To re-launch BOTM we are starting with a heavily modified 650/1170 from Lee (Bevelhead) in the UK. The intention is to use BOTM to showcase the passion and hard work of our members in their quest to preserve KHI’s finest from the “glory days”. With this in mind I am looking to feature a mix of modified/stock/restored and survivor bikes of the era, if it “has a story” drop me a line. I don’t intend this to be a haven only for mega buck show winners (although they are also welcome) I want BOTM to inspire other members around the world to get out in the garage and smother their rides in love and attention.
The project started with a badly 'bobbed' 1978 Z650 frame, GPz1100B1 engine cases, Z1000 tank, and not much else. The project belonged to a good friend, who'd already cut the rear part of the frame to widen it to accommodate a wider modern rear wheel and tyre, without the need for spacers on the shock top mount. The frame has now been braced to cope with the extra power and now uses a 20mm swingarm spindle.<br />Since the frame had been widened, a standard seat and ducktail would not fit, therefore a new seat base had to be made in fibreglass and the tail piece widened. The seat then went to specialist upholsterer who did a good job, except he'd got front and back mixed up!! the assumption was made (don’t ever do that) that it was obvious which was the front and which the back, but apparently not.<br /> Bodywork is early Z1, but the tank is from a Z1000. Paint is similar to OE, but with a few changes. For example the upper tank stripe is dark mica blue, not black, to match the blue of the front callipers. The plan originally was to fit a cockpit fairing, but the BMW R90S fairing that was purchased didn't look quite right, so wasn't used. Lee has a “Z900RS café” fairing on his Z1000A1 build which would look much better on the 1170.. perhaps something for the future.<br />The rear sets were made long before the engine was ready, and turned out to be too low, so Lee had to make new mounts to raise the pegs and clear the exhaust. The latter is a Delkevic, whose 4 into 1 collector had to be cut and widened to clear the now wider back end of the bike. Since it had to be cut, Lee also altered the silencer to a jauntier angle.<br />The front end consists of forks and brakes from a 2001 Yamaha R6, in one off billet yokes. The back end uses ZRX 1200 swing arm, Brembo rear calliper on a one-off mount, along with K-Tech shocks built for the bike by the factory. Wheels are also one off split rims, made for Lee’s old drag bike by a friend (the one who sold Lee the project).<br />The engine was taken out to 1170 cc using Wossner forged pistons, the crank has been balanced and welded, while carbs are Mikuni RS34s. Clutch and points cover are home made, as are the rear sets.. levers pivot on roller bearings, hydraulic clutch conversion, and an gearbox output sprocket outrigger. The latter has been causing Lee problems as it has an oil leak, but then he had to use a “home-made” gasket, and that could be the problem.. Lee is still working on that. That's why in some pics the chain has been removed, as Lee was working on the outrigger inner plate at the time.<br />Wiring is done by Lee using a “Moto-Gadget M-Unit” which helps simplify the wiring, along with their matching switchgear. Ignition is Dyna S with Dyna coils. It has an electronic Daytona Velona combined tacho/speedo gauge. <br />Brake and clutch master cylinders are by a UK company HEL, as are the brake lines.<br /><br />Once the outrigger oil leak is fixed and the engine is run in, Lee will take it to a dyno and have the carbs dialled in, but it was snowing at the time of writing, so that will have to wait until the spring.<br />The build was without doubt the most frustrating Lee has done, as there were countless problems, while Covid lockdown didn't help. The engine case was found to be cracked, after they had been ceramically coated at great expense. Thankfully they were repairable.<br />