kz1000 + gs1200 swingarm = bad torque link

Cardin, just out of curiousity, did you just buy that bike on eBay? I saw a pretty cool looking Kaw recently that I noticed was missing the torque link, and I think it was red. The pic looks like it may be the same bike. This is a pretty common mod from what I've read, so I'm sure someone here will be able to help. Good Luck.

I used the kawi tourqe link, just a little grinding needed at front of bar so it fits in mount on swingarm and milled about 5-6in slot to fit around tire. as for rear shocks im using stock kawi,, fabb work involed cut clevis off suz,cut3/4 of bottom eye and have clevis welded on, just go slow so you wont boil oil in shock

79MKII: I didn't buy it from ebay, I made an offer locally, but he did also put this bike on ebay so yeah, this is probably it! (Sweet damn bike, too)

Thanks for the recommendations, everyone. I won't be able to get into this for a few days, but I'll send up some feedback as soon as I can get my fingers black and my knuckles bloody.

As already said, you can use the Kawi rear brake torque arm. Have a grinding wheel in the garage? That's all you need to grind down the swingarm pivot side of the torque arm to fit into the GS1100E swingarm arm. Then take measurements where the wider-than-stock tire hits the Kawi torque arm, add an inch plus and minus for present and future new/old chain adjustment movement from that mark, and grind away on your grinder to have the tire clear the arm. Primer and paint the arm, and it will look like OEM.

Went with custom made Works Performance shocks. But you cannot torque the upper two frame/shock nuts to nowhere near stock torque specs on these shocks. Beware of crushing the WP upper shock bushings if you go that route.

Post edited by: wireman, at: 2006/02/20 12:18trying to post picture of suzuki swingarm with suzuki arm with kaw caliper and wheel not having any luck though!

Post edited by: wireman, at: 2006/02/20 12:21

i hate computers!

Post edited by: wireman, at: 2006/02/20 12:25

Post edited by: wireman, at: 2006/02/20 21:39

try this again!:blink:

ill see if i can take a close up shot of wheel and post it:whistle:

I added two photos this afternoon to my photobucket.com "Z1 Radial Tire Upgrade" thread (see '73 Z1-900 Stage II link below). These two photos show a modified Kawi rear brake torque arm fitted to a GS1100E swingarm.

Post edited by: bohicabob, at: 2006/02/21 16:34

I added two photos this afternoon to my photobucket.com "Z1 Radial Tire Upgrade" thread. These two photos show a modified Kawi rear brake torque arm fitted to a GS1100E swingarm.

BohicaBob - awesome bike! I really like the tire and swingarm upgrade. Those pics show the torqe arm mods perfectly. They should help.

By the way, what type of tubes do you use in those radials? I've heard so much about using tubes with radials (both for and against) that I don't know what to believe.
Thanks!

Glad you liked what I've done to date. I talked with Avon up in Seattle, WA before I proceeded with this tire upgrade. And, I used radial tire tubes with my Avon radial tires. Yes, they make radial tire tubes.

I got the idea to go ahead with this upgrade when I saw 'new' Nortons with Avon radial tires/tubes on wire wheels during Bike Week at Daytona a couple of years ago. Note that some brand new Triumph motorcycles come with radial tires and tubes on wire wheels. If a factory can offer such tires on wire wheels, then it should work for my Z1. Also, Kevin Cameron, tech editor of Cycle World, said in his book Sportbike Performance Handbook that radial tires would help the handling of old Z1s provided the frame was reinforced and the suspension improved. Well, I reinforced my '73 Z1's frame years ago, so ...