1978 KZ650 Bike Build

Canada actually, but on a much bigger island for sure! Yep...still going through the inner workings and aside from that broken clutch plate everything seems to be within spec. I'm pretty much ready to start re-assembling when the new cases arrive. I need to take the head apart and vapour blast it along with the barrels and some other bits, but that's about all I have to do to put the engine back together. I have a good welder for the frame, but I still don't know for sure if it's twisted. No signs of stress, no cracks and no paint crinkles so I think it's OK.

Back to the fork uppers....does anyone know if they are the same size as a Z1?

Dont know for sure but they use the same fork seal and the headlight fork ears and associated item are all the same. As for length I dont know. I'd say your good to go to put the Z1 forks on. Do you have wheels. I have a set of C wheel you could have.

Silly me. I should have checked to see if the seals or other parts were the same. Thanks for looking! And thanks for the offer but I have wheels. I have a front wheel off a '77 KZ1000 that is identical to the ones on the '78 KZ650's. I also have a rim and hub from a Z1 that I can use for the rear. Just need spokes. But if that doesn't work out I'll come calling.

Is you current project 650 a drum rear?

Yes, I believe it is. I anticipate some issues connecting the brake torque arm and the actuator.

Hey HRM, thank you, I adapted this 81 650 last year, replaced the front end with one from a 750, forks and tree are available for shipping, how is new shop?

The shop is full, thanks for asking. I need an addition but my Sweetums has said no to that.

Do you know if the triple tree on a Z1 is the same as the KZ650?

The new cases arrived today. That was one of the quickest deliveries I've ever had through ebay. Overall they look very good, but the vapour blaster left a couple of bearings in place and they are frozen from rust. No problem, I have the ones from my old cases.

Sweet!!!

That’s one step forward. They look nice.

HRM, measured both hibernating in shed, forks about 36mm, clamp c to c about 8inches, fork spread about 8 inches, same for both difference in gauge bracket for these years between 78 and 81, wire frame headlight bracket mounts on tree, no ears, on forks, sent us some cold air today

jwfels wrote: HRM, measured both hibernating in shed, forks about 36mm, clamp c to c about 8inches, fork spread about 8 inches, same for both difference in gauge bracket for these years between 78 and 81, wire frame headlight bracket mounts on tree, no ears, on forks, sent us some cold air today

Thanks for the info. I think I've got pretty much everything to make a Z1 front end except the triple tree. I have the forks, ears, gauge bracket and gauges, headlight bucket and fork ears. I'll start looking for a Z1 triple tree.