New KZ Owner Needs Help

Hey all, new kz550 owner here. Received a 1981 kz550 from my cousin for free in stock condition running and everything fully functioning.

I own several other bikes buell x1, drz400sm so I figured I would like to chop this thing up and build a bobber. I lowered the front end by sliding the forks up in the triple clamps and lowered the rear by using different springs. The rear is low and as I was loading it in my truck to transport the rear return spring for the brake pedal fell off. I can't find anywhere where it is likely to go and have searched the internet far and wide with no success.

I was wondering if anyone could post pics of how their rear brake pedal is set up and where the spring is located on your bike. I have downloaded several manuals as well and can't find the location of where this spring is supposed to go. The pic I posted is how far I have gotten with the bobber build, still more to do!



Thanks for your help,
Chris from CA

hows it going Chris. i think i may be able to help you with your problem or at least give you a start. I took some pics of my rear brake pedal on my 83 KZ550 ltd. Some of the pictures show where the spring is hooked which is located right by the center stand spring. Let me know if these help. By the way your bike looks great on top of being free Ive included a pic of my bike that i was also given for free that i wanna give a Brat-style or eventually a Bobber build. So heres to "Free Riding"! haha
Rock n Roll buddy,
David DeVille from San Bernardino.

thanks for your pics!

ya I removed my center stand I just think they are ugly and bulky. so I currently only have the need for one spring on my bike now.. I tried mounting my spring exactly where you have it pictured on yours, but I guess mine is just too stretched out or something because its loose and doesn't fit on those two mounting points. I will try and shop around to find a smaller spring and see if it works, which it should. it is just not allowing my rear brake to work properly because it wont return so I need to get on this asap!

thanks again for your help and good luck on the build!!

no worries buddy! good hunting for your spring and thanks glad i could be of some help. Take care.

so I got the brake all figured out, haven't really had a chance to work on it in a while.. today was the first day I have had to work on the bike since my last post. painted the tank and rear fender, still have to do some more sanding re-clearing and painting some other parts. just going with a jet black with some house of kolor silver flake..

Taz - great support. You and many others are why this site is often the only recourse for folks in need. Well done.

so here's the bike after a quick spray to see what it will "look like". I use that term loosely because I am going to throw a lot more flake in it so the parts look closer in color to the seat. I am also going to repaint everything again as well as the side covers.. fork gaiters went on today, I am trying to attach some pics and hopefully a video let me know what you think.

thanks

I would flip those shocks over so they are right-side-up. They will work better that way than upside down. Ed

650ed wrote: I would flip those shocks over so they are right-side-up. They will work better that way than upside down. Ed

ditto..... :S

what color flake is that and size of flake ?