'78 KZ1000 makeover

Ha! Thanks for the suggestions and kind words Nelson. I've already ditched the carbon box and have made an aluminum one. I'm working on the mounts now, with pics to follow shortly

You probably know this.. but be sure you have plenty of rubber padding for the battery. Vibrations kill batteries.

Unfotunately, padding will be in short supply. I got a bunch of it in a couple different thicknesses to use, but I just did not have the room (you'll see). I will be able to put a thin layer on the bottom of the box, but the sides won't get squat. I suppose I'll be relying on the batteries warranty more often than not :whistle:

The new box I constructed out of thin aluminum sheet. Here is the new battery box in basic box form:



Then I trimmed the front of the box for access/clearance of the battery posts:



Now came mounting, and I gotta say, it was more difficult than I thought figuring out something that was simple and robust enough, yet easy to make and allow relative ease in removal of the box. Plus I didn't have too many options in where to put it, as you other hybrid builders know Once I got the location down, I cut and bent aluminum tabs and welded them onto the box like so:


In between cutting, bending and welding the aluminum tabs, I was cutting and welding matching steel tabs on the frame. When it was all said and done, the battery box loos like this installed from the right side:


And it looks like this from the top:



Next up is electrical component and sidecover mounts

well done.
maybe u can stick a felt chair leg pad on the side of the bat and squeeze it in ?

Looks good. Just get that shock outta there and you'll have plenty of room for the battery. Hey how about converting it to dual shocks? :silly:

mark1122 wrote: well done.
maybe u can stick a felt chair leg pad on the side of the bat and squeeze it in ?

I've been using cut up innertube under my battery.

That would be original, wouldn't it? Convert a monoshock SSSA to a duel shock. I'd have to put both shocks on one side though..... might look funny :silly: Of course you're right Nelson, I would have oodles of room for my battery if I ditched the monoshock.

My CBR1K tail light arrived in the mailbox today, yay! I was excited to see how well it would fit into either the KZ1K tail and the Z1 tail. I ripped the box open while sprinting back to my garage. To my suprised delight, it looks like it was made to fit the Z1 tail!


Now to make a mount for it. I'm also working on the sidecover mounts at the moment. Slowly, things are progressing

I can get something under the battery, I just can't get anything on the sides of it. As long as thats all I need, then I should be fine.

Wow, that Honda taillight is an amazing fit! Looks great!
BTW, is that a 900 or 1000 tail??

Wow that light fits perfect. Make sure you post a youtube video when you get it working. I have to answer the same question over and over and over as a result of that stupid video of my taillight.

79MKII wrote: Wow, that Honda taillight is an amazing fit! Looks great!
BTW, is that a 900 or 1000 tail??

That is a 900/Z1 tail. I stuck the light up to my 1000 tail, and it didn't fit. But yeah, it looks like it was made for that Z1 tail! This light is just for mocking up. It does not have integrated turn signals, and the final part will need them. I'm also going back and forth between a clear lens like the one I have and a smoked lens. Decisions!