1978 kz1000, looking to follow up on a project to swap swingarm and triple tree. I read a thread about this almost a year ago. Can't seem to find the same thread now. Any help??

Seems that everyone doing this is a machinist, I am not. Can the bushings for the swingarm swap be purchased? Would any of the experienced builders be willing and able to tackle the stem work for $$?

Beautiful bike. Congratulations. I wish you good riding.

The steering damper has a mount built into the steering stop, and I have not installed a damper yet.

'BFT

'Bout Fuckin' time

You've kept me a member to this site for how long? It was worth it. Bike looks tits, and who doesn't like tits? Great job.

Troy341

Troy was a great help in the beginning, Troy is not afraid of any project, and helped a great deal with the GSXR language. It is "tits" Troy, thanks for your help.

Thank all of you who have posted encouragement. there have been a few nights I wanted to hook a tow strap to it, and drag it down the street.

Can't wait for spring.

Looking great! How does it ride?
Did you ever figure out a mount system for the steering damper?
And did you paint your engine silver or just clear coat?..

2 wheels are heaven!

Thanks for the great read!

Okay, so while fiddling with my rear end (er...) I found a caliper hanger that matched the spindle diameter, but which needs some machining to make it the right thickness for what I'd discovered on the left hand side of the swinging arm. And I bolted on an SV650 caliper I hand hanging about.

I dunno if you can see here, but it's right for the offset of the disc (zero) but not for the 210mm diameter.

So, with some guesswork and a ruler waved in it's general direction, I reckon I need a disc of 230mm diameter. Either that, or get a new caliper hanger made, and I think that the disc is the easier option! So, anyone know of any online disc dimension lsitings? Some quick measurements show that the disc fitted to the Dymag is a six bolt fixing (so a three bolt one would also do the trick) of PCD 109mm, with the central hole being 99mm diameter.

When the Dymags were first fitted, I got some bloke to make up the wheel spacers,along with the caliper hangers for the Yamaha blue spot 4-piston calipers, and a rear caliper hanger for another blue spot. But, at some p[oint, I decided that I didn't want a big 4-potter on the rear, so threw away / lost the spacers and hanger. So, I needed new ones.
So the rear wheel needed centralising and measuring up for some spacers...
Hmm, looks a bit close to the swinging arm on the left.


The shock mounts and centre casting mark on the Dymag gave convenient reference points.


Stacks of room on the right hand side, and I'll get a mate to machine up a spacer before I start thinking of a caliper hanger (mainly because I don't know what caliper I'm going to use yet)


So it was all measured up with the wheel in place and a couple of spacers ordered. When they arrive I'll be able to bolt it together solid, and check for chain alignment...

You may not be able to tell from the pics, but once it was centralised there was a bit more room between the sprocket carrier and the swinging arm...

pete greek1 wrote: Besides the things you mentioned, you will need bearings all around wheel ,swingarm steering stem, chain ,sprockets, clutch plates could be frozen, where the pistons & rings sat in the same spot for 20 yrs. cylinders will be rusted & or pitted, seals in engine & head will be dry rotted, you would need a complete engine & head rebuild, you don't know what electrical problems there are ETC. ETC,.....I wouldn't give him no more than 500.00 for a non running 76-77 bike ...at least you could always part it out & get you money back for 500.00
That's my opinion Pete

You've got the poor thing condemned already! :woohoo:

Besides the things you mentioned, you will need bearings all around wheel ,swingarm steering stem, chain ,sprockets, clutch plates could be frozen, where the pistons & rings sat in the same spot for 20 yrs. cylinders will be rusted & or pitted, seals in engine & head will be dry rotted, you would need a complete engine & head rebuild, you don't know what electrical problems there are ETC. ETC,.....I wouldn't give him no more than 500.00 for a non running 76-77 bike ...at least you could always part it out & get you money back for 500.00
That's my opinion Pete

I've been vintage racing a '75 Z1 for 10 years.Started out stock and as I improved I switched to racing rubber and then the problems began.The street Metzlers would slide predictably when pushed but the sticky rubber transferred the stress to the frame and became dangerous entering high speed corners(front became vague and would run wide).My buddy found what looks like the same info from Japan.I made cardboard templates and then cut out the metal and my buddy welded them in.I took a front end off of 6 cylinder shaft drive and replaced the stock front end and put in Progressive springs.Mikes XS (Yamaha) makes emulators for the 650(cheap $60) .Too small but we made a recessed washer the right size for the larger forks.I found a Suzuki box section swing arm for $50 to replace the stock.By moving the forks up in the triple clamp I found where they work best.The bike works far better than I expected and is great fun to ride.I actually touch my knee down now..My buddy and I got a podium in the 3hr endurance at Grandbend last summer because the it worked so well.Cheap but worthwhile fix.

I use to be a frequent flyer here at this site back in 2006. That goes to show how long I've been away. Why? I dont really know why. I've recently started to get back into the KZ build and I happen to remember thus site and how much it helped me in the past. With my first KZ build done, I feel it's time to start anew. This new build will be a bobber build. I'm thinking of using the same bike. I'm just not into the "Fighter/Naked bike" look as much anymore. I still appreciate a well built bike no matter what style it is but I feel I need a more gritty bike... That's kinda my taste with stuff now lol, rat rods, bobbers, old beetles, VW Vans... You get the gist.

So a little update since the last time I was on back in 2006. I meet this girl. Turns out she liked me enough to put up with me and we got married in 2010. I couldn't be happier to be honest, she is perfect. Likes all the same stuff I do, which is awesome. We ended up moving to Arizona in 2012 to figure ourselves out. Kinda thought we needed to learn what it was like in a place were we had no friends or family and start new. Its been tough but we have managed. I feel we have both grown up since the move. Learning how to do things without the support of family, you learn quick what's important in life and the things you use to take advantage of. Still no kids but maybe someday...

So that was the quick and easy on my last 9 years of life. Now back yo bike talk. Below are some up-to-date pictures of my bike. As you can see the transformation from a 1981 KZ750 LTD to what it is now it dramatic. Its got a custom seat, ZXR swingarm, Kerker exhaust, Bual cowl and dual headlights, completely rebuilt engine, eBay bought blinkers, and little stuff here and there.

I've been having troubles keeping the battery charged while on a ride. I have come to the conclusion that it might be the headlights pulling too much charge from the battery and it drains it. Would this also cause the bike to die if the battery is completely dead? I figured that the generator would generate enough charge that the battery wouldn't be used while driving it. The last few times u have driven it since the headlight swap I have gone from a full battery to an hour later the bike dies and I'm stuck on the side of the road. Anybody might have an idea if what's going on, shoot me you thoughts. Anyways check out the pictures. Glad to be back!