Noob here! what frame is best for chopin a kz1000?

I recently found out my wife was riding without using any front brakes. Her motorcycle safety class instructor told them never use them or "you will fly over the handlebars". He said he would "automatically flunk" them if he saw them used. I shuttered remembering her following me flying down curvy roads right on my back wheel. Turns out she was drifting the bike sometimes with the back brake to make the curves! She has proper technique now.

ELECTRA-GLYDE

Anyone and I mean anyone who builds a bike without concern for safety is nutz. Sorry but you are taking your life in your hands just getting out of bed. You are betting your life throwing a leg over a motorcycle and riding off. You are a fool if that motorcycle is not functioning 100% and you still do it. So lets re-cap. You are building a chopper so your handling is substantially reduced from the get go but hey it's your bike and your choice. Cool. You are not going to have a front brake so you have reduced it's stopping power (lets be conservative here 50% but don't kid yourself it is much more). Please think real hard about this decision. You have moved from the blackjack table with a small house edge to the one armed bandits that favors the house heavily. You are not playing with the grocery money or even the rent. You are betting the farm. My brother called it culling the herd. That may be crass but it sure sums it up. Besides you just got here. Look around and maybe some other ideas might jump up and be cooler and safer!

Exitpupil wrote:

I recently found out my wife was riding without using any front brakes. Her motorcycle safety class instructor told them never use them or "you will fly over the handlebars". He said he would "automatically flunk" them if he saw them used.

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation needs to be notified!!!

SEVENTY PERCENT of your stopping power is in the front brake!

Kevin Schwantz said that he only used his rear brake three times in his whole racing career, and that he wrecked all three times.

If that's what you like then build it. I like custom bikes, no matter what the style. Here's a link if you do decide on a custom build:

www.cycleonemanufacturing.com/kawasakicu...otorcycleframes.html

takes all kinds.i like this'un

:laugh: Ya I hear ya guys about the 70% front braking. I knew this already but I am trying to be as cool as possible :laugh: I am wondering if I could just go with one rotor instead of two like what comes stock.

So that does settle it I will be using a front brake and not gambling even more than I would be by just getting on a motorcycle!

I think the 650 is the way to go here also! I was wondering what kind of HP the 650s and 1000s came with stock?

650: 62 hp, 464 lbs dry
1000: 86 hp, 530 lbs dry
Even some of the folks cringing probably swapped forks and swingarms, not so far removed from what a guy does to make a chopper.

some 900's had a single disk front brake.you could turn the lugs off the other leg and run w/o a front fender and still achieve a chopper look.
i have a 650 triumph rigid with custom trees and kz 1000 forklegs using one disk and a kz caliper.

I found this Gem but its sooo nice I don't think I could chop it.

it's ok,you can have more than one:laugh: .

531blackbanshee wrote:

it's ok,you can have more than one:laugh: .

Ya this may become an addiction!! I love these older bikes. They have so much character and beauty to them, especially the Kawis!!!