mtbspeedfreak wrote:

Minus32 wrote:

OneShoe50 wrote: When I did my update, I bought a 80 KZ750E for $100 so I could have all the pieces (swingarm, wheel, axle, caliper, etc.) and kept it all Kawasaki.

I have seen alot of guys use the GSXR swingarm and the ZX6 front end, provides plenty of upgraded, newer brakes.

Good luck.

Thanks. I thought about the USD forks etc, but want to retain a classic look and avoid turning it into a street fighter type project. I may yet just refurbish the stock twin callipers up front and locate myself a disc back end set up. I never actually rode the bike before stripping it, so info on the stock front end would be useful. As in, are they good enough as stock? The bike won't be ridden hard and the engine will remain stock.

I'd recommend getting a set of caliper rebuild kits and a master cylinder rebuild kit , as well as braided stainless steel lines .

I have a single front disc and rear drum on my KZ900. I recently rebuilt the caliper and master cylinder and installed SS hoses - great improvement!

I'll go with the full refurb and braided hoses then, before making a costly decision to buy new callipers. Thanks for the info pal.

Minus32 wrote:

OneShoe50 wrote: When I did my update, I bought a 80 KZ750E for $100 so I could have all the pieces (swingarm, wheel, axle, caliper, etc.) and kept it all Kawasaki.

I have seen alot of guys use the GSXR swingarm and the ZX6 front end, provides plenty of upgraded, newer brakes.

Good luck.

Thanks. I thought about the USD forks etc, but want to retain a classic look and avoid turning it into a street fighter type project. I may yet just refurbish the stock twin callipers up front and locate myself a disc back end set up. I never actually rode the bike before stripping it, so info on the stock front end would be useful. As in, are they good enough as stock? The bike won't be ridden hard and the engine will remain stock.

I'd recommend getting a set of caliper rebuild kits and a master cylinder rebuild kit , as well as braided stainless steel lines .

I have a single front disc and rear drum on my KZ900. I recently rebuilt the caliper and master cylinder and installed SS hoses - great improvement!

OneShoe50 wrote: When I did my update, I bought a 80 KZ750E for $100 so I could have all the pieces (swingarm, wheel, axle, caliper, etc.) and kept it all Kawasaki.

I have seen alot of guys use the GSXR swingarm and the ZX6 front end, provides plenty of upgraded, newer brakes.

Good luck.

Thanks. I thought about the USD forks etc, but want to retain a classic look and avoid turning it into a street fighter type project. I may yet just refurbish the stock twin callipers up front and locate myself a disc back end set up. I never actually rode the bike before stripping it, so info on the stock front end would be useful. As in, are they good enough as stock? The bike won't be ridden hard and the engine will remain stock.

When i bought the bike, 3 years ago, the left leg had a leaky seal and was low on oil. PO was a dip S***, that's why I got it so cheap,($275). The leg had a bit of bushing material come out when I first changed the oil and put seals in, when first going over it. Among a whole list of other stuff, it didin't run, (Bent Vavles), looked like crap, etc.
As far as play, I could feel a little, but when I tore it down, and checked against a new bushing, there was quite a difference in wear. The upper of course was the worst. I just want to go through all the chassis this year, so I'm nearly there now. Bracing the swing-arm, and adding the fork brace were two big changes to the handling. Then I just put in RT Emulators, as well. I did the Progressive fork springs last week. i like to do, then see what the effect is of each change. So then I can point the finger at any good or bad change.

When I did my update, I bought a 80 KZ750E for $100 so I could have all the pieces (swingarm, wheel, axle, caliper, etc.) and kept it all Kawasaki.

I have seen alot of guys use the GSXR swingarm and the ZX6 front end, provides plenty of upgraded, newer brakes.

Good luck.

no i did not widen the frame ,just made swingarm sleeves to adapt gsxr swingarm to the kz swingarm bolt and mount the shock.

Do you know by chance the swingarm pivot width on the inside of the frame? I love the wire wheels! Stainless spokes on black excel rims look bad ass to me. No frame or swingarm mods to make things fit?

Have you had it running/ ride on it yet? If so hows the Fork Springs? Sure looks like its anxious! :woohoo:
I did a 250mi ride last weekend on the new set of Progressive springs, but decided to order some Race Tech Emulators. They will be here Tuesday. I'll get those in for this weekends ride, to be decided yet. Always a couple hundred + though. I'm loving the Fork Brace and the Swing Arm Bracing!

lookin good man.

capturing the swingarm and then cutting out what you don't need is the way a bunch of folks have done rigid rear end conversions.seems to be the best way,if you can't use a frame table/jig.
work so far looks good.
i know an old iron worker that said the way they would test their welds when they were welding steel into buildings was to crawl out onto it :woohoo: ,if it held their ass up they figured it was good :silly: .
kinda the same thing with your deal,if you are comfortable with your welds thats all that matters .
if it is not good enough you can always figure out a better way to do it,possibly while you convalesce !

you will be fine,keep us posted.

leon

I have the swingarm off my 1982 LTD 1000 for powdercoating.I've ordered replacement bearings am wondering if I should drill and tap it for a grease fitting as it dosen't have one and I assume the thinking was the bearings never needed greasing? I have manual that covers 1973 thru 1980 and it has greasing the swing arm as part of regular maintenance but know when they stopped recommending it.