1979 Kawasaki KZ400B2 (New pics from winter ride on page 6)

[valvesprung]

Re: 1979 Kawasaki KZ400B2

I had no luck finding shoes online, but the local Kawi store (only one of them) had a supplier and got me the right shoes, I'm sure I can get you hookoed up if you need them.

 

[Gryph]

Re: 1979 Kawasaki KZ400B2

Thanks for the quick replies guys, I'm going to try to clean up the wheel then I suppose, I do like the look of the drum and if I'm not losing anything in the performance department then why not I guess.

 

[Gryph]

Re: 1979 Kawasaki KZ400B2

One more thing, am I going to be able to get the rear brake light to work with this? I can see the leads coming from the cable handle on the drum bike, but can't see where the wires run from the hydraulic bike

Valvesprung let me know about the shoes, I'm going to take the wheel off tonight, wire wheel the spokes, inspect the shoes etc. Now I'm actually kind of excited to switch over to the drum.

I still have to get this bike safetied so everything has to be tip top.

 

[Gryph]

Re: 1979 Kawasaki KZ400B2 (UPDATE: Project Complete<ish>)

Well guys I finally got everything reassembled today.

The bike has been stripped to the engine/frame, painted the frame and other metal bits with low gloss black duplicolor engine paint over self-etching primer. Professional gloss black paint on tank/tail/sides, with Cadillac Pearl White stripes. Also polished the engine side covers. I still have to freshen my emblems before putting them on.

Fun began when I swapped the front wheel and drum brake from my donor bike, ended up having to swap over the forks too due to different axle sizes. I also threw on what I think is a MAC dual exhaust (came with the parts bike, was in rough shape but shined up nice). Bars are stock (for now), and I still need to adjust both brakes.

Engine wise I've done a full tune up + carb clean. Still need to sync the carbs, check float height, and adjust idle mixture.

I'm wondering what kind of jetting I should run with a K&N drop in and the MAC dual. It started up fine, idle is steady, no backfiring when revved, but the pipes are blueing right where they leave the engine, and golden until the mufflers.

Just want to thank everyone here, such a helpful site.

Pics:

Before

After

Fave pic

Pearl with flash:

Without flash:

Close up:

I guess that's enough pics for now, here's the album http://s246.photobucket.com/albums/gg91/Gryphs/1979%20Kawasaki%20KZ400/ .

Thanks again.

 

[valvesprung]

Re: 1979 Kawasaki KZ400B2 (Update: Project semi-complete with pics on page 3!)

Looks awesome man, super clean.

 

[troybilt]

Re: 1979 Kawasaki KZ400B2 (Update: Project semi-complete with pics on page 3!)

Looks tits man. Very nice!!! I really like that pearl. It might be worth it to change out the turns though, maybe with something a little smaller. Might make a big difference, but that's just me.
Also, headlight looks like its looking for aircraft ;D Hehehe. I'm sure in a short time you got it pointed where its needed.

good job man.

 

[perattzi]

Re: 1979 Kawasaki KZ400B2 (Update: Project semi-complete with pics on page 3!)

Looks sweet! But...where's your clubman's or clip-on's!??? Streamline that baby!

Nah'mean vern?

 

[Gryph]

Re: 1979 Kawasaki KZ400B2 (Update: Project semi-complete with pics on page 3!)

Looks sweet! But...where's your clubman's or clip-on's!??? Streamline that baby!

Nah'mean vern?

I know, I know, all of those mods will have to wait until she's safetied lol, don't want to give them any reason.

 

[Gryph]

Re: 1979 Kawasaki KZ400B2 (Update: Project semi-complete with pics on page 3!)

Anybody have experience refreshing old emblems??

The tank emblems are metal, the side cover emblems are plastic. The paint is flaking off in places, there's some chrome paint on the plastic ones that is all but gone.

I'm thinking model paint??? Don't want to spend too much time/money on these, just trying to give them a little bit of a freshening.

 

[MN_TX650]

Re: 1979 Kawasaki KZ400B2 (UPDATE: Project Complete<ish>)

Drink much? LOL.

 

[valvesprung]

Re: 1979 Kawasaki KZ400B2 (Update: Project semi-complete with pics on page 3!)

whatever happened to the saddle bags any way?

 

[Gryph]

Re: 1979 Kawasaki KZ400B2 (Update: Project semi-complete with pics on page 3!)

Well it has been forever since I've updated this, I got the bike safetied last spring and rode it as it was for the summer, still needs some tuning because she bogs at WOT in top gear, if I lay off the throttle a bit she'll go to 130kph. I want to put some lower bars on it too.

I hand painted the old emblems with testor's model paint, and I just mocked up the saddle bags now, need to secure them properly and clean them again because they've been sitting.

Here are the pics of the bike with the emblems, and then with the saddles (reason for updating this), the bags look a lot bigger on the bike than i thought they would.

Doing a plug chop on the side of the road

 

[valvesprung]

Re: 1979 Kawasaki KZ400B2 (Update: saddle bags mocked up, still need lower bars)

Yeah the bags look pretty good. They do kind of confirm my biggest concern, that they may be alittle too thick. Obviously a slimmer set of bags isn't going to hold much, but it's such a tiny bike that it's easily overwhelmed.

Don't get me wrong they look pretty good, but I'm glad to see it for sure because I'm thinkin I really will try to modify a set of messenger bags and make a custom set.

 

[Gryph]

Re: 1979 Kawasaki KZ400B2 (Update: finally put some low bars/bar end mirrors on)

Well we finally had a decently nice day here, so I got around to working on the bike.

These bars were on my parts bike the whole time, cleaned up nice... Not sure what they are, maybe superbike? They're only 27" wide, and the rise is 3ish inches (ones I took off were 30 wide, 5ish rise), good thing I swapped front ends and went with a drum because the master cylinder wouldnt fit on these bars I don't think. Feels much sportier but still comfy, looks 10x better in my opinion. Threw on some bar end mirrors that I got free from a buddy of mine who never used em for his bike.

 

[valvesprung]

Re: 1979 Kawasaki KZ400B2 (Update: finally put some low bars/bar end mirrors on)

Well they're higher and have much more pull back then super bike bars, but they look perfect none the less. Nice improvement for sure. In fact I wouldn't mind something similar for my KZ, the SB bars are still a bit more aggressive then I want for the bike.

 

[Big R]

Re: 1979 Kawasaki KZ400B2 (Update: finally put some low bars/bar end mirrors on)

Wish I would have caught ya sooner - if you can take the emblems off, just rattle can the entire emblem and then use a dremel with a steel brush and/or wet sand the top surface.

But I like the different bars!

 

[Gryph]

Re: 1979 Kawasaki KZ400B2 (Update: finally put some low bars/bar end mirrors on)

Hey guys, it's been ages but I popped out on the KZ400 yesterday in this unseasonable weather we've been having. A little update is that unfortunately I didn't insure the KZ last season as it would have cost me over 1000 bucks, and my new to me 2008 Ninja 650R was only $905 with full coverage (gotta love Ontario insurance). Well I shouldn't have ridden her yesterday because I got the bug again.

I replaced the shocks last spring with some I got for $20 bucks locally (the originals were leaking and shot), I can't remember the brand, but they're some cheap aftermarket universals. They're probably a little tightly sprung for the weight of the bike, but raised the rear a nice a mount over stock and definitely ride better.

I was shocked that she fired up and ran just as the day I put her away almost a year ago, just a blast to ride, comfy as hell riding position (I know she's not a true cafe, but I wanted comfort). It's awesome to see some more KZ's on here, great little bike to work on.

Some pics if anyone cares:

 

[HerrDeacon]

Bike looks great Gryph. I love those 400's, would love to pick one up one day. Couple of nice Kawi's you have there.

 

[diggerdanh]

The bike definitely looks great! Congratulations.