive, any classic Kaw ride or owner KNOWS my bike is not a factory GPz (duh) ........there is only 1 of this 650 on Earth, it's mine, and it's a very rare custom bike, and I can badge it, or call it, anything I'd like ....lastly, and most importantly, we all know what opinions are like !

Uncle Freddy wrote: ................... there are no rules....there is only 1 of this 650 on Earth ...........and it's a very rare custom bike.......

Here's another very rare custom KZ650, and there's only 1 of it on Earth too. No rules. Ed

indeed it is, and he can badge it or call it anything he'd like too ! .....haters are gonna hate, that's for sure ....

Who said anything about hate? Mine was a Z1b 900 but when I bored it out to 1015 it now has Z1000 badges on it. Had to cut the K off of them so it is what it is.
Steve

Well Uncle Freddy I guess you showed us.

Oh gosh, he sure did show us.

See you guys later. I'm gonna go stick some wings and skirts on a VW Beetle and call it a one-off Lamborghini Gallardo. I'll be just like the "pro custom bike & car folks" in no time!

Ha Ha either way nice job . Bike looks great . Put the tank and seat on and post some more pics