kz440 jockey shift

Hey guys I just picked up a 82 kz440, its pretty ratty and I was thinking about making the prototypical ugly bike, yknow lots of raw welds, seat made out of angle iron, the works. Bob it and chop off the rear fender and half the seat, maybe even get a pair of deer antlers for a set of handlebars, who knows. Really looking forward to it.

Of course, any ugly bike needs a jockey shift. I've never done any kind of conversion like this before and all of the examples I have found online are paired with a suicide clutch or something in that vein. I was thinking of going a little different.

Since this bike has a cable operated clutch rather than hydraulic, I don't think I will convert a rear brake assy to engage the clutch. Instead, since I will likely be ditching the stock handlebars anyways, I was thinking about chopping the handlebars in half and using the left side for the jockey shift, and keeping the clutch lever where it is on the half handlebar, sticking straight up. Therefore, the rider will have some forward highway bars to rest the feet, with a slightly bent bar sticking up from the gear shift, and the clutch lever attached to that same bar. Sounds like it will be a challenge to pilot, but these kinds of conversions aren't made for comfort. Maybe I will fashion some kind of rotating clip to hold in the clutch on the jockey shift bar.

So basically I was just sharing, wanted to hear if anyone can think of any logistical reasons why this wouldn't work, and also if anyone has any links I could look at to jockey shift conversions with the clutch lever on the gear shift bar. Also, any ideas on how I could make this bike any uglier would be definitely appreciated.

If im understanding you correctly i have seen it done before a few time, some of the guys said it would knock itself out of gear with all weight on the shift, just something to think about.

A forum search for "jockey shift" produces several threads including the following which may prove helpful.

Click > kzrider.com/index.php?option=com_kunena&...d=5&id=311743#312987

Good Fortune!

55fbomb wrote:

If im understanding you correctly i have seen it done before a few time, some of the guys said it would knock itself out of gear with all weight on the shift, just something to think about.

Yeah I was worried about that it might have to be a pretty stumpy shifter, or else supported somehow with some linkage. And thanks for the link patton, good stuff, nice to the successful application of this type of setup.

some of the old Harley used a spring pulling the shifter against a guide , wouldnt be too hard to do, I had researched this on my other bike but decided against it

When I hear "raw welds" I think crappy welds.

notaduc wrote:

When I hear "raw welds" I think crappy welds.

Well I am not master welder but I can get the job done. I was sort of attracted to a buddy's bike, he built it and purposefully didnt file down the welding points or clean them up at all, and I just liked the way it looked. I guess its not for everyone.

swapdip wrote:

notaduc wrote:

When I hear "raw welds" I think crappy welds.

Well I am not master welder but I can get the job done. I was sort of attracted to a buddy's bike, he built it and purposefully didnt file down the welding points or clean them up at all, and I just liked the way it looked. I guess its not for everyone.

take a look at a stock early z1 frame,it will be an orgasmic experiance for ya then! :blink: :woohoo:

you would have to balance the shift handle

harv65 wrote: you would have to balance the shift handle

I believe Mr. Dip bailed out about 10 months ago. Ed

My 82 1100A has some of the ugliest welds you'll ever see on any machine. Flash everywhere, damn near booger welds in some places. Part of the restoration process will be to smooth all that out.