Vetter / Pridmore memorial build

This is just sooooo cool.
-KR

supercharged wrote:

Prelude:
Vetter race team's 1978 KZ 1000, ridden by Reg Pridmore gained Reg his 3rd Superbike Championship.

I met early 80s racer Thad Wolff, who podiumed in the 80s with the greats, battling with Cooley, Rainey, Lawson and the others. Thad still works in the MC industry and we have all seen him as "the" rider in many motorcycle ads, test reports and commercials.

I had a 1980 Kawasaki Classic "G" model that was in ROUGH shape. The engine was solid and recently converted to Carbs from the stock fuel injection.

Thad and I were talking about the old days and he wanted to build an old racer, a bit more authentic then I desired, but he convinced me to build a race replica, and we soon found our inspiration in the Vetter bike... which was a 1978 KZ1000... so it became a memorial bike (similar) tot he race bike.

Under Way
The "G" model Kawi is now:
- 1105cc bore kit
- Mikuni 34mm RS Flatslides
- Dyna S / Dyna Coils / Accel wires
- New Barnett Clutch
- Straight Frame - Was bent - not tweaked - this frame probably ran into a wall at one time!

Thad's Work:
- Mounted and prepared #163 Race Plates for the front and sides - front pinned for ez removal to use headlight
- Cast front master cylinder off a '77 CB750
- NEW Lockheed front calipers - with custom mounts
- '78 solid rotors - carved
- Honda 305 scrambler steering damper
- Rebuilt front forks
- Custom made steel braided brake lines
- Black superbike bars fitted with TZ original race grips
- Frame bracing
- Removed passenger peg frame supports
- Removed old rear upper shock mounts and extra frame material in rear to lighten
- Rear set footpegs (using passenger pegs) replica style
- Modified rear brake pedal
- Modified shifter linkage - for rear set
- Custom rear master cylinder mount
- Forward mounted rear shocks for lay-down
- New Works shocks - special built with lower offset to accommodate new upper mount position
- Modified G frame to mount the rear 'ducktail'
- Rear tail light mount - removed rear fender
- Rear mounted oil cooler - replica style - and modified ducktail to accommodate - Drilled rear caliper
- Stainless side panels - replica
- Hand made 4" exhaust can - mild baffling - badged BASSANI - Ceramic Black coated
- 19" front and 18" rear KZ1000 rims - gold powder - replica of magnesium racers
- Pirelli Front tire
- Avon race rear - gained .75 inch in width to look better over pirelli
- all fresh satin black powder coating
- New White paint and replica graphics
- Remolded seat with new covering - sewn on patch - replcia
- many decals - replcia style

TODAY
Reg Pridmore signed the tank

Thad looks on as Reg signs

IMS Show LA
We found out that CycleWorld has asked that the bike be displayed at the IMS show in Los Angeles next week Dec 4-7. We need to finish this up quick to meet that deadline....

more pics can bee seen at my gallery - MikesBikeBarn

I will be updating as we complete.

Congratulations That's one beautiful KZ and a project with class and heart...Excellent!

Larry C

WOW. AWESOME. Beyond those two, words fail me.

your building skills and hobby/project time aside...this will be a few bucks in the making....and maybe even more than the real one had changed hands for before...that said..i just bought that cycle issue you posted a pic of,and that is a very neat early superbike.....you do it great honor to bring those same folks into this ones focus....and this bike should be ridden and written about in the cycle rags so we can all daydream about those bikes and oogle the results of your guys labors....thanks and keep up the good work----whats next???lol....craig

Thanks - I have learned so much from this group and now that I have tried many different tasks... my plans for future projects are closer to becoming realities. As many here said... Just DO IT! THANKS!

I still don't do the welding, but who knows... maybe I'll tackle that next time.

The next one is started but my bank said I need to wait a while before I withdraw anymore $ for bikes.

I wanted a ELR to have Lawson sign it, but I have not been lucky in acquiring one.

I'll get some finished pics here in the next day or so. If anyone is going to Long Beach IMS - I heard that CycleWorld is placing it in booth "W" I think it is their booth or the corral.

Very impressive.I like it alot.

supercharged wrote:

Moving forward with the build


Tail

Ummmm I hate to be the one to point this out but you have Pierre Des Roches name mis-spelled on the tail. If I'm not mistaken there is no A in his last name.:blush: :blush: :blush:

Gringo

Was figuring no one would notice

We found that and it was fixed as of today... It wasn't until we put the tail on the bike that we all stood around and noticed.

We also added a small tribute to Thad Wolff who is doing lots of the work, and he will be signing in memory of Pierre, who he was friends with.

I joked with Thad, that no one will notice the spelling, since I didn't know whether is was right or not when I picked up the paint. Thad, knowing Pierre, didn't see the humor, so we quickly had it redone.

I mentioned to Thad that you picked up on it, and he wanted to know:
- did you know Pierre?
- will you be at the Long Beach show - as he wanted to meet you - I think he has an immediate connection with anyone standing up for Pierre or Fujio Yoshimura.

Thanks for noticing!

No I can't say that I know Pierre but I have seen his name in print many times back in the day when I used to read M/C mags. It's just one of those things that jumped out at me when I looked at the pics you posted. Great job you guys are doing on the build.

New Tail Paint and tribute to Thad who is doing a great job



right side

very cool...a 10 outta ten....funny i got that cycle issue sitting right here getting well read over and over...then you post this...small world....i even had one of the discarded mk11 tanks with the same riders name and paint scheme hanging in my garage rafters back in the day...well crashed i should add..it had dual petcocks ,one on each side....nice

Thad did a nice job on the pipe and baffle
[img size=350][/img] mikesbikebarn.com/photos/albums/userpics/normal_09-IMG_6657.JPG