What To do to make more aesthetically pleasing?

DoubleDub wrote:

DoubleDub wrote: where's your tail piece? That's one of the defining pieces of a Kz.

Hmm..did the 1100 not come with the duck tail?

Yeah, the gpz did come with it. Are they interchangeable between the kz/gpz?

peter1958 wrote: dont think that came with a tail but would look better with the grab bar

There's a guy who on this forum who has been searching for a grab bar for this bike for 8 years. I have a slight chance to find one, but I can hardly count on it.

DoubleDub wrote: Spoke rims and a flat seat

Read my mind, also some euro bars.

supercharged wrote: it is all personal taste. I have a KZ1000LTD with a supercharger. I can't bring myself to redo the bike and make it "mean" looking, since I built in from new in 1979-1980, and for me the original look is in my memories.

I look at your bike and want to make it meaner looking. That would be to:
- add a tail section - if you could weld, not a big deal
- remove the huge foot peg carriers for something modern
- superbike bars
- redo seat
- change rear shocks

of course that will take some $ and be more complicated in such that the bars alone may require you to shorten the cables and brake line.

After looking at all that work and $ (some call it fun)... you just might think you like the look of your bike as is.

Look in the gallery and see what grabs you... I do that often and see what bit and pieces of others' projects I want to adopt when I get around to it.

That sounds like all good things I want to do, but funds/time are limited as of now. I have a a Honda 550 cafe that is 90% complete. I have to work out the wiring and mount the seat and she's done. I stripped it down to the frame over the winter and rebuilt it completely. I also have a few other projects in the preliminary stages.

Could I just swap the duck tail off a gpz on there? What about the lower front spoiler and front fairing? I think that would make it a bit sportier.

As for the bars, they are a bit out of place except behind maybe a vetter fairing, but I am not sure how this heavy beast will handle with superbike or dragbars.

Kidkawie wrote:

DoubleDub wrote: Spoke rims and a flat seat

Read my mind, also some euro bars.

Well I have a welder, and I would need to re shape the back end of the frame to make it flat. I was all for this on a couple other bikes, but I would rather not do anything that cannot be undone on this bike. I think it is worth more how it sits now than as a cafe. While my honda is opposite.

Will z900 and z1000 gpz fairings fit on this bike?

How much would I be looking at spending on a set...lower/upper front, and duck tail?

Thanks everyone!

shizzomynizzo wrote: Well I have a welder, and I would need to re shape the back end of the frame to make it flat. I was all for this on a couple other bikes, but I would rather not do anything that cannot be undone on this bike. I think it is worth more how it sits now than as a cafe. While my honda is opposite.

I think you answered your question;)

My Vetter/Pridmore tribute bike was a 1980 Classic (no tail) and I did not like the look and the bike was trash.... a bit of time and $... and now it is a bitchin tribute bike. At least in my opinion.

A tail section can be had for $30. weld it up for less then $100 and that will build in a fender eliminator.

Oh... superbike bars would be great... except for the hassles of cable hose changes.

If you have figured it out... I'm biased towards a roadrace look...

I noticed you commented on the value of your bike. I went back and forth as to how I should treat my Z1. Should I rebuild it to factory specs to help keep its value or should I make it into something I want to ride (vs. need to ride to keep it healthy). If you’re worried about degrading the value or are unhappy with it, in any way, get rid of it or change it to something that’s more to your liking. I sold an 86 gold wing that my father gave me because I didn't enjoy it and couldn't bring myself to molest it and bring its market value down. I was also having a hard time because of the sentimental value that I had with it being my fathers. I brought it up in conversation one day and the above advice is what he gave me. Sure it hurt his feelings a little, but it made him happier knowing that I was happier. Life’s to short to worry about such things and in the end your happiness should be your number one priority, not so much the market value. On the other hand, I know that such things as market value are what some people prefer to anything else. My Aunts doll collection is a perfect example; she hates them but keeps them around only because she knows that there are people out there that want them more than her. (She was apparently picked on quite a bit in school) I think once you figure out what your interests are with the bike are, everything else will fall into place.

Another piece of priceless advice he gave me; a bike on the road is worth two in the shed.

DoubleDub wrote: Spoke rims and a flat seat

If he wasn't 700 miles (give or take) away, I'd trade him for my seat and wheels... lol... his seat and wheels would work so much better for what I want to do with mine... eventually

I agree with most people: spoke rims, flat seat, "sportier" front fender (I have a CSR fender that I'm looking to get rid if you don't go the LTD route) and a tail piece with the classic Kawasaki ducktail.

mtbspeedfreak wrote: I agree with most people: spoke rims, flat seat, "sportier" front fender (I have a CSR fender that I'm looking to get rid if you don't go the LTD route) and a tail piece with the classic Kawasaki ducktail.

I'd suggest a "sportier" handlebar as well.