78 Kawa KZ650 Road Racer/Cafe Project
- Thread starter perattzi
- Start date
alpinaclone
Been Around the Block
Very cool build. This will be tasty when done.
You need to hook me up with your supplier of $40 font ends.
You need to hook me up with your supplier of $40 font ends.
Thanks for all the kind words! KZZXR is super sick! Great job...Yes the details on these projects are where things get tricky, not to mention expensive. But, I figure to go buy any new or used modern bike that I like would set me back 4 or 5 times the cost of building my one-off machine. And most importantly it's fun! Anybody have any ideas for a frame color? Black is nice, but what else works with dark green?...I like the color of the frame on this CB750, not sure who built it...but it's clean 
Something like that may work with green...the engine is going to be black, the wheels are black, and not to mention how dark the green is....I think something contrasting for the frame would be nice.
Anybody got pics of their bikes with colored frames?
Something like that may work with green...the engine is going to be black, the wheels are black, and not to mention how dark the green is....I think something contrasting for the frame would be nice.
Anybody got pics of their bikes with colored frames?
Update...I grinded off the side cover tabs, center stand tabs, brackets near where the rear fender mounts, passenger peg mounts, and the seat hinges. Used a 4.5 in angle grinder to take off the bulk of the metal then switched to a 2 in pnuematic grinder with sanding discs.
Roughed:
Here's my pop having a go at the frame
Still need to get a bar bent and welded on back where I hacked off a big section. Also, gonna weld in a piece of sheet metal under the seat for mounting the electronics. I am thinking about bracing the frame in a few places as well. The rear of the frame doesn't have any gusseting or cross bars for support. After that sandblasting then paint.
Also, I took some time to redo my hand controls. I used aerosol paint stripper and a fine wire wheel on my drill to remove the old paint. Etch primer, sealing primer, duplicolor enamel, clear enamel, then I used some model paint to do the lettering. I just painted it on then wiped off the excess. Works pretty well, not perfect but hey I'm happy
Roughed:
Here's my pop having a go at the frame
Still need to get a bar bent and welded on back where I hacked off a big section. Also, gonna weld in a piece of sheet metal under the seat for mounting the electronics. I am thinking about bracing the frame in a few places as well. The rear of the frame doesn't have any gusseting or cross bars for support. After that sandblasting then paint.
Also, I took some time to redo my hand controls. I used aerosol paint stripper and a fine wire wheel on my drill to remove the old paint. Etch primer, sealing primer, duplicolor enamel, clear enamel, then I used some model paint to do the lettering. I just painted it on then wiped off the excess. Works pretty well, not perfect but hey I'm happy
perattzi said:Well, I finished her up this morning...just need a chain.
Ordered the bearing/spacer kit to make the 05 rear wheel work with my 01 swingarm...sourcing the rear brake from ebay, funny the older ones are like twice as much as the ones taken off 08 and 09 sv's?
Things are moving slow because I'm saving for a snowboard trip out to Whistler Vancouver, B.C. next month! Gonna be amazing...then I can throw some more money at this and hopefully get to ride this season. Good luck on all your projects!
the photoshop gives you a great idea how it will sit when it is done! it is goign to have a cool stance man! i also am not feeling that front fender... try to shop one up wiht it having a stock fender bobbed a bit
More little stuff...I wish I had done this much work all through the winter...I'd be done!
Wire wheeled the valve cover clean...started to sand out the casting marks to polish it, but soon realized I may not be quite THAT bored or have THAT much free time, there are just too many little nooks and sharp angles-which made me think that maybe there should be a program at prisons where the inmates spend their time sanding and polishing our engine covers instead of watching TV-just a thought
Taped off then used a wrinkle black paint. After dry I used a razor to scrap it off the raised parts then used q-tips and paint thinner. Looks pretty good I guess I should clear coat the whole thing.
I also took my upper triple and ignition to my machinist. He made an adaptor to mount the switch. Looks and works awesome!
Here is the little sleeve made to make it work...there is a little notch on the switch as you can see. He made a little female notch to accept it which helps keep it in place.
Wire wheeled the valve cover clean...started to sand out the casting marks to polish it, but soon realized I may not be quite THAT bored or have THAT much free time, there are just too many little nooks and sharp angles-which made me think that maybe there should be a program at prisons where the inmates spend their time sanding and polishing our engine covers instead of watching TV-just a thought
Taped off then used a wrinkle black paint. After dry I used a razor to scrap it off the raised parts then used q-tips and paint thinner. Looks pretty good I guess I should clear coat the whole thing.
I also took my upper triple and ignition to my machinist. He made an adaptor to mount the switch. Looks and works awesome!
Here is the little sleeve made to make it work...there is a little notch on the switch as you can see. He made a little female notch to accept it which helps keep it in place.
Worked on my tank a bit...just been doing little stuff that doesn't cost much. Next month I should be able to get my welding done and rear shocks...then I'm in business.
Masked:
Painted:
Still need pinstripes and a Kawasaki decal...Then lots and lots of clear coat...I'm just using Dupli-color lacquer. Looking pretty decent.
Masked:
Painted:
Still need pinstripes and a Kawasaki decal...Then lots and lots of clear coat...I'm just using Dupli-color lacquer. Looking pretty decent.
Thanks! It's amazing how well spray paint can turn out if you just prep, take your time, and be patient. I finally figured out the proper way to spray on a medium wet coat...it lays down nice and even and will require minimal sanding. This pic shows it with just two coats of clear over the dark green...I'm planning on like 20 or so...that way I'm not sanding into the decals or base coats.
valvesprung
Over 1,000 Posts
If you do use clear in a can, use the kind with the activated hardener in it. It doesn't last long, but it's the only thing in a can that won't get f-ed by the gasoline...
Paint looks absolutely wicked by the way, nice work.
Paint looks absolutely wicked by the way, nice work.
alpinaclone
Been Around the Block
Great job on the tank. Duplicolor is the shit. I used that on the tank of my TR6, even with the rattle can clear it has held up fairly well.
What color, i.e. what does Duplicolor call that green you are used as the base color? My son wants his QA50 green and that color would be perfect.
What color, i.e. what does Duplicolor call that green you are used as the base color? My son wants his QA50 green and that color would be perfect.
