Thanks for the input. I think you're both right. Actually, I plan on adding a GS swingarm soon and at first I thought that it would come together then but...1st: I thought I would get about 4" added to the overall length w/ the swingarm but now I'm told that I'll only get 2". (now I know how the ex felt...HaHa!)2nd: I'll be riding this bike often before I get to the new swingarm. Oh and 3rd: I've just about changed my mind AGAIN and am thinking of going with a 650 tail instead. Options, options....

Hey all! I'm trying to submit a picture or two of my recent (unfinished) mods. I added a tail piece from a mid 70's KZ900 (I think) and made the seat. Added lower bars, mirrors, did some polishing, re-fitted the turn signals (front & back). My next attempt will be a GS swingarm (I'll need lots of help with that one!!!) Open to all and any critisism.

Ok, first post...
So, I've been spending some time around the forums trying to get a feel for what might actually be the best parts for swaps on a 76 KZ900. I think I might be OK with the rear end, at this point i am going to try out a modified GS1100 swing arm with a pair of ZRX piggyback shocks, and the caliper lowered.
What I can't seem to get a good line on is the front end..lot's of posts with has anybody tried this, but only the one fork swap thread (which I see mentioned alot but can not find :woohoo: !
There seems to be a lot of ZX stuff out there, so that's why I mentioned it....
Any help or thoughts about this:S

very true,mountain bikes ya buy at kmart use stiffer tubing than a z1!my z1 is getting gusseted this time around!:woohoo: dont forget the underpowered brakes to go with the overpowered motor on the z1s.swingarm with bushings instead of bearings......:S mine dont look like this anymore,big suprise coming!:evil:

I believe that the GSXR stuff is almost a direct swap into a GPZ, and I just happen to have a GPZ swingarm around, just a minute so I can make sure of the numbers:
yep, tape reads 9".

So I bet the GSXR is very close to that number, I'm sure a seller would have a tape around to let you know.

Now on something that involved, if I were doing the job, I would measure the Z1 swingarm myself to be completely sure of my measurements. Your gonna want to pull the swingarm anyway eventually, and it couldn't hurt to grease the arm bearings.

There are also some posts in the archives. And if your arm measures 9", then I can direct you to some other sites that go into detail much like in the archives.

Knowing Wireman's style of bike, I believe such lowering modifications will improve handling by his definition. :D

The short shocks and fork tube modifications will indeed change the handling.

Shorter shocks will increase the wheelbase and increase trail. This will give you a far more stable ride, but it'll be harder to muscle your bike through the turns. Shorter shocks increase the wheelbase in the same way that a lengthened swingarm does, so if you're familiar with the handling changes a stretched bike goes through, its about the same deal.

Moving the forks around in the triple tree changes your trail a decent amount. I wouldn't recommend pulling the forks up any more than an inch because of the changes in the trail will make the bike a little unstable, and because the front fender may start to hit your header pipes over sever bumps or under heavy braking.

Trail is a pretty neat. All things equal, the less trail you have, the more responsive your bike will be. Some people say that decreasing the trail makes a bike more 'flickable' or 'twitchy'. A common thing to do on modern SV650s that are going to the track is to pull the forks up in the trees an inch to improve their handling.

As far as how much these mods will affect your bike, I can't tell for certain. My bike felt more stable after the shocks and forks. Yours may too. The best handling setup is determined by the rider. I can only recommend that you make the changes one at a time, and if you're able to, in small increments. You'll get a good feel of what affects what, and hopefully you won't put yourself in a situation where you jump on a bike with really unsafe handling.

But with a stretched and slammed bike, maybe the twisties aren't your thing, anyway.

Anyway, to close, a link:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rake_and_trail

Post edited by: Johnno, at: 2006/06/12 00:54

does any one know the pivot point measurements of these swingarms looking to swap into a z1 "2000 or newer zx6r,636,gsxr 600" as these are pretty straight?

KZ wrote:

Ambergrismooon – as for the hillclimber look, I wanted it to look very stretched out as I am 6’-4” and, in stock form, it looks like a minibike under me when I am mounted on it. I think the combo of extended swing arm, shorter ducktail and the 17” rim did it. I think it looks unique and tough in real life. I am contemplating picking up one of those widened 16” factory mags from Klasmo which would allow me to keep the 180 tire but with more sidewall showing to reduce the hillclimber effect. I will ether do that or get up the nerve to lace up a 16x5.5” rim on a standard A2 hub that I have and go with a spoker up front too. Might not look bad all polished and what not. On the paint question, I will just keep it black. I will remove the LTD and tank badges as Nevco48 suggests.

Nevco48 – I had a guy recover the seat with a similar material and look as the original($230). I did all of the foam work as the old stuff was shot.

go with the spokes definately. lets see some finished pictures

Ambergrismooon – as for the hillclimber look, I wanted it to look very stretched out as I am 6’-4” and, in stock form, it looks like a minibike under me when I am mounted on it. I think the combo of extended swing arm, shorter ducktail and the 17” rim did it. I think it looks unique and tough in real life. I am contemplating picking up one of those widened 16” factory mags from Klasmo which would allow me to keep the 180 tire but with more sidewall showing to reduce the hillclimber effect. I will ether do that or get up the nerve to lace up a 16x5.5” rim on a standard A2 hub that I have and go with a spoker up front too. Might not look bad all polished and what not. On the paint question, I will just keep it black. I will remove the LTD and tank badges as Nevco48 suggests.

Nevco48 – I had a guy recover the seat with a similar material and look as the original($230). I did all of the foam work as the old stuff was shot.

I finally got my winter project back on the road. I eliminated the monoshock setup that I had done last year and extended the stock swingarm 3” and put on the 1991 ZX rear wheel with a 180 tire that I had. I also raked the front to about 31 degrees. I shortened the rear fender 3” (might have been too much, not sure yet) and shortened the seatpan by 3” and narrowed it by about 2. I have a Cateye taillight and license bracket assembly mounted to the seat rail and I used one of those import car chrome tailpipe tips with a Kerker K series baffle jammed inside. I shortened the length of the passenger peg mounts to move them forward and serve as sort of pseudo rearsets that I can rest my feet on but I still have to shift/brake from the original locations. After I shake things down for another few weeks I will take it apart and paint it all, put the front fender back on and chrome the rear shock springs, swingarm and fabricate some decent rearsets.

I am not a new memeber...wrong forum. Oh well.

Post edited by: KZ, at: 2006/06/10 14:34

Post edited by: KZ, at: 2006/06/10 14:36

Post edited by: KZ, at: 2006/06/10 14:40