KZ900 swing arm swap

I am thinking about purchasing a GS-1100 swing arm for my 1976 KZ900. I have seen where this swap has been done before, but I am confused as to what needs to be done. The swing arm I have on it now has the center of the rear wheel bolt 22 1/2 inches back from the center of the front pivot. Will the GS-1100 swing arm allow me to keep the wheel back that far ? Will the shocks mount up to the swing arm ? Thanks for any help.

if I remember correctly pretty much a direct swap, with a thin washer on each side at the pivot shaft.(the gs was slightly narrower than the kz).Also the gs has eye to clevis shock instead of eye to eye, look for shocks that meet your ride height standards.

What is the stock length of a 1976 KZ 900 swing arm and the GS 1100 swing arm ?

I believe a stock arm is 19 1/2" from center of pivot bolt to axle in center of axle slot. The GS is either 1 1/2" or 2" longer...

Stock 4" extended arm. Measures 24 1/4" from the stock 19 1/4" well done just bolt up and go. No hack job here...

thats a 25 year old upgrade if I have my facts right the reason it is so popular is it was the tits for its day allot other swapas and variations available today im just a newbie and it all cost money so spendinjg good money for a 25 yrear old upgrade when a few buks nmre may carry you into something allot cooler good luck a post picks

4TheKZ1000, I like the look of that swing arm. How did that ?

ramtough_63, I looks for a pretty much simple what. What swap would you recommend that is not 25 years old and would be a lot cooler ?

I dont think that the GS swing arm is going to work, it appears to be shorter than the swing arm that I currently have.

ramtough_63 wrote: thats a 25 year old upgrade if I have my facts right the reason it is so popular is it was the tits for its day allot other swapas and variations available today im just a newbie and it all cost money so spendinjg good money for a 25 yrear old upgrade when a few buks nmre may carry you into something allot cooler good luck a post picks

No love for "Old-school" Ram ..... Your really hate-en on it..... :huh:

It's inexspensive, bolts up no fab just a 3/8 spacer on drive side and your extended and in the wind in a couple hours. Will take a 160 tire and 3" drop using factory shocks.

Sure...not for most......but is a $300 to $600 new alum one?

Theres nothing wrong with the gs1100e swingarms,its mostly a matter of how much work you want to do on a swingarm swap.
Some people like doing the mono shock swap,i personally thought a monoshock would cool on a kz 30 years ago the first time I saw a Yamaha fzr600 with one.
now 30 plus years later Ive seen enough butchered up mono shock conversions to last me a lifetime,Ive seen a few really nicely done ones but way more hack jobs.
Anyway much like the original style paint jobs I hated 30 plus years ago which Im really starting to like again,I think these bikes just look right with dual rear shocks on them.
This has been a public service message for what its worth! :woohoo:

4TheKZ1000 - I like that swing arm. Who did that extention on it ? That is about the length that mine is, but not nearly as nice as yours. Anyone on the forum that could make one for a 1976 KZ900 ?

When in need Think Les Holt.
Cant hurt to PM him and see what he can pull out of his bag of tricks
He has posted quite a few picks of his modified swingarms
Just My 2 cts
Dave

Man I think you guys got me all, wrong I got allot of love for the old school


You guys been around allot longer than I have I am just sayin I was goin for a car tire club foot ended up with what I believe was called a hacked up monoshock.


All I meant was as a newbie look around threre are things I never knew existed
all my guys said hey put a GS swingarm its nearly a direct swap another sayin no you need a clubfoot 25 years ago ssa's and monos werent the flavor of the day and they guys I run with were like me didnt know there were any other options


factory skinny wheel bikes with stock paint schemes will enter my stable as I progress you can believe that