KZ 1000 cafe build recommendation needed

I have a chance to buy very nice '02 KZ1000 police with low mileage and was thinking of making cafe racer out of it.
How does this bike compare to the non police bikes from 70's and 80's?
It does look taller, does it have taller forks?
Is it good candidate for cafe build or should i get something from 70's/80's?
I would possibly like to have modern fork and swing arm upgrade as well.
Any suggestion and opininons appreciated.

SK

IMHO, I'd rather see an '02 get the cafe' treatment than something more rare. If an older bike is a basket case, sure, go nuts... but I hate to see a good old rider get hacked and whacked. Just my two cents.

Having said that, wouldn't a parallel twin KZ be a more appropriate choice? It seems to me that the bikes you're trying to mimic were Triumph and Norton twins.

The frames on the police bikes are HEAVILY braced from the factory. Even more so than a standard J frame, so that is a great bike to start with. Just be sure to buy lots of saw blades to cut all that other useless crap off.

Please do as much or more to improve it mechanically as you'll likely do to improve the looks. Getting tired of seeing stock bikes with clubmans and a glass seat called "cafe racers". Well where's the "racer" part?

I agree on hacking classic so that is another reason for P bike.
I was thinking of going for something more like a retro style bike with modern forks and swing arm.

Any suggetions/recommendations on mechanical improvements are apreciated.

Thanks
Sasha

Herev are some photos of a police bike turned into a cafe. I think its a good start!

Depends on your budget...

Wiseco 1075cc pistons , mill + gasket match + port & polish the head, Keihin FCR carbs, lumpy cams .

Look for a gas tank from an early GPz1100, '81 or '82.

Well, the '02 bike got sold before i got to it but i did find another one, '05, which is the last year and it has 58k miles.
It is in pretty good condition, runs great, no weird noises, its just a bit more then i would like to spend.
How much maintenance do this these engines need at this mileage? I've read on some vintage bike forum that KZ1000 engines need valve job every 25k miles, is this true?

What do you mean by "valve job"? You should check / adjust valve clearance every 5000 miles.

Valve job as in remove the head, inspect seats and guides, valve laping, etc.
Is this true? It seems a bit excessive.
What should I be expecting to do to this engine with this many miles?
Other then oil change and tune up.

Thanks

I think that first stage of this build would most definitely be swing arm and fork upgrade, wheels, brakes, fenders, perhaps a paint job as well.
Since riding season in California starts early, I'm not sure I'll have the time to do a complete build. I would like to ride it until next winter when I'll do complete teardown and get frame painted and upgrade the engine.
Not sure yet what I will do with the body work. Going back and forth between cafe racer or retro looking bike, possibly with cop theme.
I'll see, have to get bike first.
Thanks for the suggestions

cross wrote: Valve job as in remove the head, inspect seats and guides, valve laping, etc.
Is this true? It seems a bit excessive.

Maybe if you use the bike for racing...

What should I be expecting to do to this engine with this many miles?
Other then oil change and tune up.

Thanks

Check valve clearance, make sure you can still get the gap you need with the shims available.
Measure the cam chain for stretch.
Replace the valve guide seals.
Measure ring end gap, measure cylinder dimensions, make sure everything is within spec.

Seriously, KZ engines are anvils.