81-82 GPz , J, LTD, CSR series Frame Bracing ?????

PS - If you really want to get it right, you will want to check the steering head angle, I believe the LTD and GPz are different there.

TexasKZ wrote:

PS - If you really want to get it right, you will want to check the steering head angle, I believe the LTD and GPz are different there.

You are right. I did check. The "J" has a 27.5 angle the LTD has a 29 and so dose the LTD. But I believe that the LTD/CSR has the neck at the 27.5 and achieves the 29 with the leading axle on the forks. The GPZ and the ELR also has the 29 but without the leading axle. This will make a difference. OK now that being said, what would be a proper way to re-rake this frame? This one will be much harder than a standard KZ due to all f the extra bracing already incorporated. But this is still better than the 26* on the old 900/1000 frames.

just a thought..why not just get a gpz frame to start with?

I would, if I could find one. What angle do most of the guys rake the old frames to?

rob smith frames were the big tickett back in the day and many teams ran em....there is an e-bay member who knows the in's and out's of all kawi frames and superbike tricks...and if you sent hima p.m through contact member in e-bay.....i'm sure he would be happy to share his knowledge with you..i have exchanged a few notes with him and found him to be SUPER good on the old stories and tricks...sadly he sold a rob north frame and i failed to bid ..it went for around 600 i think....he told me that the small brace in front of the shock in the side cover area screws with mounting stock side covers.....he also is selling off really rare extras and one off stuff quite often on there...p.m sent

my project bike is a 1981 kz1000j standard....and i'm "almost" positive that the frame is from that model only...that late owner may have added these braces...but i believe they are standard issue on all standard kz1000j in 1981 and 1982.....i also was pretty sure that the factory racers changed the degree on the rake on the s1 but claimed no other changes...i need to re-read the muzzy chapter in kevin camerons "top dead center" book ...because they discuss this i believe....anyone know if my 81 frame is stock braced????

If this is a "J" than it is not stock. The front two braces were added. Only the rear two were stock on the "J","K","M". The front braces were stock on the GPz ONLY in 81.

This is a J frame.

This is how pop Yosh increased the rake on Wes Cooley's 78 GS1000 superbike

"The aftermarket forks started out
with standard length tubes, but the
Yoshimuras lengthened the tubes
35mm by welding on pieces cut from a
spare fork tube. The extra tube length
increases rake by half a degree, from
26.5' to 27', and changes trail from 4.57
in. (for the stock GS1000E) to 5.90 in.,
though the steering head is not
modified. The geometry changes
contribute to top speed stability while
the extra fork tube length increases the
height of the engine side covers relative
to the ground, thus improving
cornering clearance as well. Spacers
inside the fork tubes compensate for
the lengthened tube."

What is your rake now?

trianglelaguna wrote:

my project bike is a 1981 kz1000j standard....and i'm "almost" positive that the frame is from that model only...that late owner may have added these braces...but i believe they are standard issue on all standard kz1000j in 1981 and 1982.....i also was pretty sure that the factory racers changed the degree on the rake on the s1 but claimed no other changes...i need to re-read the muzzy chapter in kevin camerons "top dead center" book ...because they discuss this i believe....anyone know if my 81 frame is stock braced????

what was the build date on frame? maybe it was built in the transition between 2 model years

i will record the numbers and see...i been avoiding even going near her till i'm ready to start wrestling again.....anyway i think okatar might be right ,the old owner(r.i.p) was in the process of building/painting/refitting things...and may have added em...

heres one with some rake changes:woohoo: