converting shaft to chain drive..

ok my question is pretty straight forward, but here's the reason behind it before you ask.

I got my 84 kz 550, that engine is finished. the cylinders need honed (crank bearing went and destroyed the piston and cylinder #3) and i got 135 and up on the other cylinders. it's 80$ a cylinder to hone, plus gaskets pistons etc.

I got a spare '76 honda cb750 in line 4 engine laying around from my old abandoned project bike (frame rusted to death) i was thinking of just switching engines because the mounts are very close to each other just a bit of welding will do the job and the sprocket (from eye to eye) looks pretty close to the same fit.

Only thing is the kz is shaft drive, can I just take a wheel that has a sprocket and switch it from the KZ one and run a chain? or is there any fitment issue, again, eye to eye it seems fine but i'm just trying to see an idea from other members that might of converted a kz from shaft to drive.

Or maybe, put the cb750 a shaft drive?

Any suggestions are welcome excluding rebuilding the 550, the 750 is freshly done and while I have the engine and carbs might as well use them.

Thanks in advance

Daren

I say buy a frame for the Honda and sell it to fix the KZ.
Steve

Those 750 hondas are pigs compared to a kz550, not a joke, kz550 = fun, cb750 =putting around.


Yes cb750's can be fast (846cc kit, hot cam, kz vm28 carbs) but thats a lot of work try to find another motor, and sell the other stuff or find a kz550/650 in decent shape and buy it

Honda was still living on brand name then. When their six came out, I was worried. Not for long.
Yeah, look for a KZ 550, 650, 750 even a KZ 1000. You won't be disappointed.
Steve

daren1093251 wrote: ....
Only thing is the kz is shaft drive, can I just take a wheel that has a sprocket and switch it from the KZ one and run a chain? or is there any fitment issue, again, eye to eye it seems fine but i'm just trying to see an idea from other members that might of converted a kz from shaft to (chain) drive. ...

You'd need a chain drive swing arm & there may be chain alignment problems.

It sounds like an awful lot of work to me, and when you are finished what would you have? If you were able to complete the project I suspect the difference in engine weight and geometry would ruin the good handling of the 550. I'd either get a Honda frame from a donor bike or sell one or both bikes and buy a whole motorcycle that runs as originally engineered. Ed

Just looked at a beautiful 1979 KZ 650 720 kit for $2100 buy it now or best offer. Bakersfield CA. whereiswill is his handle.

I wouldn't try to do an interracial relationship between a KZ and a CB, but even though I've ridden many KZ miles, I think the Honda CB750 a better engine, but shaft vs chain is another topic. Chain to me is like runnig a 1919 Model T, vs a modern vehical. I can't believe anyone would want a chain drive anything. Did that, hated it back in the 70s and 80s, and now in this day and age can't believe they still sell motorcycles with chain drive. Who in the world wants chain drive anything? Looks like most, not me. Did that, done that, done with that, done, done with that crap for this life.