TOPIC:

I would like to increase the capacity of my gas tank and stay in keeping a cafe racer appearance. The A-1's 3.2 capacity left me in dire straits a few times out West even if I was routinely getting 180 miles out of a full tank. Any thoughts?

The tank from a KZ550 (or '81 GPz550) will fit, though I don't recall the capacity offhand. This is an experiment I did a few years ago.

That looks great!  Is that the stock 440 A-1 stepped seat? Do you remember if the rubber mounting donuts(?) were in the same place as the bike ... tank or frame? I really appreciate you taking the time to respond to me. Thank You!

D'oh! I'm sorry - didn't see that you have an A model *and* I managed to mix up 440 and 400.

That's a '79 KZ400B: it has a flat seat. However...

I didn't do anything to the rubber mounting dealies on the bike or anything to the tank - just stuck it on there. The clubman bars did not appear to be an issue lock-to-lock, but I must mention that I did not ride it like that.

If I can get into the workshop this weekend, I'll try that same tank on a 440 LTD (belt drive) and see if it fits.

   These questions I'm asking are preemptive.  I'm currently on the hunt for a KZ440. I might be better off getting a 440 B model but I realize they're hard to find. Having a flat seat is a priority with me. I'm interested in hearing how the tank matches up with the D-1's. Thanks again!
   

Gotcha. Yes, B models are not terribly common but LTDs are everywhere. I started some work on an LTD project bike before lucking out with 2 B models.

If it looks like you're not going to be able to find a B, you could remove the cover from the LTD seat, trim the foam to a flat shape, and then re-cover. If you swap handlebars to something less cruiser-like, the LTD might work for you.

   My very first motorcycle was a brand new 1980 KZ 440 A - 1. I put 33,000 miles on it in 3 years and drove Webster Florida to Lander, Wyoming, 2.100 miles ... Albuquerque, NM to Webster, Florida ... 1,700 miles and back and forth from Albuquerque, NM to Lander, WY ... 700 miles each way. I did that 700 miles in a day  Many days I put 500 miles on the bike and enjoyed it. One trip from Denver to Albuquerque had me driving over Raton Pass between NM and CO on I-25 in a snow storm. I rode over 20 miles of that in about 2 - 4 inches of snow. Luckily there was almost no traffic.
   All this driving was without a passenger and usually with a duffel bag behind me and a knapp sack and radio on the tank. I have never had a bike with a windscreen or a fairing and all my riding in those years was with an open face helmet and goggles. I did have a folding foot peg on each front down tube. I would have thought I'd died and went to Heaven if my bike had a flat seat where I could change the angle of my legs and flat handlebars to keep my armpits and elbows out of the wind.
   All of my bikes since then have been used and the first after the 440 was a Yamaha SR500. I always had black and blue marks on my right leg. If you stall on a hill and need to re-start?  Been there, done that. Hopefully, never again. My next bike was a KZ750 B. Great bike but heavy, about 100 lbs. heavier than a 440. After that, all my bikes were Yamaha XS650s.

When using a 550 tank on a 400 twin for daily driving, you will want to mod the front tank mounts to make it more stable.  We installed a small piece of radiator hose around the front rubber donuts to prevent the rubber donuts from slipping out of the metal holders on the tank.  Very easy to do and prevents the tank from moving and getting gouged up near the steering tube, which ends up very close to scraping the tank.  Also, even though some 550 tanks look identical to each other on top, they are different underneath.  The ones with smaller clearance underneath don't fit the 400 without bashing the underside.


Kawasaki GT550 tank on kz440? - KZRider Forum - KZRider, KZ, Z1 & Z Motorcycle Enthusiast's Forum

I keep telling other folks that no matter what they drive, they should go online and join an owner forum. YOU are Exhibit Number 1.  THANK YOU for that head's up. I don't have my KZ440 YET, but I will and probably no later than this fall. I find used motorcycle prices drop in the fall. The folks here are saving me all kinds of time guiding me in the right directions.

No eBay APP ID and/or Cert ID defined in Kunena configurationWhat's a toaster tank?  Some KZ models have a coffin tank, including some 400s & 440s. I didn't see any good cheap ones on EB.

No eBay APP ID and/or Cert ID defined in Kunena configurationSomething like this?
Steve