KZ650 Master Cylinder with drag bars help

Hi all...noob here - just joined today. I've been reading the posts for awhile and I really enjoy everyone's expertise. I've searched the archives and really couldn't find an answer to what I need. I've installed drag bars to my '78 KZ650 but the master cylinder hits the tach. I guess what I'm looking for is someone who's done this to tell me exactly which m/c they went with. It looks like the clutch cable and throttle cables are all gonna have to be changed as well. So any help with that would be really appreciated too! Thanks!!

Hello, Deputy723, and WELCOME to KZR!
We're glad you're here!

Is the front brake single disc or dual discs?

Imo, a 14mm (1/2") bore master cylinder should be fitted for a single disc. And a 5/8" bore master cylinder should be fitted for dual discs.

Good Luck!

is the round mastercylinder any more compact than the trapazoid?

Here's a recent thread that may be of interest.

Click here >> Master Cylinder

Good Luck!

Sorry...single disc with the round m/c resevoir.

It's not really the size of the m/c, it's mainly how the hose comes out. The stock hose comes out the left side and runs right into the tach. If I could find one where the hose either angles down or exits more towards the front I'd be golden. Thanks for your help!

Ninja EX500 exits towards the front, and are pretty common. Not sure how ti would work with a single disc, but I was going to try it.

For reference, both barrel and trapezoidal styles measure the same roughly 5 3/16" from body edge to tip of rubber cover on fully assembled master cylinder.

These being a 1978 14mm trapezoidal (grafted onto 1973 Z1) and an oem 5/8" barrel on 1976 KZ900-B1 LTD.

Measured between points shown on red line in the following diagram, for illustration.




Am wondering whether slightly longer bars might be a feasible alternative. Or if bar extensions might be available or fabricated to increase the effective length.

Good Luck!

Thanks for the info, very helpful. I think longer bars would work but the ones I have on sit just right, I hate to change that. I think I'll look into the EX500 idea.

Well, I just picked up a m/c on eBay off a '98 EX500. I'll keep ya posted!

Deputy723 wrote:

Well, I just picked up a m/c on eBay off a '98 EX500. I'll keep ya posted!

Hoping that one fits perfectly!

If a different brake line is also needed, Z1E carries many various lengths and end fittings. As well as shorter throttle and clutch cables, if desired.

Am thinking the EX500 will be 5/8" bore for dual front discs. Which may require a harder squeeze for same braking force as the existing 14mm on a single front disc.

Should be an interesting exercise.

Good Luck!

Well, the EX500 master cylinder arrived in good condition and I was able to mount it with my existing hydraulic line. Got it bled but feels a little soft and can't get it any better. Hopefully I'll have it all back together by this weekend so I can take it for a test spin. Thanks again for all the help!