KZR Chicago Chapter.

Im likin it. Very good. I am on my way to a Motorcycle group party. Strippers but not strippin paint off of tanks. This is our answer to fundraising to go to Mexico. lol I guess there is a lottery and the lucky winner gets to dip his paint brush in one of the strippers being used tonight. If I win I will kindly pass my ticket to someone else. As for the bike. I have to find a gpz head first. About how much do they go for? I am getting anxious and excited about the beginnings of this project. My first. I have done work on my 69 Mustang and other cars but never on a bike cept to pull carbs clean, brakes and oil changes. So this should be fun. Alright well I am going to start putting prices down on paper and get this bike going. The first nice day I am going to pull the engine out of the bike so that I may get on to the next step. I will, I guess, take pictures of before and after for everyone. Once again thanks a million for all of the advice so far. I am sure I am going to need to pick your brain once and again from time to time.
I was thinking of having a guy paint my tank this color and style instead of the black that I was going to do. What do you think of this?

Post edited by: saxjonz, at: 2008/02/02 19:49

Post edited by: saxjonz, at: 2008/02/02 19:51

Did you have a chance to look at the Cavanaugh Performance sight? I might have a head for you? The 83-84 GPz heads on eBay go for about $500+- and they are very scarce but I do have a "J" head which Cavanaugh can bring to better than the GPz Specs with being able to keep the smaller combustion chambers. By the way I am also a Wiseco Dealer.

I did look at that site. I actually talked to him earlier about me shipping my engine to him to have him rebuild it. He sent me prices for 1075 and 1200 both mild and wild kits. I have no doubts that he is one serious engine builder. He explained to me about the stuff he does and how he sends out the other stuff to get done. How exactly the place he sends out the gears to get undercut get cut in a way that is much better than the rest. I also see that I would have to think about that as it is quite a bit of money to invest in an engine. I would have to wait a few months longer in order to save up to have him do it for me so that decision I can't make at this minute. I would had I that kind of money have already done it. I am vaselating between going all out on the motor and bike and just having that as my only bike or buying another bike already fast quite possibly new and then either rebuild the engine so that I don't have to worry about long distance riding or just build the base strong and using what I have on top going 1075 and be able to ride it without any problems. At the moment I have yet to pull it out of the bike.
So the gpz head is around 500 + or -. That is good to know. If I build the bottom end strong the top end shouldn't be a problem later. Besides I might just be happy with 1075 and some good cams and head work. I like the bike the way it is with the gear in it but can always use more reliable ponies to get me there.

My suggestion is not to get too carried away. There are many things guys do to their bikes which are totally unnecessary. The lower end on that bike is as bullet proof as a lower end can get for a street bike. These lower ends last 100,000 miles on police bikes, and it is not like the Cops are ultra gentle on them. There is absolutely no reason to undercut the tranny for street use. I would build something between mild & wild and enjoy kicking ass on the crotch rockets, if for no other reason than your front end being heavier and being able to stay down for quick take-offs. One thing I would definitely do is to replace the stock Kawasaki swing arm with a Box swing arm. This will give you much better stability in high speeds. A 1075 motor is a fantastic motor with 29-33mm carbs and a set of good cams and a good head. I would have Cavanaugh just build you a head out of a “J” head put in a set of hot cams a good MAC pipe and a 16” rear rim with a good Avon tire to stick the power to the ground and you are in the lower 10s. I believe those are the ¼ mi. times they claim for the ZX14. A good head, cams, and carbs will give you 40 Hp right off the bat. The trick to building a good bike is mostly common sense and not a overflowing wallet. Give yourself a bike you can ride with your friends, not a bike which you WISH you could ride but can’t because it is always broken down in the shop.

Anyone going to the bike show?? I will be there Friday from about 5-7. Post if you are going so maybe we could at least meet at the show??

I should be there about the same time
Cell 630-596-3628

Otto

That is too far from me to get there at that time I would have to fight rush hour. I am going Saturday instead. Less stress. If for some reason I go on Friday I don't think I will be able to make it before 7 which won't leave me much time.
Ok 40 ponies is great if I didn't change the gear I have a feeling the tire would be smoking often upon taking off. I have new tires on the bike which are nice and hook up pretty good with my setup. I have totally changed my look at this Big=headaches=bad I am not going to go big block at all then. As for the gear I fear wearing out the shift dogs. Maybe the bikes I rode previous had weak trans or someone at some point in time mis shifted. I broke second on my xs850 and my zr1100 after 10k on odometer I think 15 on the zr. Beautiful bike she was but after that she got cremated. :ohmy: :S I wasn't happy but if it weren't for that fire, I lost two cars and a garage to boot. My S2k with 11k after 3years of ownership was totally paid for. I hand washed her 6 times in three years maybe if that gives you any idea of how meticulous I was with that car. Always garaged and never driven in inclement weather not even a chance, I might still have my kz under wraps. I far more enjoy this ride than the zep. I loved the zep to death but to me this is the genuine article.

Well guys it's almost that time! This weekend was/is a drag but I am getting ready to polish up the 900 and finish the GPZ. I try to make my first ride before April so I hope we get some good weather here soon. The GPZ is almost ready to go, so its about time I get the new plates for it.
What I am saying is that we should have our first ride soon.

Otto

I have not heard from any of you guys yet. I have put almost 4000 Mi on my KZ900 so far since the end of May and I must say the weather here could not have been more perfect for rideing.

Well all you Chi-towens, It's almost that time again. I say this as I am looking out of my window at a fresh 4" of snow and more coming down. This weather SUCKS, but it will come to an end soon (I hope) I am building a new set of 36mm CVs for my GPz and hope to have them on for the 6th ride of the season. Why the 6th, you ask? Because that is after the first week of riding to and from work, and I want to be able to compare the difference to the old carbs. I have a feeling that this will be a LOOOOOOOOONG and GOOOOOOOOD season for us up here, so why don't some of us or all of us get together for a cruse this year.

Otto

Well Otokar,
I am getting a 1075 put in my bike with jayco pistons and some good street cams. So far I think the weather will last a bit longer which is just as well as I don't have a bike to ride at present. I can't wait to see what it will ride like when it's done.
This is the new bike I got last summer an 80 ltd from cali. The bike had 7k miles on it and the head was in really nice shape. Valve guides were like new and cylinder walls were perfect. If it weren't for the busted #1 exhaust stud and blown head gasket from previous owner overfilling the oil the bike would be in perfect shape enginewise; no matter. Now I will get to see the real difference that a 1075 makes vs. the 1015.
So when I go to go all out on the other bike I can know whether to do another 1075 or do the 1197.
Right now I need to find a good oil cooler and was wondering perhaps if you or anyone you know might have one for sale. I kinda wanted to get the one that mounts just below the gooseneck where it bolts on top and the oil lines come out from the bottom. Just like the cooler cro dog has on his bike. That is the setup I like.
PS I put 10k miles on this bike in just a few months last year and then even more over xmas/new years down in Florida. That was a really nice time, south miami, southbeach and the keys. We put in two weeks maybe 3k miles riding every day like a pack of wild dogs on the hunt for food.

Otto i can wait for the nice weather to come. I am looking at the same fresh 4" of snow you are looking at. BUt my 900 is comming together, my biggest thing is getting the frame and all the little buggers that go along with it sandblasted so i can paint them. Cant wait to ride again, these chicago wintes suck big time.