Kawasaki 2 Stroke "Mongrel"

[Drewski]

Re: Kawasaki H2/FZ Cafe Back from the Dead?!

so drewski... what's happening with the tracy bodied bike? you using the body or something else? sold the bike?

Haha! Well, this IS the Tracy bike! I decided to go in another direction because once I fitted the FZ swinger and wheel on the frame, the Tracy looked too long! The wheebase has been shortened about 2.5 inches, and the tail of the body hung out way beyond the rear wheel. I still have the Tracy, and who knows what may come of that!! Maybe I'll chop it up to make it shorter!!

I still harbour a desire to "do something" with the Tracy, but it won't be in the near future!

The plan is to move the stock tail about 8 to 10 inches closer to the tank. Then shorten a stock seat pan, making a solo seat. I've got the pan now, so it's time to get at it while I wait for my pipes!!! ;D

 

[perattzi]

Re: Kawasaki H2/FZ Cafe Back from the Dead?!

Man looking great! Have you updated the steering head bearings to the tapered roller type? would be a good idea...they can bear much more load than cup and ball bearings. Also, I would be thinking of bracing/gusseting that frame after the addition of modern running gear and tires that actually grip. Just like on my KZ build...these mods are going to be stressing our flexy frames far beyond what they under-designed to do! Here are some ways many people make their Z1 frames stronger. Same ideas apply...especially to the notorious KH models I am in the process of figuring out what to do with mine...KZrider.com has a ton of great threads...which I'm sure you already know.

 

[isolato]

Re: Kawasaki H2/FZ Cafe Back from the Dead?!

Haha! Well, this IS the Tracy bike! I decided to go in another direction because once I fitted the FZ swinger and wheel on the frame, the Tracy looked too long! The wheebase has been shortened about 2.5 inches, and the tail of the body hung out way beyond the rear wheel. I still have the Tracy, and who knows what may come of that!! Maybe I'll chop it up to make it shorter!!

I still harbour a desire to "do something" with the Tracy, but it won't be in the near future!

The plan is to move the stock tail about 8 to 10 inches closer to the tank. Then shorten a stock seat pan, making a solo seat. I've got the pan now, so it's time to get at it while I wait for my pipes!!! ;D

I guess I lost track of it in the thread. that thing will be awesome and not suitable for the big old tracy. just want to stay abreast of the tracy. I seem to have aquired an afliction...er.. affection for 'em. yours is one of the best paint schemes I've seen. and there aren't many to be seen.

 

[Drewski]

Re: Kawasaki H2/FZ Cafe Back from the Dead?!

Man looking great! Have you updated the steering head bearings to the tapered roller type? would be a good idea...they can bear much more load than cup and ball bearings. Also, I would be thinking of bracing/gusseting that frame after the addition of modern running gear and tires that actually grip. Just like on my KZ build...these mods are going to be stressing our flexy frames far beyond what they under-designed to do! Here are some ways many people make their Z1 frames stronger. Same ideas apply...especially to the notorious KH models I am in the process of figuring out what to do with mine...KZrider.com has a ton of great threads...which I'm sure you already know.

Ya, that's great info! The head bearings have been done! The KZ in my Avatar has had the whole "treatment"!! It handles great!! ;D

We're gonna do much the same with the H2 for sure! The biggest single issue is at the swingarm pivot. Get that solid and you're well on your way to improving the handling. I know guys who road race 'em with very little bracing. 8)

Can't wait to try it out! ;D

 

[perattzi]

Re: Kawasaki H2/FZ Cafe Back from the Dead?!

Awesome, I forgot about the ZED you built! Do you have a picture of how you braced the frame? Mine is going to be a twin shock as well like yours. When it came time to lining up your sprockets did you mill the rear wheel down to bring the sprocket in? And if so, did you mill the inside cush drive or the outside where the sprocket mounts? details...details...

 

[Drewski]

Re: Kawasaki H2/FZ Cafe Back from the Dead?!

Awesome, I forgot about the ZED you built! Do you have a picture of how you braced the frame? Mine is going to be a twin shock as well like yours. When it came time to lining up your sprockets did you mill the rear wheel down to bring the sprocket in? And if so, did you mill the inside cush drive or the outside where the sprocket mounts? details...details...

Ya, details, details....

I know what you mean!

We were intending to use ZX10R running gear all around but realized we could gain a little space with a ZX6R wheel on the back. If memory serves me correctly, we might have shaved a little off the sprocket mount, but not much more than that. The other mod was the 5/8" offset countershaft sprocket. That allowed us to just barely pass the chain by the frame and tire and line up with the rear sprocket!!

When you're mating old and new, don't forget to consider that the sprockets at both ends need to match (520, 530, etc.). I forgot that detail!! I had to re-order my offset sprocket to match the rear!!

Have fun with it!! 8)

 

[chrisf]

Re: Kawasaki H2/FZ Cafe Back from the Dead?!

Great. I thought I built my last bike. Now I want to do a kawi triple excatly like the greet one above

--Chris

 

[Drewski]

Re: Kawasaki H2/FZ Cafe Back from the Dead?!

Great. I thought I built my last bike. Now I want to do a kawi triple excatly like the greet one above

--Chris

Chris, I'd LOVE to see YOU build a Triple!! Oh baby, that'd be a cool build! 8) 8)

Do it YOUR way!! But, DO IT!! ;D ;D ;D

 

[Drewski]

Re: Kawasaki H2/FZ Cafe Back from the Dead?!



O'k, just a minor update on the project. ;D

I'm still waiting for my exhaust and swing arm to return from the fab shop. In the meantime, I've sold my other H2 and decided to "mix and match" the body work from the "original" H2 with some spare bits I have. I kinda like the Green and Flat Black combo.

I've still got to find the time to hack off some more of the rear frame and get serious about the tail/seat mods!

There's so much more to be done! I don't know if it'll be rollin' this season!

 

[manchestermichael]

Re: Kawasaki H2/FZ Cafe Back from the Dead?!

thats going to be killer 2 stroke power

 

[kawarider]

Re: Kawasaki H2/FZ Cafe Back from the Dead?!

Man that looks fantastic. Great work!!!

 

[Drewski]

Re: Kawasaki H2/FZ Cafe Back from the Dead?!

Thanks!!

The progress is slow but worth it! It's gonna be fun to get it finished, but it may not hit the road this summer. I'll definately get it running when I get my new pipes though!! I can't wait to hear it!! ;D ;D ;D

 

[monteboy84]

Re: Kawasaki H2/FZ Cafe Back from the Dead?!

That's freakin wild, I love the color combo. Should be a "shit-your-pants-fast" ride when you're done.

-matt

 

[Drewski]

Re: Kawasaki H2/FZ Cafe Back from the Dead?!

That's freakin wild, I love the color combo. Should be a "shit-your-pants-fast" ride when you're done.

-matt

Well I hope so!!

 

[Drewski]

Re: Kawasaki H2/FZ Cafe Back from the Dead?!


I've got a couple more details for the H2.

I snagged a pretty good deal on some NOS rear sets.

It's gonna take some fussing to make 'em work, but I've got nothin' but time!


I've gotta make sure the kick start lever clears the foot peg 'cause they don't fold up like the stockers do!





I found some retro type gauges too. I think they'll work nicely! 8)

It's gonna be tricky to work the clutch and hold them with my left hand!

I picked up some aluminum to fab up a bracket to hold the gauges and the ignition switch.

 

[anarki650]

Re: Kawasaki H2/FZ Cafe Back from the Dead?!

If that triple tree is anything like the one on my kz650 you should be able to bolt the gauges underneath those mounts and have them tuck up nice and tight. I just got some stainless washers that were the right size to just fit over the openings and used acorn nuts on carriage bolts to bolt my gauges up.

 

[Drewski]

Re: Kawasaki H2/FZ Cafe Back from the Dead?!

Ya, that looks sweet!! Hey, is that your ignition switch in the headlight shell?? THAT'S cool!!

I've been taking a quick look at it and I think that would work alright. I might just try my hand at fabing up an alum dash/bracket so I can incorporate the iggy switch too.

We'll see! The more I look at that switch, the more I like it! 8)

 

[Swagger]

Re: Kawasaki H2/FZ Cafe Back from the Dead?!

I've got a couple more details for the H2.

I snagged a pretty good deal on some NOS rear sets.

It's gonna take some fussing to make 'em work, but I've got nothin' but time!


I've gotta make sure the kick start lever clears the foot peg 'cause they don't fold up like the stockers do!





I found some retro type gauges too. I think they'll work nicely! 8)

It's gonna be tricky to work the clutch and hold them with my left hand!

I picked up some aluminum to fab up a bracket to hold the gauges and the ignition switch.

NOS from what? A GP bike? Those looks fantastic!
No really....where are they from? heh

 

[anarki650]

Re: Kawasaki H2/FZ Cafe Back from the Dead?!

Ya, that looks sweet!! Hey, is that your ignition switch in the headlight shell?? THAT'S cool!!

I've been taking a quick look at it and I think that would work alright. I might just try my hand at fabing up an alum dash/bracket so I can incorporate the iggy switch too.

We'll see! The more I look at that switch, the more I like it! 8)

Hey thanks!! And yeah, I'm using a 70 something honda 550 bucket that I flipped upside down, filled the holes that were in the bottom, smoothed it all out and then tapped my key switch and a single LED indicator (oil pressure) into the top of the bucket. Worked out pretty slick if I do say so myself.

 

[Drewski]

Re: Kawasaki H2/FZ Cafe Back from the Dead?!

Hey thanks!! And yeah, I'm using a 70 something honda 550 bucket that I flipped upside down, filled the holes that were in the bottom, smoothed it all out and then tapped my key switch and a single LED indicator (oil pressure) into the top of the bucket. Worked out pretty slick if I do say so myself.

Slick is right!! I'm gonna try to do the same thing tonight on my headlight shell! Wish me luck!! ;D ;D