I did post it up on KZ1000R.com, they gave me bike of the month in 2012. The link is attached. I did remove items and I was really careful on what I put on it. The ZRX swingarm is a lot lighter than the stock one. The Kerker is way lighter than the stock exhaust. I did remove about 1 pound off the back of the frame when I cut and moved the tail light assembly further back to be flush with the rear fender instead of sticking out. I ditched the stock foot peg brackets and foot pegs and went with aftermarket rearsets and brackets that came off a crashed Yamaha FZR1000 that saved about 10 pounds. I ditched the stock instruments and went with a Koso RX1 gauge. I used a ballistac battery which saved me 6 pounds, all this adds up. I wanted the engine to sit as low as possible so I could remove the top end without removing the entire engine from the frame. The 1100 engine is quite a bit taller and wider than the 750. I have about 1/8" gap between the engine and frame on both sides.
www.kz1000r.com/index.php/botm-2012-141?id=166

Jrider wrote: Baldy, just what all was involved in that swap? Sounds interesting.

A lot of work. I wanted the engine to sit as low as possible so I could do regular maintenance so I cut the bottom tubes of the frame and got the engine in really low. I welded the frame tubes back together with tubing slugs inside the tubes for strength. I can remove the top end without any problems. I had to make motor mount tabs and re-design the Kerker pipe to get it to work with the ZRX swingarm. There are a bunch of other small things I had to take care of. I installed a 1175 Wiseco piston kit in it along with WEB cams, ported head and the Mikuni RS36 carbs. I wanted it lighter than the GPZ750 so I really put it on a diet. It weighs in now with full fuel at 420 pounds.
It is a beast, it will rip you arms off when you get on it hard. If I am going to die on a bike this is probably the one that will kill me. It is so fast and smooth that before you know it your at 120 mph and only at 1/4 throttle. It requires a lot of discipline to operate. It handles better than the GPZ750 probably due to the shocks, stiffer swingarm and the lighter weight. Very addicting bike to ride. I give modern sport bikes fits.

vic,
i am pretty sure i used 1/4 x 2" .
i'm not currently close to it.
but,
i will verify that and let you know for sure.
it worked out real nice.

i machined some bungs to mount the rearsets,and got them welded on.

here is both sides cleaned up,





with bungs welded on,






leon

Step One - Inventory

First an amusing anecdote - my first day owning the bike, we have an Easter egg hunt for my son, and in return he wants to hide some mini chocolate candy bars for us. Well, we only find 9 of the 10 we gave him to hide. Where was the 10th? He put it in the gas tank.

We got it out, but it involved trying quite a few different techniques before I stabbed it with a sharpened piece of metal and fished it out.

Back to the bike, I'm now going through the process of identifying all the pieces, determining what's missing, and trying to figure out an order of operations to start the build. I'm happy to report that there's enough cross over between old cars and motorcycles that I recognize about half the parts, and can figure out another quarter with a little thinking.

Back to inventory. I spent the last couple nights going through all the buckets and pieces and parts. Here it all is laid out.

Frame


Engine Block & Transmission


Tank, seat, exhaust, wheels, fender, and swing arm. No unknown parts here.


Starting in lower right, going counterclockwise: valve cover and head, cylinder block, carburetors, battery tray, headlight brackets, headlight, throttle cables, chain cover, and triple clamps. Took some research to figure all those out.


Ok, it's getting harder now. Some sort of other cable in with the throttle cables, Brake lever, master cylinder, and caliper, clutch lever, lights, coils, uh... a bunch of tiny pieces, some brackets and hoses?


A little easier on this portion. Chain, more tiny pieces, points cover, gauge cluster, rear shocks, rear wheel assembly (took some squinting at a few diagrams online to figure all that out). There's a mystery item to the left of all the tiny pieces, and below it is the brake lever. There's also a hard line to the left side that's a mystery.


And to round things up, we have the speedometer gear and cable, tach cable, rear drum brake, shiny cover thing, front forks (last on the road 15 years ago), main and secondary foot pegs, throttle handlebar, and a huge mess of a wiring harness that makes my heart clench up just looking at it. I'm probably just going to start over with a simplified harness design.


And here's all the small parts laid out.



So far I know the following are missing: gear shift lever, handlebars (I'll be installing a set of clip-ons, so no big loss), all the nuts to hold together the engine block, and the valve cover bolts. The mechanic says he thought he put all those in a bag, and he's going to look around the shop this weekend, so hopefully I won't have to hunt them all down.

So, I guess my big question to you guys is, what else do you guys see that's missing, and what are the parts I can't identify? I left out photos of all the plastic trim and faring pieces that won't be re-installed anyway.

baldy110 wrote: Yes, they a LOT stiffer than the stock round tubed KZ swingarms. I swapped one into my 650 about 20 years ago there is no flexing at all when I am running it hard in corners. The GS SA is boxed aluminum while the KZ is round tubing. The KZ one tends to flex when pushed hard, that is why you see them all braced up or simply swapped out on the early superbikes, My bike handles much better, I am sure the upgraded shocks I put on helps also but I am pleased with the end results and wished I had done this swap earlier.
The shock attachment points on the GS SA are about 2" farther back than the KZ ones so depending on the length of the shocks you choose, the bike can sit a little lower. I opted to have shocks made by YSS and got them 13" from eye to eye, this sits my bike just a little lower than stock.

Normally not too into red bikes, but really like what you've done!!! The black on the swing and pipe almost seem to make them dissapear into the bike!

Yes, they a LOT stiffer than the stock round tubed KZ swingarms. I swapped one into my 650 about 20 years ago there is no flexing at all when I am running it hard in corners. The GS SA is boxed aluminum while the KZ is round tubing. The KZ one tends to flex when pushed hard, that is why you see them all braced up or simply swapped out on the early superbikes, My bike handles much better, I am sure the upgraded shocks I put on helps also but I am pleased with the end results and wished I had done this swap earlier.
The shock attachment points on the GS SA are about 2" farther back than the KZ ones so depending on the length of the shocks you choose, the bike can sit a little lower. I opted to have shocks made by YSS and got them 13" from eye to eye, this sits my bike just a little lower than stock.

(Clevis-Thats the word I was looking for.)
My mistake about the length.They may be a couple of inches longer but what I meant to say was they are the same length from pivot point to shock bottom.
Also be aware that there is a GS1100 shaftdrive.You wont be wanting that arm.

78kzturbo,did you really squeeze a 180 tyre into the GS swingarm? I tried it but couldnt manage.I went for a GSXR600
arm in the end.

the gs1100e aluminum swingarm 80-83 is almost two inches longer also a little wider. however kz shocks are eye to eye shocks gs shocks are eye to clevis mount. it is no big deal just get you a set of gs shocks with you swingarm. i've done that swap many times in the past. mainly because i could polish the gs arm and also run a wider tire. ive actually ran 180 series tires with them arms plus there lighter. good luck to you.

(Yes,Its the GS1100 not the GS1000) .The standard Z shock has an eye on the bottom of it which fits into a fork on the swingarm but the GS has a fork on the bottom of the shock which fits onto an eye on the swingarm.
When I compared the GS swingarm to my CSR swingarm,there was virtually no difference in length.
Good luck

Click on the Phoenix Fighter link in my signature, I used a GS1100e SA on my KZ1000. I have links to products I have used. Feel free to ask me questions or for measurments. What ever you need to help out. Good luck with your build.