1000 LTD Tail Piece Options ?

I know its been asked to death after I did some serching but didnt find any results about keeping the original look of the bike.....

I have a 82 1000 LTD. I know the frames that use the "ducktail" are different frames than the LTD models. I would like to get rid of or make less noticeable the rear fender with the rear light "sticking up" the way it does on the LTD's. IS there any way I can add some type of ducktail to get teh look of the regular KZ's ? I dont want to make a piece from a piece of metal or anything of the kind. More of an original look would be great. Heres the bike

I found a picture of a 77 1000. I just would like something simple like maybe the way the ducktail covers the fender and light a little so my bike dont look like the big old rear tail light is sticking out all alone the way it does. If a tail piece from a different year, or smaller OEM LTD tail piece was made I would sure appreciate the model number or bike that would work. I dont want to do any type of metal fabricating.

Post edited by: dannyg40, at: 2007/11/24 16:41

just use a kz 1000/900 tail?

Not to sure if it would work. The frames are different on the LTD & KZ models. The KZ models with the duck tail have different mounting holes for the inner and outer fender then the LTD bikes.

I did the same thing when I made my CSR1000 into a GPZ You will mount the back of the tail to the light bracket and the front to the frame which i extended with a nother homemade bracket. You may have to also change to a erlier LTD seat which has the cutout for the tail piece. All of the erlier LTDs had tails. Take a look at my thread.
kzrider.com/component/option,com_joomlab...w/id,169462/catid,2/

Post edited by: otakar, at: 2007/11/25 07:59

Maybe it's angle of the picture you took of your bike, but from the way different heights of the taillights on yours and the 77 you would have to lower yours to get a tailpiece on there. It seems you are going to have to do some fabricating of some sort to get the look you want.

Tail lights are no problem. The LTD frame and the CSR frame I started with are identical. The original GPZ had the turn signals mounted on the tail light and I decided to mount them under the seat on the frame. I am using the CSR/LTD rear fender with the fender mounted and not frame mounted tail light. I had no problem matching the tail to it, it is at the perfect height. In this picture the front part of the tail has not yet been mounted to the frame. The back is just sitting on the tail light. The LTD/CSR fender is painted black with POR-15 Black.

Post edited by: otakar, at: 2007/11/25 09:58

I think the problem is that the KZ and LTD you keep refering to are from different types of bikes for lack of better words..
The Z1 , KZ and LTD built from 1973-1980, you could interchange most parts. But on your later built ( post 1980 ) Kawasaki you would have to do a trial and error fitting of the Z1/KZ/LTD "ducktail" to see if it could be fit to your bike..
Pat

Thanks everyone,
Patmann, thats what Im thinking. One of the days over the winter when I have some free time to kill I will take a look at the kawasaki site and part numbers and pictures to see if anything comes close.