Kawasaki 900 Z1 Project -Frame issue

Hey all,
Need some help with a project I´m about to start.

My goal is to build a nice looking Z1 wiht suspension from a modern sportsbike (eg. Yamaha R1 -99)
I have started collection parts for the suspension but have not yet found a good Z1 to rebuild.

Came across an add and for a Kawasaki 900 Z1 -75 rebuilt to a chopper. (see pic)
I can buy it for 1.700 $US and the only useful parts would be the engine and the title.

Questions:

-Can I buy a frame as similar as possible to the Z1 or KZ900 and swop over the engine to that frame and take the build from there ?

- Any ideas of what frame would be most suitable ?

The reason I want to do this is because a Z1 frame is very rare and costly. (I live in Sweden)
And since I´ll modify it anyway I might as well chop up a not so expensive frame and not destroy a original frame that somebody else can use.

The frame have to fit well (with some modifications of cause ) with a Z1 tank, seat and side covers

What do you say ?

any 900/1000 frame from 1973/1980 kz or z1 can be used for your application.


keep us posted.
hth,
leon

I'd keep looking. $1700 for a engine and title is way too much. You can find a much better, more original bike for that (probably not a Z1 but KZ). I had a 74 Z1 engine I couldn't give away, wound up parting it and tossing the bottom end.

body sets with the duck tail will swap onto and back and forth from 73-78 for sure but the 73 through 75 Z1 side covers need to have the frame tabs redone if they are to be used on later frames(76-80)
some 79-80 frames had no tails or different tails and some had duck tails....the tank also was bit different


in general a 73-75 z1 motor will go into 73-80 frames

and a 73 body set ...tail,tank,side covers,can be made to fit 73-80 with out too much work on the side panel frame tabs

sell the chopper frame as a "drop in" and you may get some money back

are kz's that hard to find there...why not just get a beater KZ900-1000 to begin with and save all the hassle????

Kidkawie wrote: I'd keep looking. $1700 for a engine and title is way too much. You can find a much better, more original bike for that (probably not a Z1 but KZ). I had a 74 Z1 engine I couldn't give away, wound up parting it and tossing the bottom end.

X2

76 and up had thicker frame rails and larger gas tanks. all moter and frames have the same mounts from 73 to 79 in the Z1, KZ line. a shaftie will have a wider frame at the axle. so it will accept a larger tire easier, but u need to switch the shaft out for a chain drive. the title has the frame # on it. so a title is no good without the matching frame #.

And whomever built that chopper like thing needs to hunted down and shot. That is just plain UGLY.

Hey guys,
Thanx a lof for all the info...it´s all good news !

I know it´s expensive but in europe a z1 engine can sell for $3000, guess there are less of them here than in the states. I buy a lot of parts on ebay and it´s a bargin even with shipping to Sweden.

I want the Z1 900 look on the bike, with the drop shaped tank. KZ1000 are more easy to find and cheaper but they have squared tanks and the engine isn´t that "exclusive" as the 900.

Yepp..the plan is to take the engine out, sell the chopper frame...punch in the Z1 framenumber onto a "original" frame, buy a tank, tail, covers and then put the suspension on from a Yamaha R1..

I´ll start a new project thread onec I start the build for real.

Here´s pic´s of before and after of my last project.

See next post..

Try again..

Last Project before pic:






Last Project After pic:

And this is similar to what I´m going for now...

If you can find a 77-80 1000ltd frame it will be a lot easier to pass off as a z1 clone than a 77-78 kz1000 frame,it will also be stronger than a stock z1 frame to begin with

folks don't realize how many of these bikes we have over here.
your last project turned out really nice,do you still have it?

leon