Would this be a good front-end for my KZ1000?

Hi all,

I just ran across this in one of my local advertising medias and was wondering if it would be a good replacement front-end for my 1980 KZ1000.

It is the front end off of a 2004 Z1000. Looks to come with forks, fender, wheel, brakes, and rotors. The guy only wants $150 for it so I thought I would jump on it if it would fit. I plan on replacing the front end and the swingarm sometime down the road. This would be a perfect chance to get it cheap if it'll work.

What do you think?

Looks like it could work, but I have a few questions. Do you get the triple trees for that price? I would want to inspect it for bent tubes, pits or rust in the chrome lower tubes, leaking seals etc. You might also take a measuring tape and measure to compare to your stock forks. Some modern forks are quite a bit shorter than the original KZ models. Any idea why he has just the forks for sale? Crashed bike, partout, replaced z1000 forks with zx-10r forks. I might be leary of forks if they came from a crashed bike.

With all that said, they look good from the picture, and you can definitely adapt them to your bike without too much trouble.

These forks are "Upside-down" Type.Where they go into the tree may be MUCH larger than the OE style,so they may not work.Besides measuring for length,you gotta measure to see if they are even close to the same diameter for where they go into the tree.Even before you go and take stuff appart.Good luck.

I would be replaceing the triple tree also. I will prob. go look at these and inspect them-ask lots of questions. But for that price ($150) for everything pictured (if straight) is a hell of a deal. JUst forks normally sell for more than that.

havakaw wrote:

These forks are "Upside-down" Type.Where they go into the tree may be MUCH larger than the OE style,so they may not work.Besides measuring for length,you gotta measure to see if they are even close to the same diameter for where they go into the tree.Even before you go and take stuff appart.Good luck.

Hope I'm not the only one (and sorry to kind of hijack the thread), but can someone please show me the difference between the USD and normal forks? What makes them upside down?

If they check out get them, even if you don't fit em to your KZ they can be sold in pieces to more than double your money!
I was wondering how the weight difference in the 2 assemblies might effect front to rear handling? When you put your bike on its center stand now it probably doesn't take a lot to "Pivot" from front to rear, sort of balanced. Wonder how it would be? Might handle great, maybe sort of front heavy? It looks heavier with the larger tire and fork tubes?

Upside down forks are exactly that.... They are upside down. Larger part of the tube is on top while the slider part of the tube is at the bottom. I am sure there is some kind of performance inhancement because almost all forks are USD now.

I was wondering how the weight difference in the 2 assemblies might effect front to rear handling? When you put your bike on its center stand now it probably doesn't take a lot to "Pivot" from front to rear, sort of balanced. Wonder how it would be? Might handle great, maybe sort of front heavy? It looks heavier with the larger tire and fork tubes?

There should be some weight savings as the newer stuff is aluminum and smaller diam. wheels. Balance shouldn't be affected to much, and with a newer swinger it should lengthen the wheelsbase a bit.

I would be putting a different rear swingarm on also. I have one for a newer GSXR I believe that is supposed to fit it. By doing this you are upgrading your suspension, brakes, and tires and are able to run wider tires.

Which year/model is the swinger from?

badrhino wrote:

Hi all,

I just ran across this in one of my local advertising medias and was wondering if it would be a good replacement front-end for my 1980 KZ1000.

It is the front end off of a 2004 Z1000. Looks to come with forks, fender, wheel, brakes, and rotors. The guy only wants $150 for it so I thought I would jump on it if it would fit. I plan on replacing the front end and the swingarm sometime down the road. This would be a perfect chance to get it cheap if it'll work.

What do you think?

SWEET! That and a swingarm and you won't recognize the fact that you are riding a 30 year old bike. That's like reconstructive surgery on a woman. :woohoo: She will feel new again. Whut a ride. lol

Yep thats the whole purpose to make em handle and look better. Knowing me however this could take a while to do. Luckily I have another bike to ride if it does. I believe the swinger is a 06 or newer GSXR and it has the monoshock included ( I think I only paid about $70 for it). They are on e-gay all over for a really decent price. Must be alotof people wrecking newr gsxr's.

This is just a pic. from e-gay. Mine came with everything.

Very cool. Make sure you post a project thread when you get started...:silly:

Which forks u choose doent make that much dif. they are all just as easy to insall. you just change the stem.
there is some info here. if u get these u can add them to the list.

kzrider.com/index.php?option=com_kunena&...ew&catid=5&id=385938

the hight issue is not a big deal for most guys. just keep in mind that u will have to be more carfull as not to hit your header over bumps and such.
it is a great deal if they are straight. buy them.
if u go to a rd race track, u will miss the extra clearance.
i ran mine for 1 summer with a modern rear end (radial tire) and stock front.
no issues for a street ride.then i put a zx9 front on the next year.