Just picked up a used xs750 for 500 bucks, looking forward to transforming it into a cafe racer...the PO already did a bit towards that goal, it has clipons and a seat cowl. Also got a box full of parts, a spare tank, lower forks, and a front fender. One interesting thing about it is the frame is from a Kawasaki KZ750 (1981). I'll most likely have some questions about the build soon, (wiring tail light, painting, attaching the seat cowl, etc.) and I'll post pictures of where it stands now when its light outside. Seems like a good forum, hopefully you'll all enjoy the build!
New XS750 (Triple) Project **UPDATE 3/29/11 with pictures!**
- Thread starter ldordai
- Start date
Juggernaut
Been Around the Block
Re: New XS750 (Triple) Project
I also have an xs750 and this place has been great inspiration. I definitely need to see pic regarding the frame b/c that doesn't make any sense. Maybe it was registered as that but having a drive shaft rear end i wonder if the swing arms was modified to fit it. If you need any help I've learned quite a bit in the last 6 months and am doing a total cafe transformation. I'll probably swap to an over bored engine next season.
I also have an xs750 and this place has been great inspiration. I definitely need to see pic regarding the frame b/c that doesn't make any sense. Maybe it was registered as that but having a drive shaft rear end i wonder if the swing arms was modified to fit it. If you need any help I've learned quite a bit in the last 6 months and am doing a total cafe transformation. I'll probably swap to an over bored engine next season.
treitz
Over 1,000 Posts
Re: New XS750 (Triple) Project
Sounds interesting. What does the title say it is? Here (Idaho) bikes are titles under the Vin on the frame, so it would be considered a kz not a xs.
My buddy just finished a xs650, so I will relay any questions you have to him. He has been a huge help in my build.
Sounds interesting. What does the title say it is? Here (Idaho) bikes are titles under the Vin on the frame, so it would be considered a kz not a xs.
My buddy just finished a xs650, so I will relay any questions you have to him. He has been a huge help in my build.
).Re: New XS750 (Triple) Project
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/3011/img0457or.jpg
http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/4336/img0458mg.jpg
http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/816/img0459q.jpg
http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/6150/img0460mi.jpg
Best pictures I could get, I'll try to snap some more today. Don't worry, the paint job on the tank will be changed. Unfortunately we were both idiots and swapped the lines for the petcocks (hooked vaccum up to fuel and vice versa) so it looks like we'll be opening up the engine sooner than expected.
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/3011/img0457or.jpg
http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/4336/img0458mg.jpg
http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/816/img0459q.jpg
http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/6150/img0460mi.jpg
Best pictures I could get, I'll try to snap some more today. Don't worry, the paint job on the tank will be changed. Unfortunately we were both idiots and swapped the lines for the petcocks (hooked vaccum up to fuel and vice versa) so it looks like we'll be opening up the engine sooner than expected.
Juggernaut
Been Around the Block
Re: New XS750 (Triple) Project
Strange. The frame looks very similar.
Strange. The frame looks very similar.
Re: New XS750 (Triple) Project
First off, thanks for all the advice and comments, they've helped a lot.
Brief update, engine is out, beginning the teardown process to repaint/polish/etc. One thing, I don't have a cam chain breaker, so i can't remove the cylinder heads to get at the pistons/etc. I'm trying to do this on a budget, and spending 50-60 bucks on a tool I'm only going to use once seems a little pointless. I found this one online for about 20 bucks: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370284269347 . I am a bike mechanic and have a chain tool for bicycles, but the cam chain seems to be a bit smaller than a bike chain. Any help/tips would be greatly appreciated. If anyone in the north nj/nyc area has this particular tool, I'll buy ya a couple beers if you let me use it!
First off, thanks for all the advice and comments, they've helped a lot.
Brief update, engine is out, beginning the teardown process to repaint/polish/etc. One thing, I don't have a cam chain breaker, so i can't remove the cylinder heads to get at the pistons/etc. I'm trying to do this on a budget, and spending 50-60 bucks on a tool I'm only going to use once seems a little pointless. I found this one online for about 20 bucks: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370284269347 . I am a bike mechanic and have a chain tool for bicycles, but the cam chain seems to be a bit smaller than a bike chain. Any help/tips would be greatly appreciated. If anyone in the north nj/nyc area has this particular tool, I'll buy ya a couple beers if you let me use it!
Re: New XS750 (Triple) Project
Sounds like a wierd request, i know, but would anyone with an xs750 mind taking a picture of their gas tank fixing bolt area? I have a feeling that my frame is a special frame and the tank is from the standard bike, so the two arent matching up.
Sounds like a wierd request, i know, but would anyone with an xs750 mind taking a picture of their gas tank fixing bolt area? I have a feeling that my frame is a special frame and the tank is from the standard bike, so the two arent matching up.
Re: New XS750 (Triple) Project
Right, and the tank is from a standard. I like the shape/size of the standard tank much more, know of any easy modification to the frame/tank that would make it fit? I'm thinking of just fabbing a bracket from metal that will reach the existing bolt hole in the frame and welding it on the tank (after cutting off the old bracket of course)
Also, the engines are the same between the special and standard right? So if I order a new cam chain, itll fit whether the engine is from a special or standard?
Yet one more thing hah...any way of telling what year the engine was made? Seller told me it was a 1979, but i'm not 100% sure.
Right, and the tank is from a standard. I like the shape/size of the standard tank much more, know of any easy modification to the frame/tank that would make it fit? I'm thinking of just fabbing a bracket from metal that will reach the existing bolt hole in the frame and welding it on the tank (after cutting off the old bracket of course)
Also, the engines are the same between the special and standard right? So if I order a new cam chain, itll fit whether the engine is from a special or standard?
Yet one more thing hah...any way of telling what year the engine was made? Seller told me it was a 1979, but i'm not 100% sure.
Re: New XS750 (Triple) Project
That is definitly a xs750 special frame with the standard tank.. it has the rear tank mount but the post was chopped off already and it also has the special forks(the axle is infront of the lower tubes isntead of inline).. the special forks do have the better brake calipers.. even though they have a wierd pivoting design instead of sliding the pads are larger then the standard front brake pads(the standard used calipers that were pretty much identical to the rear caliper)
this is how i put my standard tank onto my special frame(you will see i have a OEM wire tie going through where the post was originally welded to)
That is definitly a xs750 special frame with the standard tank.. it has the rear tank mount but the post was chopped off already and it also has the special forks(the axle is infront of the lower tubes isntead of inline).. the special forks do have the better brake calipers.. even though they have a wierd pivoting design instead of sliding the pads are larger then the standard front brake pads(the standard used calipers that were pretty much identical to the rear caliper)
this is how i put my standard tank onto my special frame(you will see i have a OEM wire tie going through where the post was originally welded to)
