TOPIC:

I always have liked the looks of the duckbill tail section on the older bikes, and then after streetfighter LTD pointed out a nice seat that Z1E sells for the pre 1980 bikes, I am wondering if I could use the Z1E seat with a duckbill tail section. AND, what is involved with adding one to my 81.
www.z1enterprises.com/seat-assembly-comp...-z2-z1-no-strap.html

I am hoping it would be fairly easy, but it looks like I need to accumulate the parts and do like I do with everything else, and make it fit. Has anyone done this on a later model J bike?

I think your frame is too steped for the seat to work. You'd have to sdd some mounting tabs for the bill to work.
Steve

Not sure what it would take Steve. I'm sure there are some Z1 frame pics on here somewhere. I'm not against doing a few mods, I just don't know how much yet. Too much cutting could be a deal breaker.

I could never figure out why Kawasaki did away with the duckbill tail section on the big Zs.
Im obviously a fan of the look.
Get a used tail piece and a seat and start mocking it up.
Sounds like a good project
Dave

You may have to modify the back of the frame and change the tail light. The repops are fairly cheap.
Steve

z1parts.net/z1-900-tail-piece/
z1parts.net/z1-900-tail-light-lamp-with-bracket/

SWest wrote: You may have to modify the back of the frame and change the tail light. The repops are fairly cheap.
Steve

z1parts.net/z1-900-tail-piece/
z1parts.net/z1-900-tail-light-lamp-with-bracket/

Those are some sweet looking bikes n the pics Steve! In looking at the parts, the seat is $139.00, the rear fender and tail light is $210, the duckbill with the cutouts for turn signals is $75.00, so almost $500.00 in parts +paint may need to wait a bit. It ain't easy being a big time contractor. It does look doable,

z1parts.net/rear-fender-w-light-z1-kz/
z1parts.net/fender-rear-kz-ltd/
z1parts.net/kz1000-kz900-ltd-tail-piece/
www.z1enterprises.com/seat-assembly-complete-z2-z1-w-strap.html

I think I would need a different grab bar too. Not sure yet.

I think the 1980 parts would be the closest fit. I have a spare 1982 Kz1100 rear fender and tail light here that I can try to compare to some of the pics.

This is a '75 Z1. Unfortunately I have the tail piece on the bike now but the other photo shows the bare frame. Distance between the hinges is 24 cm.

I put one on my CSR 1000. I bought a fiberglass replica from ebay,it was too narrow but being fiberglass I was able to cut it down the middle and widen it. Worked very well.No frame mods needed

davido wrote: I put one on my CSR 1000. I bought a fiberglass replica from ebay,it was too narrow but being fiberglass I was able to cut it down the middle and widen it. Worked very well.No frame mods needed

I remember seeing this David. This looks AMAZING! You did an awesome job on this bike. I would like to use OEM parts if at all possible. Your body / paint / fiberglass skills are way beyond my skillset. I am more the cut weld type using oem type parts.

Also the tail light looks great, what is it off of?

I had never fiberglassed before,this was my first attempt and it was pretty easy to be honest (though I did have a scratch on my finger that got infected,which wasnt fun).I think anyone could do it. If steelwork is your thing then understandable you would want to go that way.
The tail light is from a ZX9R. Keeping it in the family.

I have enough fiberglass experience to know that I am not good at it. Good enough to be dangerous. lol I do not have the proper heated work area to tackle much paint / bodywork. (winter is setting in soon.) I did some extensive fiberglass work on a boat many moons ago, and the chemicals / matting is more expensive than purchasing a $75.00 repro ABS duckbill and OEM type fender IMO. That, and the possibility of any fiberglass cuts cracking open again after I have an expensive paint work applied.
It seems there are no longer any local body shop supply houses in my area.


BTW, That is NOT me in the pic. He's probably about 5-6 painters in the past at my buddy's paint shop.

I have been wanting to do a little nicer paint job than it has now. This paint was done in 2015, but was just a basic job with no pin-striping or graphics.

The frame may be too wide. If the bill is ABS you can use ABS glue and fiberglass to widen it. I've been using it on my boxes and it works great. The resin/fiberglass was peeling off.
Steve