kz650 chopper

i had a extra kz650 frame with no title. i have seen where guys hardtail a stock frame and but weld the to the lower rails. that isnt the strongest way of doing it and i have always thought it looked like crap. so i got some 1 1/8 tubing which is close to stock size. a little trimming, cutting & bending i came up with this hardtail chopper frame.

Post edited by: timber, at: 2006/09/11 13:27

had problems posting a pix LOL

That looks great! I hope you took some pix of what it took to get where it is so far. If so...let's see 'em. I'd love to do something like that but even if I can get access to the tools and equip (pretty sure I can), I wouldn't know where to start. Please post what you can, when you can. Thanks and good luck.

there isnt much to it. as far as step by step photo's. i didnt take alot but i did at major steps in the building. whay you see is a weekends worth of work. once the frame is stripped down it doesnt take much to get it to this point. you need a frame jig to lock the frame in so it doesnt move around on ya when you build. if it something you really want to do i will help ya step by step.

i used a saw-zall, grinder with a flapper wheel, a tubing bender(you could use a pipe bender if your careful and do a couple of things) and a welder. a piece of string to make sure i keep everything straight and in line with the back bone. thats about it.

over a 100 views. does everyone hate it that much they wont say anything? i know ya all like them stock a sometimes a little mod but the cold shoulder.

i love the mod...im a frame hacker/welder myself. for me the building is as big or bigger a rush than the ride.
im not sure how many folks here do the same though..
either they dont have the equipment or only have one bike and arent so willing to just cut it up and then put it back together...others though think nothing of riding theyre bike home from a long day at work,pull in the carport..tear it all to pieces.stay up till 5:30 in the morning,all the time watching the clock..knowing 7:30 gonna be here quick and if these damn piston rings dont cooperate soon i may be late for work cause this is my only ride.

you'll find as a fabricator that very few people can really appreciate everything that goes into building a bike from the ground up..and the ones that can...well you know,been there done that.
kinda like a painter..standing back...arm extended full length...thumb up..tip of the tongue peeking out towards the left cheek creating my masterpiece.
the public can only speculate..and the other painters are always critics:)
but none the less the masterpiece is there..i can feel it,touch it..i created it..i am god like:) or so it seems(ducking the lighting bolt:huh: )..
i doubt its the cold shoulder..maybe folks just been busy painting their masterpiece..

Post edited by: EddieBoy, at: 2006/09/13 01:58

Post edited by: EddieBoy, at: 2006/09/13 02:10

i have always loved metric chops. Only seen Hondas and 1 yahmaha in person. Just waiting to see how it turns out!

looks like some great fabbing to me. would like to see some more pics too.

but now my curiosity is piqued - what are the legalities of taking a frame like that with no title, building something like you are doing, and then attempting to title it??? is it possible?? steps involved? etc?

reason i ask is we have an old KZ frame (either a 400 or 440 - dont remember which offhand) with no title just begging for something to be done with it....

you dont see alot of them but when you do see kz chops they are 900 & 1000 in a amen frame or something like that from the 70's

i'm pushing to get it to roll down to the rockerbox this year. it would be a rat bike if i did and would get a nice finish over winter. we'll see?? if not i will down with my z650 with the 1000p front end.

i know what your talking about ripping your bike apart after work! i got home at midnight couple weeks back. ripped off my front end and put a cop front end. knowing i was going to ride it to work the next day. couple hours later with a bedtime beer in hand i switched out my front end. i do have my stock ride that i do little thing to like putting on 1000p front end on a kz650. and i may do some more little things but i want to keep it so i can kind it on long trips. the hardtail is good for day trip blasting. i can make it so i can ride it long distances but that is not what i'm after.

lookee here:
www.ironcross.net/Chopping%20a%20japbike.htm

I love the hardtail mod. I think that Jap Bobbers look great. I have my 79' 650 completly stripped right now and am rebuilding the engine while looking to hire someone to hardtail my frame. Let me know if you have any connections in Wahington State.

Love the frame, great work!

Cool project Timber.

Keep us posted on the changes.

I'd like to know as well how you can get a title for an untitled modified bike. It will need to pass a safety inspection right? Although safeties can be easy to get, sight unseen sometimes.