KZ400 "Dirty Bird" Cafe (Winter mods)
- Thread starter treitz
- Start date
treitz
Over 1,000 Posts
Re: 79 KZ400 Cafe (Project #2)
Wiring went well tonight. Only one adapter that seams to be missing a partner. Can't wait to find out if it all actually works!
It will be cleaner than this...
From the back...
And the partnerless adapter...
Currently waiting for my new chain, sprocket and turn signals. Once they all arrive it will be one to final assembly and seeing if she starts up and everything works!
Once I get her started I will focus on...
- paint
- cleaning everything up a bit more
- making sure she runs smoothly
- praying for warmer weather
Wiring went well tonight. Only one adapter that seams to be missing a partner. Can't wait to find out if it all actually works!
It will be cleaner than this...
From the back...
And the partnerless adapter...
Currently waiting for my new chain, sprocket and turn signals. Once they all arrive it will be one to final assembly and seeing if she starts up and everything works!
Once I get her started I will focus on...
- paint
- cleaning everything up a bit more
- making sure she runs smoothly
- praying for warmer weather
treitz
Over 1,000 Posts
Re: 79 KZ400 Cafe (Project #2)
Not much progress here.. Sprocket and wheels almost back on.
But thought this would be fun to post.
The joys of having Christmas and your birthday take place during your build. You can see total dollars spent on build thus far, and how much I have personally paid.
Not much progress here.. Sprocket and wheels almost back on.
But thought this would be fun to post.
The joys of having Christmas and your birthday take place during your build. You can see total dollars spent on build thus far, and how much I have personally paid.
treitz
Over 1,000 Posts
Re: 79 KZ400 Cafe (Project #2)
Haha! I wish I had that problem! Believe me, I am not building this bike on the budget I am by choice! I also forgot $60 worth of stuff I bought ;-)
Someday I hope to build another bike that I can sort of go crazy on for lack of better words.
Spent 45 minutes in the garage when I got home today... She is getting close! Got her rolling, a lot of stuff hooked up and put a bunch of stuff on. Some of which will probably have to come off again when I replace the engine cover bolts and what not, but that's alright.
Next steps..
Get chain on
Retrofit new mufflers
Put oil in
Try to start it
Opinions on paint... I was originally planning on a white base with matte black and a metallic copper decal scheme. However, the more I look at the red the more I like it. I don't know if it's the "flashiness" of it or what.
What would you guys do??
Haha! I wish I had that problem! Believe me, I am not building this bike on the budget I am by choice! I also forgot $60 worth of stuff I bought ;-)
Someday I hope to build another bike that I can sort of go crazy on for lack of better words.
Spent 45 minutes in the garage when I got home today... She is getting close! Got her rolling, a lot of stuff hooked up and put a bunch of stuff on. Some of which will probably have to come off again when I replace the engine cover bolts and what not, but that's alright.
Next steps..
Get chain on
Retrofit new mufflers
Put oil in
Try to start it
Opinions on paint... I was originally planning on a white base with matte black and a metallic copper decal scheme. However, the more I look at the red the more I like it. I don't know if it's the "flashiness" of it or what.
What would you guys do??
treitz
Over 1,000 Posts
Re: 79 KZ400 Cafe (Assembly Update - Pics)
Thanks to my newly acquired angle grinder (on sale for $11 hell yeah!) I was able to chop my pipes off tonight. Can't decide if I want leave them without mufflers or not. How loud it is will help me decide.
Was only able to get one side on since I need some new exhaust nuts for the other side.
Thanks to my newly acquired angle grinder (on sale for $11 hell yeah!) I was able to chop my pipes off tonight. Can't decide if I want leave them without mufflers or not. How loud it is will help me decide.
Was only able to get one side on since I need some new exhaust nuts for the other side.
StopBreakingDown
Active Member
Re: 79 KZ400 Cafe (Exhaust Progress)
looks good man! Here's a vid of one with chopped exhaust to give you kind of an idea of how it will sound.
1975 kz400s cafe racer - 1st run
looks good man! Here's a vid of one with chopped exhaust to give you kind of an idea of how it will sound.
1975 kz400s cafe racer - 1st run
Swapmeet Louie
Put some metal in yer eye....
Re: 79 KZ400 Cafe (Exhaust Progress)
Fucking Loud!
Fucking Loud!
treitz
Over 1,000 Posts
Re: 79 KZ400 Cafe (Exhaust Progress)
Because I work at a sign shop and do crazy things when I am bored... I gave wrapping my tail section a shot today. It actually came out better than I thought it would.
The only high performance wrap quality vinyl we have is this strange orange/red color. Turns out I actually kinda like it?
Materials/Before
After:
Biggest negative about vinyl is that it makes blemishes stand out, but consider it took me 30 minutes and didn't cost anything. I am okay with that... for now.
I honestly did not think this could be done. So I am pleasantly surprised!
Because I work at a sign shop and do crazy things when I am bored... I gave wrapping my tail section a shot today. It actually came out better than I thought it would.
The only high performance wrap quality vinyl we have is this strange orange/red color. Turns out I actually kinda like it?
Materials/Before
After:
Biggest negative about vinyl is that it makes blemishes stand out, but consider it took me 30 minutes and didn't cost anything. I am okay with that... for now.
I honestly did not think this could be done. So I am pleasantly surprised!
treitz
Over 1,000 Posts
Re: 79 KZ400 Cafe (Exhaust Progress)
I will post pics of the tank tomorrow.
It should be pretty durable. It is susceptible to scratches and rock chips, but no more so than paint. Plus it's cheaper than a good paint job.
Finding a sign shop that will do it could be challenging. If someone were to ask me to do it for them, knowing that it's possible now, I would probably charge $100 or so for the tank and tail including vinyl. But I am in Boise... it could be quite a bit more $$ in bigger cities. I really don't know.
kookie31 said:
I will post pics of the tank tomorrow.
It should be pretty durable. It is susceptible to scratches and rock chips, but no more so than paint. Plus it's cheaper than a good paint job.
Finding a sign shop that will do it could be challenging. If someone were to ask me to do it for them, knowing that it's possible now, I would probably charge $100 or so for the tank and tail including vinyl. But I am in Boise... it could be quite a bit more $$ in bigger cities. I really don't know.
treitz
Over 1,000 Posts
Re: 79 KZ400 Cafe (Vinyl wrap?)
I want to do something on the large black steel sheet/side covers to spice it up a bit.
I personally prefer #1,#2 and #3. The beige looking color will either be a metallic light gold, or a non-metallic beige. The beige ad's a really cool vintage look along with the orangish red. So I am leaning towards that.
There will also be a triple stripe running down the top of the tank and tail section to match the side.
I want to do something on the large black steel sheet/side covers to spice it up a bit.
I personally prefer #1,#2 and #3. The beige looking color will either be a metallic light gold, or a non-metallic beige. The beige ad's a really cool vintage look along with the orangish red. So I am leaning towards that.
There will also be a triple stripe running down the top of the tank and tail section to match the side.
