1987 ZG1000

Always checking out the projects going on around here but not much of a poster. Have had about 10 or so KZ's over the years and a few other bikes, but while the kids were growing up more time was devoted to them, coaching hockey and running a biz. Now they're grown up and I have more time to mess with bikes again. Plus one of my boys has started riding on the street and has started some projects which has motivated me.

Have a 1973 CB350F stashed away that I will be bringing back to life in the next few months but first something needed to be done with this fat pig. Not going to be a build but more of face lift, liposuction and maybe a few injections...but who knows today was just demo day and who knows where it will end.

1987 ZG1000 (Concours) 30K miles, runs good and has a life expectancy of over 100k if maintained. Engine is basically the 900 Ninja and puts out about 90HP. Handles ok once you get over 10 mph but is a anchor and tough to move below that so time to remove some excess and see what we end up with. I prefer function over form but hope to find a good balance without breaking the bank. Here's the starting point...





This pic is not my bike but needed a pic of the crappy stock bars...Earlier this summer I ditched them and converted it so I could mount some Superbike Bars on it.



Next up was the faring and plastics.



Trim a little of the ass end fender and shorten the turn signal stem a few inches.


I have two of these 6" lights on hand so might go for the tit job up front...here's one mocked up looking kind of small.


I left the belly pan on for now but in order for it to look more complete I will have to cut some of the lower mid-faring off and attach to the BP. Also plan on swapping in a cluster from a 900 ninja. As for other mods I'm open just keep in mind I'm a tight ass when it comes to $$.

Cool project, looking forward to see where you go with it. I dig the Simpson.

Get rid of those uber heavy coughcough*uglyass mufflers.

There's a bunch of potential there that has not yet been realized. The 6" headlight is hideous.

Zg1000 wheels are sick, show em off.

canyoncarver said:

Cool project, looking forward to see where you go with it. I dig the Simpson.

Click to expand...

Thanks...Got it new back in '84ish and recently found new clear and tint shields for it, it is in desperate need of new paint.

DohcBikes said:

Get rid of those uber heavy coughcough*uglyass mufflers.

There's a bunch of potential there that has not yet been realized. The 6" headlight is hideous.

Zg1000 wheels are sick, show em off.

Click to expand...

Those things are big and heavy so they are on the list...no 4-1 option out there so I would have to build or just replace the cans. Stock ones are quiet which makes it nice for zipping around in the stealth mode.

6'' light is out of proportion...I have another so I will mock up a twin set up and also would like to see what a larger round or a rectangular light looks like.

You might consider a mini-fairing.

What about a zx9 exhaust, modified where necessary

05ZX10 header will bolt right on with very minor tweaks, studs removed and 8X32mm bolts in place of them... The two halves will need to be separated into two - two into one headers then rewelded at the brackets with the can of choice mocked up with hanger... the little chin spoiler will have to go and the oil cooler relocated to make it all come together.

All of this is well worth the work as the fill Titanium header sells for as little as $50 on eBay and only a 4-5 hour job if you plan well, so for me a week at best

[EDIT]

P.S... lots of way nicer "looking" rads on eBay for cheap if you look, you may even find a silver one with matching silver oil rad.

Great info tune, sounds like that's the ticket. The weight savings would be considerable.

Tune-A-Fish said:

05ZX10 header will bolt right on with very minor tweaks

Click to expand...

Looks like a great low buck option and will start watching some that are listed on Ebay. I know it wouldn't be used on my bike but what is that valve servo all about?

For now I shortened the upper rad hose a few inches so it would tuck in better.




Mocked up the breast implants but just don't think it's the answer. Still plan on trying a 7 or 8 inch round and a GPZ ish rectangle.





Considering a faring/light DohcBikes if I could find or make one that ties this whole monstrosity together.

B541Niner said:

what is that valve servo all about?

Click to expand...

Emissions period, most are removed or gutted, I gutted mine and welded the flap rod back in because I wanted the collector, on yours you could run dual mufflers/cans.

Not a fan of the twin headlights, a nice 7" round would look better imho.

Try and find an 8" round from a Suzuki Bandit.
It would look much better.

cklamer said:

Try and find an 8" round from a Suzuki Bandit.
It would look much better.

Click to expand...

Excellent

For a mini fairing, just go to eBay and type 'motorcycle fairing'

Hit the junk yard today...they sell on Ebay as well so I was able to search the headlights before hand. They did have a Bandit light but was off a 400 and only a 7" so ended up with a 7" off of a KZ750B...much cheaper ($20) and only has one hole that is hidden from view.





Going with the round for now but may play around with the stock one in the future. Trim the original mounting ears off and either throw it in the oven so I can open it up and add through bolts or figure out some external brackets.

Cut up the mid fairing so the belly pan could be extended. Might make the radius in the upper left corner bigger and move it forward.

Starting to take shape already.

One thought i'm having is that the rear fairing or bodywork or undertail or whatever you wanna call it, could be removed and a much tidier and smaller, more sportbikeish, upswept piece could be made of fiberglass to blend in to the side panels. An LED stop-tail-turn setup could be integrated.

Again, there is a lot of potential here. Just throwing stuff out there.

The 7" headlight looks pretty good on there.

Here are some links to a few fairings that I think would be options that would work with the 7", depending on your taste. Some of them are really cheap and could almost be 'experimental purchases' and resold if not used.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Motorcycle-Fairing-Harley-Honda-Kawasaki-Yamaha-Suzuki-/391337954331?hash=item5b1d8f4c1b:gzMAAOSwwE5WZjvO&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HeadLight-Fairing-Mask-Front-Visor-for-Harley-Sportster-Cafe-Racer-Motorcycle-/351421842722?hash=item51d25fc522:g:1E8AAOSwv0tVdpld&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Shoei-FM-2-Vintage-Universal-Custom-Motorcycle-Front-Fairing-Black-/181879447526?hash=item2a58dc1fe6:g:ygwAAOSwU9xUQYKz&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Emgo-Black-Viper-Cafe-Fairing-for-7-Headlights-Motorcycle-Custom-Harley-/371398442462?hash=item5679127dde:g:GHkAAOSwjVVV34qL&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-Universal-Cafe-Fairing-107-445-/371485613746?hash=item567e449eb2:g:7TwAAOSw~bFWHVQ1&vxp=mtr

Thanks for the input and the links. Nice thing with the 7" round is all the options available and depending on how the gauges fall into place a fairing might help make the backside of them disappear.

As for the lower plastics that MAY have to go away if I start messing with the exhaust, I figured I would start with what I have and nibble away until it sticks or needs to be tossed and I'm relying on peoples brutal honesty here since I'm more mechanical then creative.

Bike is much more fun to ride and easier to maneuver in the driveway but 50 degrees feels a lot different without the blanket up front.

Personally I think the belly pan should stay. Just dont like the bodywork under and behind the seat, it is way too long, sticking out into nowhere behind the back tire and the tailight is not purty either.

Overall looking good, and looking faster too. The pipes are really heavy, that exhaust mod seems imminent with the direction so far.

You could get a set of two into one collectors and some light slip ons. If I had a mockup motor I could build you a pipe for under $500 all Ti.

This (image) is a very simple stainless header, you get 4 pipes and a collector, all you need to do is bolt them on and get the collector on where you want it... run a sheet metal screw in each pipe to hold the collector on and mark it with a sharpie in two locations each. take it off and have it welded up... lots of people close buy surly that weld.

Yes that rear end has not been sitting well with me as it just doesn't fit whats going on up front. Whatever ends up happening it would be nice to still be able to access the saddlebag mounts that are hiding behind plastic under the rear part of seat. Then there's this cute little rack hiding back there that is pretty much worthless.



I do have a welder for when the time comes to start messing around with the exhaust. Watching some ZX10 pipes on Ebay and checking local Clist. I've never had the mufflers off this bike so I should pull one of those anchors just to see how heavy they are to get motivated.

Okay... I was not going to say a word because hey... Different strokes right?

Pull all of it off and dream a bit. A tank, some subframe stuff off another ZX or something maybe a ZRX tank.

These are concourse based builds: You don't need to go to extremes but have some fun.