Shaft drive

I'm thinking of a winter project and was wondering how much abuse a KZ drive shaft can take? Has anyone built one ? The reason is I have most everything need, the bike (1983 ZN1100 , the parts (block/pistons, cams, carbs and pipe ) sitting on the shelf.

don

www.zrxoa.org/forums/showthread.php?322229-ZLRX-BUILD-DONE !!!!!

won't let me view ???

don

Its a ZL1000 with a ZRX1100 motor and ZG1000 six speed tranny.

I'll ask him to post it here he's a member.

what I'm really concerned with is the drive shaft itself, how much horsepower is too much. Building the motor is not an issue, it's how strong is the drive shaft compared to a chain ?

don

how sticky the tire is will have a big effect on how much torque gets to the shaft.
i have seen some nicely built 1075cc shaft drive bikes and never heard of a shaft breaking.
but the v-max drag bikes get converted to chain drive most of the time.
hth,

leon

I guess what I'm trying to do is build something of a " sleeper ". I have ( 1983 GPZ 1100 ) and have built a couple KZ's with this same combination that have run in the low 10/ high 9 sec. range. Also know that without more tire, longer arm and probably a gear change that won't happen. But it might be a fun ride.

don

build it.
fix whatever breaks better than it was before :evil: !!!

custom chrome-moly driveshaft???

leon

My neighbor was a co owner of a dealership in CO. He was riding the new KZ 1000 shaft to UT and his partner was a KZ 1000. Without warning the rear tire locked up at speed. He had just taken a drink from his cooler cup when it happened. He managed to keep it upright but had Coke all over him. A pick up took him into town and he was able to fish out the broken teeth with a magnet, put heavy gear oil in it and get to his destination. There were no recalls that he knew of but when I read about HP builds with these bikes, I think about that.
Steve

Thanks Leon and Steve

I think my biggest issue will be tire/swing arm size. I'm pretty much held to stock ( 130/70 ) I believe. My GPZ has a 190/55x17 with 6" over, it works well. I agree with you, Leon, build it and ....... . Steve, I've thought about breakage too. Wonder why the gears would break ? I would think other things would break first, But it should be different.

don

I was a demo model. First out. Maybe it was a fluke or they got it sorted out. Automatic cam chain adjusters were recalled about the same time.
Steve