Kawasaki Amen Savior

[Streetfighterkz]

Like I stated in my Kz650 build thread on her, I need to delete eBay and Craig’s List off my phone.

Saw this Amen Savior frame for a Z1/Kz900 engine on eBay a week or so ago. After much internal debate and back and forth communication with the seller, I made an offer. The bike was 500 miles away so I found a shipper and had it delivered today.

It’s definitely seen better days, but not too shabby. I’ll probably start on it after the 650 is finished.

Later, Doug

 

[Rider52]

Good find. The KZ AMEN frames are pretty rare. We were a stocking AMEN products dealer in the early 70s. We sold a lot of bare frames and a few complete AMEN framed bikes but never a Z1 frame. I've seen very few over the years.

 

[doc_rot]

Cool. following along.

 

[Streetfighterkz]

Choppers aren’t really my thing but I have a left over ‘76 900 engine that’s been in my way for too long that made my decision a bit easier. Not sure what direction to go once I get to work on it. Old school style with a coffin tank or a Frisco mounted peanut tank…or…. I’ll have to do some research as all my resto-mod builds come easily to me when designing them in my head but a chopper; not so much.

Later, Doug

 

[Rider52]

AMEN frames are solid foundations. Most of the stock parts can be used on them. I have built bikes with a stock length fork but cornering clearance may be problem depending on the exhaust system. A 2-4" fork extension handles pretty good and gets rid of the exhaust clearance issues.

 

[Streetfighterkz]

Thanks for the input Rider52. I took a measurement of the fork’s OAL compared to that of a set of Kz650 forks I have; tubes appear to be +8” give or take a bit. The frame’s seen better days but is solid. Looks to have had a springer style seat at some point, a different tank, and there are a few other extra holes in the frame that don’t look they belong. I haven’t checked, but is all the hardware metric on these?

Any other input would be great!

Thanks.

Later, Doug

 

[Rider52]

All the hardware should be metric but after 40 years I wouldn't be surprised to retapped SAE holes. The builder's back in those days didn't use threaded bungs very often. A simple hole tapped to 1/4 x 20 was the norm for tank mounting. I weld up all the holes and try to start from scratch with newer backyard engineering.

 

[Streetfighterkz]

I weld up all the holes and try to start from scratch with newer backyard engineering.

Yup. I was already planning that! Thanks!

Later, Doug