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  1. phomeniuk

    1980 KZ250 Cafe Build

    I had the thought the other day that these mag wheels might look better all black. I've seen quite a few builds with this type wheel where the builder has painted them and I think it just makes for a cleaner look. So I downloaded a photo editor app and crudely coloured them in. I think it looks...
  2. phomeniuk

    1980 KZ250 Cafe Build

    My list of small items was building and building so I decided I'd tackle that this weekend. Basically, I had a bunch of little things to button up that weren't stopping me from finishing the build, but needed to be done. First was the forward tank damper rubbers. They were never on the bike so...
  3. phomeniuk

    1980 KZ250 Cafe Build

    Yes they are the original shocks. They are starting to leak a little bit too so it might not be a horrible idea to replace them anyway. I did a sag test just out of curiosity and I measured about 20mm sag with the preload set to maximum. I've pretty well made up my mind to go with a 13.5"...
  4. phomeniuk

    1980 KZ250 Cafe Build

    I'm a pretty tall dude (6'4") so I already look like a circus monkey on this bike, which doesn't concern me but I always feel like my toes are going to hit the pavement while cornering. I've been considering replacing the shocks with something a bit longer. I've got 12.5" eye to eye now and I...
  5. phomeniuk

    1980 KZ250 Cafe Build

    I was thinking the same thing, the vibration while riding is pretty substantial with this little bike. Judging by how loose the terminal screw was I'm assuming it was making and breaking contact at will. At any rate, I've learned a lesson in using lock washers for the hundredth time. I had a...
  6. phomeniuk

    1980 KZ250 Cafe Build

    Disclaimer: Long post This past week was a bit of a learning experience for me. I went on a couple more rides and each time the bike would fall on its face at mid-high revs. So I hopped on the forums and also consulted my father (he was a mechanic for years and built a few drag bikes in the...
  7. phomeniuk

    1980 KZ250 Cafe Build

    Well I broke down and ordered an Antigravity 4cell battery and it just arrived today. Fits nicely in my battery tray and it was packaged with a bunch of different pieces of sticky backed foam so I used that to make a pocket for the battery in my electrical tray. Checked voltages at idle and...
  8. phomeniuk

    1980 KZ250 Cafe Build

    Haven't posted in a while so I thought I'd send a little update. Took her on a couple rides last fall, cooked the battery and haven't got around to ordering a new one. Was thinking of the Antigravity 4 cell due to its size. Will likely order one of those as I think it's my only option. I did...
  9. phomeniuk

    1980 KZ250 Cafe Build

    Back at it again. My rear brake light switch wasn't working the greatest due to the return spring being the wrong length and/or tension. I was thinking of ways to replace it since my sour cream container full of return springs didn't seem to have what I was after. Enter a father with a daughter...
  10. phomeniuk

    1980 KZ250 Cafe Build

    I tossed around the idea of using the stock inner fender as my finished rear fender but it's in pretty rough shape so I elected to avoid using it. That being said, I had never considered using it as a mould, however I don't have any experience with fiberglass and I'm sure I'd make a mess of it...
  11. phomeniuk

    1980 KZ250 Cafe Build

    I had some free time tonight after my daughter went to bed so I slid out to the shed to ponder about these fenders. I ended up modifying my existing front fender to suit. Had to bend the ears straight and then re-bend them at the same angle but 1/2" further up. This ensures clearance on my front...
  12. phomeniuk

    1980 KZ250 Cafe Build

    I was toying around with the old rear fender trying to make it look good but I couldn't get it to where I wanted it so I just kind of fo4got about it. My brother had suggested that a small fitted fender like you'd see on a modern sport bike would look good on the back. Will have to do a little...
  13. phomeniuk

    1980 KZ250 Cafe Build

    Picture from above post
  14. phomeniuk

    1980 KZ250 Cafe Build

    Well it may be "done" but I'm still tinkering. I wasn't too thrilled with how the headlight looked with the rest of the bike so I moved it down as much as my wiring would allow and I moved it bacl on the ears by 1 hole. I think it suits it alot better. Also, I noticed my front tire barely...
  15. phomeniuk

    1980 KZ250 Cafe Build

    The day has finally come! Slapped the plate from the DRZ on her and took her through the gears. I went down the road about 4km and back and learned a valuable lesson in using lock washers. My left side rearset had it's footpeg rattle loose and fall off. I went back to look for it with no luck so...
  16. phomeniuk

    1980 KZ250 Cafe Build

    I got a little ambitious the other night and started stripping my tank. Had to fill a hole with weld, which I was a little nervous to do but it went well. Then, because I am not putting the tank badges back on I decided to mix up some body fill to smooth out the sides. There were a couple little...
  17. phomeniuk

    KZ440 thoughts

    Hey there. Glad to see another KZ on the forum. Take a look at my build thread and you'll see what I've done with my frame to accommodate a cafe style seat without cutting out main bits of frame. It's on a kz250 but the frame would be the same design as your bike. Admittedly it's not the ideal...
  18. phomeniuk

    1980 KZ250 Cafe Build

    Short little update today. Finally at the reassembly stage of the project. Engine is back in the frame and rear end is put back together complete. New brake shoes and rubber, polished the machined bits on the wheel and lightly polished the cush drive hub. Chain was relatively new so I just...
  19. phomeniuk

    1980 KZ250 Cafe Build

    I found your build when I started to consider doing mine and really liked what you did with it. Nothing like a free bike to get w build started eh? I never really question the carb that's on my bike, but I do know that it was the source of some poor idle issues until my father rebuilt it about...
  20. phomeniuk

    1980 KZ250 Cafe Build

    Well I pulled the motor today so that I could do some spot sanding and paint the frame. Wanted to be able to flip the frame to weld the bottom of my electrics pan too. Upon flipping the frame I noticed there was a small crack on the passenger peg bracket so I cleaned it up and welded it. Thought...
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