Got this bike from a friend. It belonged to his uncle who moved overseas in '88, it then sat in the shed for the next 32 years. Its got 68,000km on the clock but I have records that it was rebuilt at ~60k.

No huge plans at the moment as I have to do a bit more research on what it possible with minimal frabication as here in Australia getting fab work done is extremely expensive. The look I'm going for it kind of brat look: black frame, black engine, bright (orange?) tank (considering wrapping as the original paint is still good), brown flat seat with a small lift in the back, LED lights all round.

Engine has been rebuilt, so I'm not in a hurry to touch it. Just change the oil, oil filter and spark plugs. I do plan to pull it out and give it a proper exterior clean and paint. along with that chasis will need to get blasted and powder coated. It has a 4 to 1 exhaust, the baffle is rusted beyond repair but the rest of it just looks like surface rust so hopefully I can just polish it give it a coat of high temp paint and wrap it up. I plan to run pods, just cos I love the look of it.

Suspension wise I would like to swap to USD forks, monoshock is not that big of a deal for me but I think going this route would make the cost go through the roof. I'll likely just end up rebuilding the front forks, paint and buy new rear shocks. Front and rear brakes will be rebuilt as well.



So I have some questions:
1. Should I be tearing the engine down and replacing all the seals, gaskets and o-rings since it has been sitting for 32years, even though it was rebuilt?
2. I've read some ZX-9R fronts go onto the frame without too much fab work and rears of ZX-6R goes on without too much fab work either, is that true? What other options of USD + swingarm options do I have?

Cheers

I do not see any questions, and it looks like you have all the answers already. Without more information or some actual questions, members here will not be able to offer much more than generalities.
If the front sprocket has the proper offset for the new rear wheel and sprocket, and if the rear tire is the proper size for the donor bike, then the chain will not hit the tire. The chain may, however, hit the frame or the sprocket cover.
You say that you know the swingarm will fit. How do you know this? Does that include knowing how the shock linkage and mounts are going to be modified? Pivot bolt diameter? Will the new rear wheel still be centered with the frame? Is the new swingarm significantly shorter or longer that the Kawasaki one? Will the new rear suspension be able to fully compress without hitting the frame?
Will the new rear brake work with the 550 rear master cylinder, or will a custom mount be needed to install the new master and foot pedal?
There are many things to consider, but your post does not indicate whether or not they all have been.

zed1015 wrote: That's definitely a Unitrack frame stamped with B numbers and the engine with earlier B numbers also.
Unitrack and B frames are different .
The Uni has a full cradle that loops from the headstock around the s/a pivot and back to the headstock with weld on subframe ( which can be seen in your pics) where the B frame is like the earlier KZ with the cradle extending to the rear shock mounts and then the top tubes extending from the headstock to the swing arm pivot.
Unitrack engine numbers start at - KZT10BE- 037201
And Frame numbers start at - KZT10A -015901

Begrudgingly agreed Zed, after a long close look at the pictures i have and the now glaring fact that not only is it a Gpz1100b number on the frame but its an engine number too, it has a "E" in the vin where the frame number doesn't. Ill use it as a parts bike, i still got it for low money and the shipping of 200 euro door to door, cant blame the kid who sold it . He had been riding it for 2 years insured in Poland so im sure he was oblivious. The bike was/is going to be my new everyday bike. A nostalgia build to remember by best friend from my youth who died of cancer 12 years ago when i was away and living in Canada, we both owned Gpz750's and thought we were the dogs nuts. The Gpz1100 is still a rare bike here in Ireland but not in the UK, there are frames available both USA and UK, ill hold out for a UK title 84 and matching cases and blank the frame number out again sell it too someone with a twisted legit frame. A little more cost but not any more work with the plans i have for her.

Hello all I'm a newbie here still I have been searching for info on a gpz550 sssa swap and only see it done on the bigger bikes I'm ordering the arm this weekend but was hoping to get some info first I know it will fit only thing I'm concerned with is if the chain will clear the tire I can get the offset sprocket and a narrower tire if needed any info is appreciated ty in advance I have already done the USD fork swap just waiting on collar and bearings to complete it

Rear swing arm, caliper mounts and rim was powder coated. Didn't have everything for the gsxr front end yet so threw on the stock front end, put a quick coat of black paint on the rim to match for now as I will be using a different rim with the gsxr front end.

So, a (very) little progress on Sunday morning before the business of life took over.



Got the forks and front end removed (maybe just disassembled... dammit it's hard getting old). Old forks, removed caps & fork springs. Found them to be progressive & will be tossed or re-purposed into wrench holders in the tool box.



Also managed to get the hideous gauges removed from it. Good riddance to you.

Removed the rear wheel for first mock up with new swing arm



Turns out I'm gonna need the Suzuki axle for this as well as suitable spacers made up.
I was also reminded that I have this left-over Kerker from something..... I wonder.....

zed1015 wrote:

Mikaw wrote: Zed1015,

Thant you, reassuring to hear you mention a 5/8 inch offset counter sprocket also, that’s also what Les recommend. Without having a tire on the rim I put it briefly into the GS 1100e swing arm and as long as the tire is not much wider than the rim this looks like it will be a fairly easy conversion. I will need to find bearings that match the Ducati rims bearing boss OD with the 20 mm axle that the GS1100e swing arm uses.

I've done tons of these Z's with 17" wheels and have five of my own done the same so i know what works and the details and measurements are pretty much etched on my brain.
These are the latest two i'm slowly working on.
The 1000A uses ZX7R wheels with 5.5" rear and the Z1R has ZX12R wheels with a 6" rear and 200 tyre.
The Z1R needed the frame scalloping for the chain run and would have needed a 7/8" offset but i extended the gearbox output shaft instead so i can use a plain stock sprocket and save cash when it's time to replace them.

Great looking bikes. I’ll be leaning one you if you don’t mind. I thought I was the crazy on involved in Two builds at one time. But if your committed to the builds and time isn’t a factor lord willing then I’m buying parts as good deals come along.

Mikaw wrote: Zed1015,

Thant you, reassuring to hear you mention a 5/8 inch offset counter sprocket also, that’s also what Les recommend. Without having a tire on the rim I put it briefly into the GS 1100e swing arm and as long as the tire is not much wider than the rim this looks like it will be a fairly easy conversion. I will need to find bearings that match the Ducati rims bearing boss OD with the 20 mm axle that the GS1100e swing arm uses.

I've done tons of these Z's with 17" wheels and have five of my own done the same so i know what works and the details and measurements are pretty much etched on my brain.
These are the latest two i'm slowly working on.
The 1000A uses ZX7R wheels with 5.5" rear and the Z1R has ZX12R wheels with a 6" rear and 200 tyre.
The Z1R needed the frame scalloping for the chain run and would have needed a 7/8" offset but i extended the gearbox output shaft instead so i can use a plain stock sprocket and save cash when it's time to replace them.

Zed1015,

Thant you, reassuring to hear you mention a 5/8 inch offset counter sprocket also, that’s also what Les recommend. Without having a tire on the rim I put it briefly into the GS 1100e swing arm and as long as the tire is not much wider than the rim this looks like it will be a fairly easy conversion. I will need to find bearings that match the Ducati rims bearing boss OD with the 20 mm axle that the GS1100e swing arm uses.

Even though I haven't sorted out the last of the problems with the 750, I have lined up the next project. I'm not picking the bike up until early December but I wanted to start this thread now so I can decide exactly what I am going to do with the bike and get started straight away. Hopefully the 750 will be sorted before I start

Here is the plan so far:

Engine

• 1135cc Wiseco Pistons
• 38mm inlet valves
• Crankshaft: check and balance (strengthening?)
• WEB-CAM stage 2 cams
• Oil cooler (SETRAB or Earls?)
• Mikuni RS34
• Delkevic Megaphone

Chassis

• Frame bracing
• Swingarm: Zephyr 1100 or K & J (box or neo classic - maybe overkill if keeping the spoked wheels)
• Öhlins S36... shocks
• Zephyr 1100 or ZX9 front end
• Keeping the spokes, but will run 110 front and 160 rear

There will be a few other changes (clip-ons, rearsets etc.) but the above lists are the things that I would like some feedback on. Everything else is down to taste.

I am going with 1135cc and not 1197cc on the recommendation of the guys doing the work for me and also because at 1135cc it will still be a lot more power than I am used to. I've never had more than the 102HP of my Hornet and that is only at about 10500 rpm, torque is only 65Nm and practically nothing down low - the 750 pulls way better under 5000rpm. I figure I can always up it to 1197cc down the road without needing to change anything else.

The cams and carbs are solely based on the recommendation of the engine builder. I'm not sure whether to keep the airbox or go with pods (K & N). This is a widely disputed topic so I'll probably flip a coin

I want to stick with the spoked wheels. I figure that a new swingarm, the frame bracing and maybe even USD forks will give the bike enough stability. I have absolutely no experience though, so any input here would be appreciated. Recommendations for a swingarm or new front end would be appreciated as well. There are a few threads on forks which I am working my way through, but I'm looking to minimise the changes (hence I'm considering the Zephyr forks - not as stable but I think I can use the original axle and hub?).

It's probably pretty obvious that I'm still trying to figure all tis out. I started this thread so you guys can keep me on track and make sure I don't plan something that won't work

Anyway, here's some pictures of the bike in its current state: