Great looking rims by the way. Is that a KX?

That might be the ticket! My friend knows someone with an anodizing business here locally. He had some stuff done in gold and it really looks cool. I'll see if they offer clear.

Does the anodize dull the polished finish at all?

I think they have clear powder coat too....one of those options would cut the maintenance way down.

Yep, it was a complete and running bike, previous owner was a friend of mine. He got beat by a 600 Katana in 1993 and decided to take it apart to upgrade cams and port the head. It sat ever since...15K miles on the ODO. It was in a garage, but across the street from ocean fron in Hawaii, so the air alone got to it some.

I did not know a complete dash was hard to find, I'll be super gentle cleaning it

My plan from here is just clean up the frame and paint it, restore the gauges, replace the chrome parts. Get the hydraulics working, chain conversion, bead blast and reapint the rims, and new rubber. I have the CBR1000RR for going fast, this will be a cruiser

So something of a resto mod, eventually progressive rate springs and possible swing arm conversion to get more rubber under it.

Kidkawie wrote: I've also received more quotes on having it polished...prices range from $365 to $750! :blink:

Umm...why not polish it, then have it clear anodized?

These are 19 year old MX wheels I had refinished by TCR out in Cali. And believe me, they looked a ton worse than that swingarm you have.

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TCR is a great little shop. They are my go-to guys for tire work. Just down the road and only $15 if I bring them the wheel and tire!

79MKII wrote: So the one side that I have polished looks really nice. I've been thinking though that it's going to take a lot of maintenance to keep it looking good. With that in mind, I've got some prices on having it powder coated. I think a nice metallic silver or maybe the "chrome" powder coat would look good and that stuff holds up real well over time. I found a local place that will do it for $65.

I've also received more quotes on having it polished...prices range from $365 to $750! :blink:

Umm...why not polish it, then have it clear anodized?

These are 19 year old MX wheels I had refinished by TCR out in Cali. And believe me, they looked a ton worse than that swingarm you have.

808rob wrote: ALOHA i just got me 1979 kz1 kwaka and was wanting maybe that same swing arm you just got on my bike. i just wanted to know like what will i have to get for the whole set up after getting that swing arm? calipers, etc etc.. you got a list up there. could you be a bit more specific

I don't have the links but there are several other threads for installing a GS arm that would be much for helpful than this one. I'll try to explain what I have found out so far. Just keep in mind that I haven't actually done it yet!

From what I understand, there are several ways to approach it...You will need the entire Suzuki swingarm set up including pivot bearings, spacers and end caps, rear axle, adjusters, maybe rear wheel spacers, etc... but you'll use your stock KZ pivot axle. The GS arm is just slightly more narrow at the pivot so a washer or two on each side inside the frame at the pivot point will be needed. You will also need to find some eye-to-clevis shocks...honda gold wings, many suzuki's and lots of others use them...they are easily found either used or new. I am going with stock GS1100E shocks with adjustable dampening. You can also use a stock GS1100 chain guard and brake arm for simplicity. You'll likely need a slightly longer rear brake line since the GS arm is a little longer.

For the rear wheel, you can go with a GS rear wheel hub and lace it to whatever rim you want, using the stock gs brake disc, caliper and brake arm, and I think everything might bolt up using the stock suzuki wheel spacers. I went with a KZ rear hub laced to a 3.5" wide Excel aluminum rim, stock KZ brake rotor and caliper, using the gs1100 brake stay. For the KZ rim (or any other wheel you'd like), you'll have to figure out what spacers you need to get the wheel where you want it on the rear axle (20mm ID spacers). I had some spacers around that I had cut down to center the wheel in the swingarm. I'm hoping this set up works well and everything centers up OK. I'll find out after I get the swingarm either polished or powder coated and can begin installation.

I'm sure I'm missing some details, but like I said, I haven't actually done it yet. Hope this helps.

ALOHA i just got me 1979 kz1 kwaka and was wanting maybe that same swing arm you just got on my bike. i just wanted to know like what will i have to get for the whole set up after getting that swing arm? calipers, etc etc.. you got a list up there. could you be a bit more specific

geerbangr wrote: You're only a few hours from me. I'm out of town working until the end of the month but I'll offer the use of my blasting cabinet when I get back home.

Thanks!

You're only a few hours from me. I'm out of town working until the end of the month but I'll offer the use of my blasting cabinet when I get back home.

geerbangr wrote: Perhaps light air pressure in a blasting cabinet with glass would work ? That in effect would set you up for polishing.

That would be ideal but I don't have access to a blasting cabinet. I haven't been able to find anybody around here willing to do it either. I hope to buy one some day. They aren't that expensive but a proper air compressor sure is.