TOPIC: 1974 kz trike

Shankkole wrote: "to me if it aint custom its crap."

Thank you for letting us know where you stand. Ed

650ed wrote: Shankkole wrote: "to me if it aint custom its crap."

Thank you for letting us know where you stand. Ed

The next line also read restored is custom.

Ha, I knew someone would take it wrong.
I will try to explain my view with more detail. I have admiration for a kept piece of machinery (not bought and abused). the moment you can improve something but you do not you have limited yourself. I understand the love of a stock clean machine, but those to me are custom once they have been handworked (but one cannot tell easily) at a glance .A stock anything has tons of engineering and design , but does anything really have an off the shelf fit for you? I am not one who pays top dollar for something new then buys expensive add on parts. I find abused projects and then make them fit me.
I believe stock, standard for daily driver is best for most folks. If you want to ride what they sold of the showroom do it ! HELLS YEAH but the moment you change ANYTHING its custom .If you take the thing apart and hand sand, file, clean, tidy up wires etc to me its custom. BUT I like you only responded or felt the need to address that one comment . For real I am easy going ,and not saying any of this in a sarcastic tone Think of my voice as less tough condescending type and more of a hippy dippy preaching machine love ! not possessions !

By raising the rear about 2.5 inches it levels the stance more, I will need to shorten the girder spring as well, due to the light weight on the front end its stiff for this application. There used to be a guy close that would adjust spring length of any size and re heat treat them for cheap, gotta track him or search the webs. I am making a rear reinforcement plate to help reduce twisting of the swingarm with the axle width at play.This will also be the new shock mount point on swingarm. Two shiny Mikunis barely sitting look nice though!

Nice work straightening the mouth of that carb.
I wonder what the dude was thinking when he installed the rear end upside down??

Think of a spring as a torsion bar. The longer it is the easier it is to twist. Same goes for coil springs. If you shorten it, it will become stiffer, but will affect any preload/ride height.

Mounted new shocks/reinforced the swingarm. Roughing out foam body getting ready for glass. gonna get funky before its done

another

pointy

The more I see this thing the more I like it... I would so love to have it in my collection... great find... the Munster trike would be a hoot to drive, I bet it gets a ton of double takes.

Edit: "Thing" wasn't meant disrespectful...

Thing.. may be more descriptive and fitting for this sweet baby than Trike.I hope this inspires the next generation some.I really feel we don't see rolling art much anymore its not as sexy power/speed thats usually where EXTRA $ goes and I get that, but Im hoping for a fun revival before I leave this world. I have seen enough skulls on bikes in my life. Thanks for enjoying my project and Keep on Trucking everyone !

Long time no post here. Just thought i would check in.

I do like the stance of that trike. I would sport that around town.
The shovel looks sweet also.

tail end closer

A coat of mud, but more needs to come off.

front



Edit
Fixed your picture Hit insert next time
Dave

final shape........ ooh baby!

There ya go... Looks great....

Glass is down !

Great Project . very unique. Will keep watching this one .

laid another mesh layer then a weave layer.removed the foam and mud form with any hand tool that fit to chunk it out. I need to wash the inside out with TSP and acetone then add reinforcements and an inside layer.Here is it rough sanded with 100 grit and it only weighs 20 lbs right now.

Also ordered the 59 caddy taillights and some chrome PC for the rear axle.