750 LTD tailpiece conversion

I had a little trouble finding comprehensive instructions for fitting a different tailpiece onto my 1981 KZ750 LTD, so I decided I'd just jump right in and go for it and document my work. Now I'm not claiming I did this the best way, but it was the best way I could think of and I think it turned out pretty good. I hope all the other LTD guys out there will find this useful.

Step 1: remove the rear fender and inner fender.


Step 2: Get out your angle grinder:evil: and cut out the cross bracing, turn-signal mounts, and front seat braces(toward the front on top of the tubing).


Step 3: Create a template out of a piece of cardboard that fits in the tailpiece right behind the bolt holes toward the rear.

Step 4: Use the template to cut a piece of steel to fit under the tailpiece and mark and drill the steel for bolt holes to hold the tailpiece as well as your new tail light and license plate

Step 5: Determine the desired position of the tailpiece. I wanted a medium length tail, so I have a little bit of room behind the front portion of the stock seat and the seat cutout on the tailpiece....so I'll be fabbing up a custom seat in the near future:S

Step 6: Once you have your tailpiece positioned the way you want it, mark and cut the frame where the tailpiece's bolt holes line up on the tubing and then weld in a piece of steel cut from the template in step three. I lined up the bottom of the steel bracket with the bottom of the tubing.


Step 7: At this point, you're probably thinking "okay, that looks cool. But why my bike wants to split in half roun' dem corners?" Take that tubing that you just cut off the end and weld in back in there. I put it right up next to the plate.



Step 8: Almost there. Time to start fitting the tailpiece back on. It will take some cutting for the tailpiece to fit flush on the frame. I had to cut off one end to fit behind the seat hinge and cut out spots for the shocks.

Step 9: slap in the new tail light...trust me...put some rubber grommets in when bolting that thing up. If you let the metal from the light touch that frame, you'll be blowing fuses left and right.

Step 10: Bolt up the tailpiece.

Step 11: Drink the rest of your 12 pack and admire your work.


Step 12: Enjoy...had to make it a 12-step program

Thanks for the explanation, but as a conceptually challenged person I am having trouble understanding without pictures. Any chance you could post some up?
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does not sound to bad wirewulf. I think I will try it this winter when I take the bike apart to have it powdercoat. or I will hang on a 900 rear fender found one with that done too. there is a picture under gallery kz750 four I think it is like the fourth or fifth one .

Thank you for the email, good to know people care about us guys out there.

Post edited by: navyflyr, at: 2006/08/26 21:39

Sorry bout the lack of pics. The original post didn't take 'em (read I didn't edit right) and I ran out of time. Here you go guys. These should be chronological according to step by step process.

Post edited by: Wirewulf, at: 2006/08/29 16:47

There's more to come, right? Bit of a gap between the seat & tailpiece...

yep. That's the first half of the stock seat. I'll be fabbing up a new one before too long. I just have a honey-do list about 5 miles long:laugh: The whole things gonna get a paintjob too. Hopefully this winter. I was gonna do something subtle, then I saw those fancy hand-brushed-on-in-acrylic tiger stripes on the tailpiece I got off ebay and I thought...Klassy!