‘79 Kz650B3 Resto-mod

I picked this bike up a couple years ago for $175 with a BoS.  It was complete minus an airbox, gas cap, and right driver footpeg.  It was rough but solid.  Took me 2yrs to finally get a title (rather long boring story).  So I’ve been working it on/offon it for those two years.  I do quite a bit of sidework to fund my projects but that doesn’t leave me much time for my own bikes.

Anyways, here it is the day I brought it home.





To be continued…

Later, Doug

My goal when I started was sort of a street-legal trackday bike.  I had collected a bunch of parts to do the same thing to a ‘76 Kz900 frame I had in storage but I don’t have a title for it so I decided the 650 would get the parts instead.

Some inspiration that I found:



To be continued…

Later, Doug

I have tons of pics from the last two years and put in a bunch of work, time, and custom touches.  It’s hard to capture all the mods but here is roughly how it sits in the mock-up phase.


If there is anything specific you have questions about, I’m sure I have pics and info about it. 

Later, Doug

Lovin it so far.My cousin back in the day was into the 650s and he built a few that were gorgeous. 

Interesting project. I do have a question regarding the machine as you brought it home. It appears to have already been altered from stock B3. None of the B models had a disk on the rear wheel, and it appears to my eyes that it has a 16 inch rear tire, again not stock on the B models.

I do like the look of your mock up, and it looks like it would be fun to ride. I look forward to following you on your build.

gd4now wrote:

It appears to have already been altered from stock B3. None of the B models had a disk on the rear wheel, and it appears to my eyes that it has a 16 inch rear tire, again not stock on the B models.

You are correct. The seller also had a 650 SR in the same shed. I didn’t take a close look but I think I remember seeing spoked wheels on it. Mine did have a booger welded rear M/C mount on it, but the VIN is Kz650B-xxxxxx.



Later, Doug