79' KZ750 .... "Gutter Brat"

[spikeybike]

greetings fellas

this thread is gonna start as 90% cut and paste from a different forum..

i felt that this forum was a better place to post about this red headed step child of a bike .. the kawi twin forums weren't really populated at all ... and i got the impression from the honda forum that since this is obviously not a honda , not to many guys cared .. so here we are
i've been meaning to start a thread here for a bit .. and now i finally am .. soooo

the start:

i built this bike for dirt cheep , just over 500 bucks. finished it last year . after riding it for a season ... it needs some love
so if you want to read the full back story it's here http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=27238.0 and it spans over several years

but for our intents and purposes lets just say that the bike in this video is the starting point
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELCxgVhta-E

 

[spikeybike]

 

[spikeybike]

yes , you absolutely can build a bike for just over 500 bucks .

now that we've done that . let's upgrade it a bit .. cuz i must confess .. i kinda miss winning trophies

i've got some big plans for this winter.... so stay tuned

had one of the lathe operators at work spin the bigger pipe to a 36.5mm ID .
..this is (was) heavy grade tubing , not cold rolled .. so there was no seam, it's just all one piece
...still with me? ok then

a lil bevel goess a long way

this is why you're not suppose to wear chucks and weld

(a spare front end i have, used for mock up)

 

[spikeybike]

and the tank ... guess i can show ya these too

it's still pretty far from done .. but you can get the point

the side pieces are the case of a dvd player i found in the trash ;D ;D

welded on some 1/8th inch round bar

i've always had a thing for bonnies, this tank is kind of a nod to the old bonnie tank

 

[spikeybike]

did a little work last night , this tank is turning out pretty nice . i'm really diggin it

i want to change the cockpit up a bit .. definitely angle the gauges forward a little.
.. and i've been kickin around ideas for relocating the dummy lights ... i might just get a new speedo with the dummy lights in it..but i dunno

 

[spikeybike]

 

[spikeybike]

lexan .. .9" thick cut with hole saw on drill press

black RTV

 

[spikeybike]

ok so i gotta post some of these pics before i get too behind .. i like to wait until i have a bunch to post, but i haven't felt much like dealing with the upload process (very poor bandwidth at this new apartment)

so lets get started then

there is no way i'm bringin my fancy camera to work in the steel shop , so all the low res pics were done with my phone

the last time i made one of these , i had several members want me to make them one .. until i said i want 120 bucks. then it was nothin but tumbleweeds
...so i wanna show the group just how much work goes into a piece like this

these started as a 3/8ths inch plate , then was drilled and shaped

when twisting and bending , if the metal gets too hot it will loose it's shape

after a little die grinder love

this is how the ends were attached

(i thought i took a pic of them welded on but i can't seem to find it )

i used the old headlight ears to get it mocked right (made it way easier than last time)

(nice healthy gap to fill)

and i made this about a month ago and forgot to snap any pics of it

(i just love makin the twisted stuff.. it's fun...and totally badass)

 

[spikeybike]

and thats where i am today ...

 

[spikeybike]

now i have a question

i've ordered a speedo with the dummy lights in it (from DCC)

my bike has turn signal indicators for each side , my new speedo only has one indicator .

can i just splice the indicators together, or will i have to wire in some kind of diode

my fear is that without a diode, i'll hit the turn signal and both sides will flash .. or none will and the fuse will pop

...any thoughts?

 

[Tim]

Did you have 2 dummy lights for the signals before? I've only ever seen one dummy light for both sides of the signals before.

Shouldn't need a diode. If you were to look at any old Honda wiring diagram or most other bikes, you'll see how they connect both left and right signals to a single dummy light.

 

[SlowRoad]

Subscribed!! Bike is looking good, and video was pretty cool too!

 

[compoundcycles]

I dig that gas tank. I was thinking of doing something similar but cutting out the side and flipping them so they curve in instead of out. Using old DVD player cases...I dig it!

 

[spikeybike]

when i first cut them out i mocked up pieces in the same way ... but it just didn't look right, with the shape that i chose ......and thanks fellas

 

[spikeybike]

ok 1st, Tim, i did need the diodes . and let me tell ya .. soldering diodes in line is not easy , but i worked it out

....
i been pretty busy and havn't done a whole hell of a lot .. but here are some little updates


so with the starter gone ,and most of the stuff attached to that .. i could give the battery a major downgrade

.5lbs

the stats on it

so with the tiny battery ... i needed to make a new battery box

then i wanted to bring the molded section of the old battery box all the way the rear
(just a little aesthetic thing that always kinda bugged me)

and that required some serious deli slicing with the cut-off wheel

and i finally decided on paint (i think)
black base coat, i light dusting of red metal flake , then an even lighter dusting of silver metal flake . then lots of clear coat
this is the beginnings of that

truck bed liner undercoating

 

[cb 400 t]

THE BIKE IS SICK. IM WORKING ON A KZ 750. THIS BIKE HAS LITTLE PIECES THAT JUST SET IT APART FROM OTHER 750 THAT I CAN FIND ON THE WEB. THANKS

 

[vw121]

I like the tail. Lookin good

 

[spikeybike]

thanks fellas i appreciate your compliments

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sdQIViQd7Q#ws
(if you wanna see it in high res, it goes up to 720p)

it's not flawless ... but for a 40 dollar paint job it's not too shabby at all ...thats $40 including all the supplies .masking, sand paper , rubbing compound.. ect

i really like it ... but like i said it's not flawless ... i only wet sanded to 600 grit .. i coulda kept going , but really ... it's a 40 dollar paint job , it can only go so far , ya know

 

[beachcomber]

Glad I found this one ....... I decided some time ago that I need a big parallel twin in my toy store before I pop my clogs.

XS650 - physically too small enough [ for my bulk ] and in the UK SILLY money.

I dropped on the KZ750 a little while ago and have to say - looked just right for my 60's Cafe Racer style plan. I even scored a couple of OEM Workshop manuals - "in anticipation". :

Then when my latest copy of "Classic Bike Guide" plopped onto my doormat today - what's in the small ads but a KZ750B - "abandoned project". Turns out it's a strong runner and had a rebore just before the current owner bought it. Apart from having "Ape-Hangers" and other horrible 80's stuff attached to it, it's basically complete and has the original parts with it. Bonus - it's already on wire spoked wheels and they are in good condition. 8)

That's it then - the seller has accepted my offer and just waiting to arrange collection and so on - OF COURSE I need another project before I've finished the three I am working on !!

 

[Wangofree]

You are a master craftsman SB. Excellent work.