and now, the other bike, Project KZZXR...
- Thread starter Drewski
- Start date
guitargeek
Been Around the Block
WOW! That's entirely bitchin'!
Color me jealous, that's a mighty fine lookin' shop you got there... I have to do all my work in the dirt.
Color me jealous, that's a mighty fine lookin' shop you got there... I have to do all my work in the dirt.
guitargeek said:
I WISH that was my shop!! Much of the work on this one is beyond my capabilities! I have a buddy mechanic/machinist/fabricator that is doing most of the work on this one! I am providing the vision/parts/$
to make the project move along!I have a little shop space of my own with limited tools and equipment.
You guys amaze me with what you turn out of your garages! You should be proud!
Let me offer you some more background on me and my 'baby'! 
I've owned this bike since it was new in Sept. 1977. It's been a project since that very day! First the bars went for flat/drag bars. Then the carbs and pipe. Dual discs and other little mods came over the next couple of years.
In 1979-80 Rocket Motorcycle (Downsview, ON) raked the front end, laid down the rear shocks, braced the frame, fabricated rear-sets and installed a Bassani Superbike replica header. I'm sure there were some other things done at that time but they escape me at this time.
I road the bike for a couple of more seasons and then the 'End' came! My 2 sons were born and they became our priority for the next 22 years or so! I couldn't bring myself to sell the KZ though, so I dragged it from house to house as we moved all around S. Ontario and even to Saskatchewan and back! :-\
By 2006, university is done, one son was married and the other moved out west so... KZ Time!!
I've always been a Kawi Guy, so I decided that all parts added to the KZ would either be custom or genuine Kawasaki! Nothing against Suzuki, Yamaha or Honda... I just wanted to stick to the theme!
I lucked into a guy that was turning his '04 ZX10R into a track bike so I bought all his running gear off him. That's what you see on the front end. Forks, wheel, brakes and fender. The rear wheel was swapped for a ZX6R because the hub is a little narrower. This, along with an offset countershaft sprockett and some other shaving and shimming, allowed us to get the chain to pass by the tire a little easier!
The swingarm is a custom unit from JMC in England. It mates up to the stock frame and the ZX6R wheel and ZX10R brake caliper. Ohliins shocks 'fell into my lap' this winter to finish off the rear end!
That's generally what has been done. There's been a lot more detail work and parts aquired from all over the world! It's been amazing fun for me but I'm a little ashamed of how much money this has cost me! I coulda bought a newer sport bike for nearly the same money, but it wouldn't be the same! ;D
Like most projects, it probably won't ever be 'finished'! I'm always open to your ideas!
For those of you who've taken the time to read this, thanks! I hope to meet you in the spring at some of the regular 'Ton' gatherings in and around the GTA! It'll be fun!
I've owned this bike since it was new in Sept. 1977. It's been a project since that very day! First the bars went for flat/drag bars. Then the carbs and pipe. Dual discs and other little mods came over the next couple of years.
In 1979-80 Rocket Motorcycle (Downsview, ON) raked the front end, laid down the rear shocks, braced the frame, fabricated rear-sets and installed a Bassani Superbike replica header. I'm sure there were some other things done at that time but they escape me at this time.
I road the bike for a couple of more seasons and then the 'End' came! My 2 sons were born and they became our priority for the next 22 years or so! I couldn't bring myself to sell the KZ though, so I dragged it from house to house as we moved all around S. Ontario and even to Saskatchewan and back! :-\
By 2006, university is done, one son was married and the other moved out west so... KZ Time!!
I've always been a Kawi Guy, so I decided that all parts added to the KZ would either be custom or genuine Kawasaki! Nothing against Suzuki, Yamaha or Honda... I just wanted to stick to the theme!
I lucked into a guy that was turning his '04 ZX10R into a track bike so I bought all his running gear off him. That's what you see on the front end. Forks, wheel, brakes and fender. The rear wheel was swapped for a ZX6R because the hub is a little narrower. This, along with an offset countershaft sprockett and some other shaving and shimming, allowed us to get the chain to pass by the tire a little easier!
The swingarm is a custom unit from JMC in England. It mates up to the stock frame and the ZX6R wheel and ZX10R brake caliper. Ohliins shocks 'fell into my lap' this winter to finish off the rear end!
That's generally what has been done. There's been a lot more detail work and parts aquired from all over the world! It's been amazing fun for me but I'm a little ashamed of how much money this has cost me! I coulda bought a newer sport bike for nearly the same money, but it wouldn't be the same! ;D
Like most projects, it probably won't ever be 'finished'! I'm always open to your ideas!
For those of you who've taken the time to read this, thanks! I hope to meet you in the spring at some of the regular 'Ton' gatherings in and around the GTA! It'll be fun!
Extremely nice job
HerrDeacon
Over 1,000 Posts
Beautiful bike Drewski. I like how, even though there are parts from different bikes and different eras, you tied them all together nicely. Nice work on the tank, be sure to post a pic when it's finished, painted and on the bike.
valvesprung
Over 1,000 Posts
Oh yummy...
chrisf said:
Chris-
This may be obvious, (my boys say I'm the 'master of the obvious'!) but the tank was sculpted that way to give me the necessary fork tube clearance to get a reasonable lock to lock turning circle. It's still not great but it'll have to do!
The inserts were hammered out of steel to replicate the upper fork tube and then the tank was cut to accept the inserts. The inserts were then welded into place. There was some more hammering done at the junction of the bottom edge of the tank and the inserts to smooth things and get the maximum clearance available.
I hope that helps! Good luck!
I've got a couple of pics of the finished tank that I'll post as soon as I can.
Drewski
HerrDeacon
Over 1,000 Posts
Wouldn't it have been easier if you just kept moving the handlebars back and forth to make the dents? Would have saved you a lot of work ;D
S
Scarcat
Guest
HerrDeacon said:Wouldn't it have been easier if you just kept moving the handlebars back and forth to make the dents? Would have saved you a lot of work ;D
maybe one good solid hit with a baseball bat would be easier. ;D
HerrDeacon said:Wouldn't it have been easier if you just kept moving the handlebars back and forth to make the dents? Would have saved you a lot of work ;D
That's exactly what my buddy said when I showed it to him!
Might be a little hard on the forks though! :-\