Hey all. Small update.

The project forges ahead, a bit yo yo on progress but deffo on the finishing straight.

Frame has been sent to powdercoaters and also for seat to be made. I've basically asked for a seat like this:




Also, all other parts for powder-coating, anodising and fork sliders for DLC or Nitriding have been stripped and sent off. Frame and swingarm also.




The engine is on track for a full rebuild / 810 pistons / GPZ cams at Debbens after a delay waiting for new clutch rubbers from the Aussies. But on its way now. I basically gave them a GPZ motor and another Z750 one to find 4 sets of rods, valves etc that all match up in weight and bearing life as a better starting point. It will also get new drive chains, bearings, shells etc etc - a proper nut and bolt build finished with stainless exhaust studs, ARP rods and stainless fasteners where possible - should look great when done.


Whilst I'm waiting, back to the computer for a small but very important detail - side panel badges! I was planning on going with a custom 'Z800' badge but I'm sure it will be very pricey and may turn out crap.





The side badges below are still available from a replica maker and are genuine designations.


Nice 750 Twin Cam emblem...




GPZ750 is obviously cool - and kind of correct as it's a GPZ motor




Or I thought this traditional Kawasaki racing flag looked pretty cool too...






There's loads more here:

www.reproductiondecals.com/default_frame...aw_content.html~main

www.badgereplicas.com.au/badges_kawasaki.htm#other


Stay tuned.

Ramtough, I'm not totally opposed to doing some sort of swingarm swap that would allow the traditional shock location and thus no cutting on the frame. Who knows, if I find a good deal on a pair of shocks I might go that direction. For now all the stock parts are getting stored in the attic, and pretty much everything could be returned to stock if needed...

As for progress, the brown trucks were good to me today! My gauge cluster arrived, and I couldn't wait to go test fit it.





Using the included bracket the gauge cluster fits pretty well. I need to space it down a little closer to the headlight but I'm thinking I also need to bring it 1/2" or so back towards the top yoke. My biggest concern is it being off-centered. The CNC top yoke was intended for a 2007 GSXR, so it has provisions for the ignition, which are preventing me from centering the cluster unless I mount further away than I would like. With the asymmetrical nature of the cluster, I kind of think it balances pretty well being off center to the right. At least that's what I am going with for now if anyone asks why it wasn't centered .

finally got some pure un-interrupted shop time,to get dougs swingarm closer to finished.
it is amazing how many different things can distract/steal your time completely from you :pinch: .
i was able to get the tubing for the braces cut to length and four of them milled off at (depending on where you call 90)60/30 degrees.
which seemed to set the angle nicely.


i also used the mill and a hole saw to cope the tubing to fit where it intersected the brace.



i was wanting to get it all welded up :whistle: ,but everything i got done turned out well.
so i am satisfied,thanks for being patient doug .




i'll be back at it tonight and i will post the pics of the progress tomorrow.





leon

Been lurking for quite a while, absorbing as much as I can from the site. I've finally made enough progress on my bike to warrant a project thread of my own, so here we go...

To get a decent idea of what my end goal is, we have to look back to my previous bike - a free 1979 GS750. It was a basketcase, mostly just parts in boxes with a frame that had been bobbed, then welded back together with a back end from a different bike. My plans were pretty lofty considering this was to be my first ever bike build. I accumulated lots of GSXR bits, a fork, a couple swing arms, etc. I was moving my car parts to the attic to make room for bike parts on a daily basis it seemed. I tweaked a photoshop of my "vision" until I had what was to me a pretty cool bike:



About then a deal fell into my lap I couldn't refuse - a true "barnfind" KZ650. I actually found the bike for a friend and he snatched it up. After letting the bike sit for 6 months he decided he didn't want another project and handed the bike over to me. To please the wife, I gave the GS (in many boxes) to a buddy and proceeded on now with the KZ project.

A little back history on the bike - it was originally purchased in 1980, ridden for a year, and then the owner passed away. It only had 4500 miles on it! The bike sat since 1981 parked until March of this year, when it was resurrected, advertised on Craigslist, and eventually sold to me. Overall it was in pretty good shape, but most importantly it was a complete and running bike.

Unfortunately between 30+ years of aging and the "work done" in the 6 months before it got to me, it is going to need a lot of cosmetic work. The chrome was ruined in many areas with what I assume was the use of sandpaper to remove rust. The wiring harness was cut to remove indicators. All the aluminum is badly corroded. Leaks are starting to appear from degraded seals and gaskets.

Anyway, I'm not shy when it comes to modifying things as evident by my LS1 powered BMW, so I'm not keeping this one as an original restoration. My original thoughts for the GS are pretty much getting carried over to this build, but I'm going to make this more of a rolling project so I can enjoy the changes each step of the way.

So onto some pictures. Preparing for the first ride, I had already swapped out the bars:

Made it to our destination! Did I mention that was the first ever ride on anything larger than 50cc?

Now some changes are starting to happen. Got the 2007 GSXR fork fitted up, mostly with a bearing swap. Had to turn down one of the races and make a couple other things skinny, but it ended up fitting nicely. Went with a top yoke from Coolncomfy, kind of expensive but it made things easy. Made some quick brackets for the headlight and started powder coating black...




I found a nice Corbin seat but it was intended for the bigger KZs, the 900-1000 I think. With a little massaging, mostly just moving the hinge points, it fits pretty well. Certainly looks better than that tribute to the 70's seat that came on the bike


Next up is a functioning instrument cluster (a koso rx-2gp), the exhaust, and then over the winter I'll be tackling the rear mono shock conversion.

Just got back to KY about 30 miles from Home gonna stay the noght at my girls daughters
threy ended up meeting us halfway down for the ride

The flag is with Krazy Chris and Boatdrinks wanna just say cant wait to meet up with those guys again and the bike show was Awesome 2nd nicest KZ i have seen in person next to Les' of course LOL

rare V&H swingarm ZRX Front end GSXR wheels factory paint if there wasnt some fading on the Tail I wouldnt believe it wasnt a repaint. but enough about that guy lol

they had a great turnout aome really awesome bikes hope they do it again next year I will make plans tyo spend the weekend

about 240 miles today 508 total so far
got more pic's than I can post

Nebr_Rex wrote: I don't see a center stand on that bike .
You'll need to jack up the rear and spin the wheel.
Rim could be bent.
Are all the spokes tight?
Wheel bearings shouldn't be a problem from sitting.
Maybe the wheel is not lined up straight with the frame?

thanks for the response Rex:

yea there is no center stand, and i have no mc jack. So i'm wondering how i'm going to get the bike up to take the wheels off in the future. anyone have any tricks?

I haven't checked the spokes, actually i have NEVER touched spokes before. How do i go about checking them? Do they thread into the rim?

I crudely checked the wheels alignment by looking at the notches on either side of the swing-arm and it appears to be correct.

Took the dive and bought an 02 GSXR600 swing arm/shock for $80. We will see what happens.

Take a step back, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.

i would hate for u to do anything rash, then regret it later.
just give it a rest for a while and rethink it later.

You have done a fantastic job , and u r sooooo close.
u cant imagine the satisfaction u will feel when this bike finally runs.
hang in there.

watching this thing roll off with someone else will rip your guts out.

you would regret it before they could get around the corner.

take some time away if needed,
if not go bang your head up against the damn thing until you figure out how to overcome your obstacle.

it would have to feel pretty crappy to not see it through now,

forever,

Everytime you think about it,

you would just wanna puke.

thats my.02 fwiw,

leon

Just a suggestion, but pick up a 88-92 Gsxr750/1100 arm and get a matching rim to your front end. Some of those 750's during that era used a 4.5" rim and are perfect for use with a 170 tire.

Unless you have a really good reason that you want to use the ZX6 rim...

Later, Doug