dbsuperbiker,
Thanks and that's sound advise (nice looking ride by the way). I'm about an hour south of Indianapolis IN. Do you know of any tracks within 3-4 hours of me that have track days and they allow street bikes? (inspected prior to being allowed on the course is taken for granted). If I located a track that allowed me to take my 9 out and thrash on it for a dozen laps or so; that would be groovy.

I already know the outcome, I know me. I don't know if I'd ever be competetive or not, but I know there'd be a grin under the helmet.

I'd feel much more comfortable thrashing my old ride than I would someone elses. I know what to expect out of my old girl. Throwing my leg over a strange bike and hitting the track......I'd be afraid of hurting someones equipment, and I'd be nervous not knowing what to expect on a strange bike. (some folks have no idea wtf they are doing when it comes to turning wrences on vehicles).

Ok; lets say that happens and I decide to give it a go. I know motors. I don't know bike suspensions. I don't know what works on these old machines and what does not. I know that code was broken a long time ago. What I'd like to know is where does one find that information. Basically the cook book of how to modify a KZ into the best handling, best stopping heavy POS it can be. Front forks, valving/springs, rim/tire sizes, brakes, gearing, rear shocks, type, mounting location, swing arm, swing arm bushings, transmission; will stock hold up or so I need to get the gears back cut? That's the real "stuff" I'd dearly love to locate.

Thanks! Chuck Marsh

All right, lots of pics, so probable will have to break this up. First, things first.

Mark,

Yes it appears it is a 12mm threaded nut. As you can see, it is about .810" deep. It threads onto the stock KZ shock mount per the picture. It is also an allen drive for use.








Bob,

I know you were asking about some dimensional information for the ZRX swing arm. I have both the 1100 and 1200. All dimensions are center to center and in a straight, most direct line.

ZRX1100: Swing Arm Pivot to Lower Shock Mount Bolt: 17.25" / Lower Shock Mount Bolt to the Center of the Essentric locking bolt: 5.50" / Swing Arm Pivot to Upper Shock Mount Bolt: 15.875"

ZRX1200: Swing Arm Pivot to Lower Shock Mount Bolt: 16.75" / Lower Shock Mount Bolt to the Center of the Essentric locking bolt: 6.50" / Swing Arm Pivot to Upper Shock Mount Bolt: 18.25" (on a KZ)

So that should take care of those questions...

Now for the fabrication... I started with welding the upper shock mounts. I tried to match the slope of the stock ZRX, but had to go a little further leaned over due to clearing the factory frame gusset. I made a jig to reference off of the stock KZ shock mount and used a machinist square to ensure it was parallel to the frame tube.





Then started with the lower frame gussets and worked around the bike. The only issue I had with the LH side #7 frame gusset. Pretty sure it will interfere with the seat lock. Next weekend will finish up with installing the oil cooler, steering damper and clearance that gusset if needed.











The finished (for the weekend...) product.


Cory

Hi! :silly: I'm new here but I've read and learned alot from everyone's experiences over the past few months in my decision to do the gs1100 swingarm swap. I've had my KZ1000 A for about 6 yrs now. I LOVE this bike, and have many plans for it. I will keep in touch and send pix as the project progresses.

Hello everyone, I'm doing the popular gs swingarm swap on my 77 kz1000 A very soon. Everyone here has been very helpful with all the info provided about this swap. Now my question to you out there, can I use the forks and brake calipers from a gpz1100 (for the dual discs brakes) but still use my kz front spoke and front fender?

If $450 is to much than maybe you need to go the gs1100 swingarm route that we were discussing earlier in this discussion

Yea, seems like if you have to remove the shaft it makes it harder, but is otherwise pretty nice. I also find it feels confident under acceleration since the climbing tendency of the back kind of counters the natural tendency of the suspension to sink the back. I doubt I'll be trying to switch swingarms on this anyways. As far as I can tell, everything's stock on it except the plugs and plug wires I put on and some of the exhaust studs. So I'm kind of inclined to just keep it that way. I like sportier bikes, but I'd feel bad tearing apart an older bike that was kept in such decent condition.

Really just needs some basic maintenance, and a paint refresh. Looks like a PO dropped it on the right at one point, but not too hard, one of the covers is scuffed up, and there's a small dent in the tank there. Other than that, paint's mostly ok. Little fading around the filler, and it looks like some clearcoat peeling on the right side cover. But some new brake pads, and new suspension oils, and fix this exhaust, and I suspect she'll be in great running order. Maybe some valve adjustments, but whatever condition it's in, I was able to ride it home from the house of the guy I bought it from.

Gday

I am having trouble getting a 77-78 kz1000 (z1000 rear hub) for my GS1100 swingarm swap. I cannot locate one over here at all

I am wanting to put a 160 tyre in the GS swingarm and use a disk hub on my 76 KZ900, think there will be clearence issues if i use the drum. Anyway not many guys in the states will ship to Sydney, Australia. I see a few hubs from early 80s model KZs on fleabay are these the same??? I don't think they are they look like they are for a mag wheel. Are there any other wire spoke model disk hubs i could consider.

If anyone has one and is willing to sell it please let me know.

cheers Jason

Who of you has purchased from Wired George??

I am thinking about a rebuilt set of carbs, the backlog looks long and looming, but if he motors through it at a reasonable pace I can live with waiting.


The current carbs are getting tough to get set - up it is at a shop, and they appear to be doing the right things, with some degree of frustration.

Seems like purchasing a set of pre tuned carbs would be the set-up. CV carbs would suit the purpose of the bike, it will not be a hot-rod, I just want to tour the West Coast on it.

Years ago I upgraded my '73 Z1-900's wheels to DID 2.15" x 19" and 3.00" x 18" rims and SS spokes/nipples and beefed up the stock swingarm and kept the rear drum setup.

In 2006 I upgraded this bike's wheels to Excel 3.5" X 17" and 4.25" x 17" rims with radial tires and an '83 GS1100 swingarm and scrapped the rear drum setup. The rear disk setup is much better.

Sorry, don't have any pics. Mine isn't very well done, as I did it all in steps, so I didn't plan for the larger tire when making my stay. I'll have to put a jog in it, as well as in the brake linkage, which is a bit flimsy and doesn't work well at the moment anyhow. Oh well, always a work in progress.