Fork swap

Does anyone have any suggestions for newer forks that will fit a 1981 kz750?

If you want a simple bolt-in swap, there probably are none. By swapping the steering stem from your bike onto a newer front end, you can use most any newer setup. However, you will want to use one that has an overall length, including the wheel, that is close to the stock measurement. Evenso, there are a host of details to deal with like hand controls, headlight and guage cluster mounts and such.

The stock forks can likely be significantly improved by installing some new oil, seals and springs.

What are your goals?

If you want to go with a newer fork you need to know the the length of your fork legs.
Here is a fork chart with length / axle OD / caliper mounting point distance / fork leg OD for upper and lower triple
Maybe you have to go with new front calipers matching to the fork your go for.



Most Zed bikes using ZX-9R forks, they are the longest,( like i used on my project bike )

A how to for the stem swap



Like TexasKZ said, there is no easy bolt on and you have to do some mods but nothing impossible, only a "little" metal work.

Michael

The Zephyr 750 and the ZR750 front forks are pretty much as simple swap, if you change the neck bearings to roller bearings. If you do, I recommend you to swap the entire front end, fork, wheel, brakes the lot from the same bike. That will save you a lot of fabrication.
Look at my build thread where I slip a Zephyr front end on a Gpz750R1 -82 (KZ750R1) Note that my Gpz750R1 was originally equipped with roller bearings in the steering neck.

kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/598316-gpz...an-other-green-kwack

Brgds Anders

Other things to consider:

ride height -going from a 19 front to a 17

frame geometry/handling - castor and trail is altered, from the yoke offset as well as the fork dimensions

Side stand - may need lengthening

Matching wheels - can you get a matching rear in the swingarm? , rear sprocket offset ect...

Then making the ignition lock, instrument mountings, fairing etc all fit together, quite a lot of work involved.

Instead of replacing the forks, you could install new fork springs or better yet maybe cartridge emulators. It would also be recommended to replace the rear shocks.

Cognito motor has conversion parts to simplify things a bit