'Hamasaki' formerly known as the '82 KZ305 cafe racer - first build

Rusty-

Well, yeah, I think it looks better when they're narrower, but we all have our own tastes, and the only opinion that really matters is yours.

I like wider bars for more leverage if it's a heavy bike, or if I plan on muscling it around a lot.

Narrower bars, to me, feel more vintage and cool. Back then guys didn't need to make sudden steering inputs, they cut graceful arcs around the track and tucked in every possible way to get every last mph out of their bikes.

That's what low, narrow bars feel like to me.

The good thing about clipons is they're adjustable and you can try it in all different ways.

-Sherm
 
Awesome comments mate. Now that I've worked out how to do it I'll give it a try. Even though my wife thinks it's finished it's never really finished eh? One night in the garage should take care of that. My mate wants to know... Where are you Bigsherm?

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Rusty-

I'm in Ventura County, California, on the coast just north of LA. With the Pacific Coast Highway, Mulholland Drive, the Rock Store hangout, etc. it's a freaking riding paradise!

I work in New Mexico, usually one week on, one week at home, so I surf this board during a work week, and thrash on my bike while I'm home!

-Sherm
 
Sounds like a nice place to live. I'm not too far away, just all the way across the Pacific.

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Great thread! I've read through it once and I'm about to go back through it. I just picked up a KZ305 that I plan on doing some work to and I think this thread will help out a lot.

Thanks!
Mike
 
Had a play with my clip ons. Got them turned over and managed to slide then in 50mm each side. Certainly feels a bit more racey now. Thanks to Bigsherm for his input on that.

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Love the top line of the tank/seat/cowl, looks v classy.
I kinda agree about the width of the bars looking excessive though, but appreciate with these particular bars there are physical limitations caused by the master cylinder.
Nice.
 
I finally got around to taking some photos of my narrower bars. I flipped over the clamps and managed to slide them in 50mm on each side.
So this bike is all done now. I'm currently awaiting delivery of a new to me KDX 200 trail bike. Getting my head around the 2 stroke is taking some serious research and YouTube time!
Hmmm, photos won't up load. I'll try when I get to the office
 

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Gday Rustyhama

I just came across your build......wow that is awesome, and some helpfull tips. I have a 1980 Z250A I have done a budget build on, but I also have another 3 of them, of which I am hoping to get started on one soon.
http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=45070.0


Did you need to do much to the engine?
 
What a great build. I'm new to the forum and also love the cafe racer look. Being impatient I got myself a thruxton which I love but would also like to make my own creation. I'm also not looking to do a cb so it's good seeing such good results from the less popular machines. I had a look at the 1.618 youtube video and tested it out on the thruxton and it's bang on! Did you manage to stick to the formula during the build.
anyway you did an excellent job sir.
 
Thanks for the kind words from the last 2 posts. That little bike is giving me a lot of pleasure. I've have it running really nicely but it still gets a smokey right lung some days that seems like it will never be cured, some days it doesn't smoke at all though. I love the Kawasaki bikes, they have an X factor that some of the more common bikes don't have. Ah the Golden Ratio. I did follow those principles during the design phases. So most of that has probably flowed through to the bike, I haven't measured it. The build developed as I went, some aspects are reactions to other things that may not be planned, you just go with it. I'm doing a Z750E now but it will be mostly stock with a bikini fairing...

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