Weight per axle

I cant find the weight ratio of the KZ1000 or the center of gravity. I would find it myself but don't own a scale I can use.

Does anyone know the weight per axle of a kz1000 without a rider? If you know the exact center of gravity that would be the best. Center of gravity info would contain the height and distance between the wheels contact patch, The manual doesn't have the center of gravity in it, but if I can get a baseline I can estimate my position and center of gravity for what I need it for.

If someone has a scale that they can measure the isolated wheel weight I would be so grateful.

I am using this info to do a calculations worksheet make an adapter bracket for a 6 piston brake conversion.

Let me know if anyone knows anything about this, Thank you.

If you don't have a bathroom scale then you can buy one cheap at WalMart. just make a platform so the bike is level when you weigh it.

I'm a little confused though, it seems to me that caliper position is dictated by fork width, disk diameter, rim/tire width, etc, all mechanical details. I don't understand where cg enters into it. Can you elaborate?

I don't have money either...

It doesn't need to be this elaborate, even if it did I don't have the capability of machining whatever I come up with. I found a worksheet PDF that has equations for calculating dynamical and statical load, Force and moment equations, theoretical maximum deceleration, technically maximum braking acceleration and all sorts of other good stuff. I just want to do it for fun and to practice with math since school is out for winter break.

I did the same type of thing for my mustang starting from the BTU of fuel and going through a whole bunch of equations to give me HP at 2400RPM going 60mph. Wound up spending 2 weeks on it and 3 pages of math put into a report form. Useless but it inspired me to go to college since I found out it wasn't normal haha

Would the GVWR/GAWR info on the vehicle information label at the steering head be of any use?

Both of those refer to the maximum weight that can be put on the axle (GAWR) and vehicle as a whole (GVWR)

I feel like the center of gravity should be more advertised than it is. Maybe its for liability reasons? Engineering secret reasons? Its weird though since I hear the term 'center of gravity' mentioned so much with motorcycles.

Yes, I know it is the maximum weight that can be put on the wheels, but I was surmising that you could use the numbers to figure out the percentage distributed to each axle, then use those percentages to calculate the dry weight on each axle. Lacking any other info, it seems like as good a place as any to start.

On my 81 650 that weighs 462 lbs dry, the numbers are ~35% for the Fr & ~65% for the Rr.
From the VIN: 854 total weight. 299 Fr. 555 Rr.
299/854 = 0.35 Fr 555/854 = 0.65 Rr
462 x 0.35 = 162 Fr
462 x 0.65 = 300 Rr

PS: kinda disregarding the position of the engine lump, so the percentages probably aren't correct.

Oooooooh I see, I dont see why this wouldn't work for what I am using it for. For a correction factor for the engine I think I could just take the weight of the engine and estimate a spot that I deem the center of gravity so,

Say engine weighs 250lb and the center of gravity is 45% from the front of engine

250 x .45 = 112.5
250 x .55 = 137.5

(112 - 162) / (137-300) = .31 = 31% from front axle center of gravity? Or would the engines center of gravity already be calibrated to include the engines imbalance in the GAWR?

peavylotus wrote: Does anyone know the weight per axle of a kz1000 without a rider?

I just happen to have discovered the Service Specification Handbook today, and noticed that they list the weight per wheel.

Here is the PDF download page I found: www.brainjuice.com.au/kmasp/mrmssm/mrmssm.htm

Oddly it doesn't seem to list the LTD (B4),but shows the A and D (Z1R) models.

The manual gives the following:
'77 KZ1000-A1: 269 front, 300 rear, 569 total
'78 KZ1000-A2: 271 front, 298 rear, 569 total
'79-80 KZ1000-A3,4: 280 front, 298 rear, 578 total

I wonder what could explain the shift in GC between the A1 and A2. The only thing I can think of is they moved the front caliper to the back side of the fork leg, but that should shift it back, not forward...

Damn them KZ1000's are fat :ohmy:
My little KZ650's about 440 lbs.
Total weight bike and rider suited 620 lbs. last time on the scale's

zukdave wrote: Damn them KZ1000's are fat :ohmy:

No joke. Total porkers... I don't think the designers were worried about weight at all. From 73 to 80 they just got heavier over time, with dual disks and mag wheels and such.

zukdave wrote: My little KZ650's about 440 lbs.

This same manual claims 503 for total curb weight for a 650-B3 (my previous ride) as well as the F1.

And just for fun, the '80 KZ1300-B2 has a claimed curb weight of 802! :laugh:

Awesome link, I cant believe it exists in such plain english haha

The actual hight of the center of gravity is impossible to find without a scale I am finding out. So I made it up haha

I used the info from the link you posted, had to make up how much weight shifts to the front wheel when lifted 12 inches high to satisfy the Center of Gravity Equation and came out with a 49% from the front contact patch @ 32.01 inches high

Which I feel is definately wrong but the goal of the whole thing is to do the math really.

dohc my bike's stripped bare bone's.
No clock's, no switch's. bare min. wiring harness,
smallest battery I can get by with, alum. swing arm, alum sturt's no shock's
alum. rear rim, small cat eye tail light.
If it doesn't need it to go down the strip it's been removed.