1978 Kawasaki KZ750

[BB73]

Hello

I have been lurking around here a bit and decided to finally show off my Big Arse Project!

It's big to me because this is my first attempt at motorcycle customizing.

It's a KZ750B3 from 1978. The engine is a parallel twin.

Here it is the day I got it

I have been working away on the bike. Mainly a lot of maintenance and clean up.

Cleaned the carbs
Cleaned the gas tank out
Cleaned up the rims
Installed new tires and tubes
Changed the fork oil
Put on some new grips
Rebuilt the front caliper
Put tapered roller bearings on the steering stem
Added clip-ons
New master cylinders
New clutch perch and lever
Wired in the brake light switch from the front master (it was originally a pressure switch)
New headlight and tail light bulbs

Some other stuff I'm forgetting.

 

[sxecafe]

damn that thing looks clean . Good job.

 

[BB73]

Been working the cosmetics of the bike.

I recessed the tail light.

I want to move the tail forward some. I'm trying to get the proportion right. Opinions?

Then I'll make a new much smaller seat.

The first pic is the stock location.

 

[msimm43]

Love the short tail option. Will look great if you can get it on the same line as the bottom of the tank.

 

[islemann]

Photo 3 looks best to me. The frame rail pretty much lines up with the front of the seat cowl. The other short option that looks good to me is photo 4. The bobber look as in the last photo just doesn't do it.

Nice bike. There's one not to far from where I live that I've considered snagging. I'll follow your build.

 

[goodfornothing]

I agree with photo 3, the third photo after your stock position photo.

I love how when I was scrolling down, it looked like a stop motion video haha.

 

[liam]

i reckon no.2, but with the top on the same level as originally designed, and not pointing skyward. as a basic rule of thumb, starting with the end of the flat part of the seat above the termination of the rear suspension and working from there gives you good looking basic guidelines,
uhh, i made a photochop to show you what i mean, hope you don't mind. i love those tails... i think it could come forward a lot more in my picture, because the seat looks quite big and i can't be bothered changing it now, but the angle is important... anyway, food for thought?

 

[BB73]

Thanks for the input everyone.

I definitely need to get the angle of the cowl right. It was hard because of the frame. I need to cut some of it out to put the cowl where I want and the angle correct.

I think that the pinstripes need to flow right too. I want to use that as a guide for height and angle.

I'm leaning towards photo 3 or 4. Photo 5 just seems too far forward, the rear of the tail can't be ahead of the axle centerline.

 

[monteboy84]

I agree with liam's pic, that looks perfect.

-matt

 

[dcmspikes]

real nice. i looked at one of these yesterday. i like number three. looks like a nice clean bike.

 

[xulf13]

BB73: That is going to be a real nice bike when you're done. I would definetly do it just like Liam sugested and posted on his photoshop rendition of your bike. Not too far forward and not laggin in the back. When it comes to the angle. I think Liam pretty much nailed it. Are you going to take advantage of that big dent in the front of your tank and do the same on the other side and then do knee cut outs like the manx type tanks?

 

[BB73]

Are you going to take advantage of that big dent in the front of your tank and do the same on the other side and then do knee cut outs like the manx type tanks?

I'm not going to pound on that tank. I think the way it tapers from front to back it just wouldn't look right with knee dents.

I could see getting a proper tank for it in the future though.

I just want to tighten up what's there for now while getting it mechanically and electronically reliable and ride it for while.

As far as the seat goes I do like what LIAM has done.

I would like to see it shortened up, where the back of black seat covering is the same width as the tube and lines up with that tube.

Thanks for the input.

 

[islemann]

Just a FYI - here's an image of a tank I made for my KZ550 Cafe' project. It started life with the same type of dent as your tank.

A lil' whacking and -

I also did the whack-job on a GPz tank -

Interestingly - the GPz tank is the one that I keep tossing back on the bike. Both fit with the same seat and hump.

 

[BB73]

Slow and steady progress on the bike.

I changed to a new Dyna coil, wires and caps

Here is the new location of the tail

Here's my mocked up seat

 

[MarcW]

Looks great!!! Nice and clean!!

 

[cooper1320]

BUMP any updates on this bike, i have the same one and im guna be cafe'ing it too

 

[Le55ons]

Looks beautiful, actually I thought it was a beaut with "only" removed luggage rack and new handlebars
but with the hump moved forward it has kind of a "factory" feel to it. Looks REALLY classic.


Rad work so far, cant wait to see it all done!


And, yeah, I love the stock paint too

 

[treitz]

Very cool. I really like the shortened up tail u did.

 

[jackstraw650]

Nice job! Good compromise on the tail length question....keep us posted on your progress, please!

 

[cooper1320]

bump!, any up dates, i have the same bike and looking to cafe it too,