First Post - '77 Kawasaki KZ650

[TheTentacle]

Hey guys,

First time poster, long-time lurker out of Toronto.

I just picked up my first bike, a '77 Kawi KZ650, with the intention of creating a custom brat build out of it. The engine is in surprisingly good condition - it'll just need a carb cleaning to fix a minor issue and it's good to go. Over the next few months I'd like to start working on cosmetics. My current wishlist reads:

SHORT TERM
- brat seat (I want to keep it a 2-seater)
- update signals
- front and rear fender bob
- bar-end mirrors

LONG TERM
- update rearsets
- update/lengthen swingarm
- update rear shocks
- firestones with spoke rims
- tweak or replace front forks/suspension (really soft right now)

So, what do you guys think? What would you do with it?

Ben

 

[madd750]

I'm sure what i would do exactly, but you have a great bike to start with. It looks to be in great shape!

 

[diggerdanh]

Wow, I love it just like that. Great looking bike.

 

[TheTentacle]

It is! I'm counting down the days until it's warm enough to drive up here. Nice job on the Honda, by the way, looks mean!

 

[jdizon]

If it was my bike I would stylize it like this.

 

[TheTentacle]

Ohhyeah. You're bang-on with that one. I'd feel wrong changing out/beating up a perfectly good tank, but it looks killer. Any idea where I could find a seat like that, or do you think that's a custom job?

 

[jdizon]

Brat seat. You can buy those at dime city cycles. You can buy just the pan or complete seat

http://www.dimecitycycles.com/vintage-brat-style-chassis-seat-parts-dcc-originals-large-cc-seat-dcc-lccbrat.html

http://www.dimecitycycles.com/vintage-brat-style-chassis-seat-parts-ribbed-black-leather-wrapped-dcc-originals-large-cc-seat-dcc-bratlcc-r.html

 

[williamjonathan]

I am kinda in the same place as you are, I bought mine a few months ago and, i am looking to do the same things.

 

[TheTentacle]

Cool! Have you started collecting parts yet?

 

[sbruton]

Looking forward to seeing your progress!

I'm working on my second 78 KZ650B now, but progress is very slow. I have a pic of that KZ Brat on my cell phone as inspiration

Good luck!

 

[williamjonathan]

already switched the started plugs, had the seal around the petcog deteriorate, so I am going to pull that tank and then try to fix it up. I have a 4-1 exhaust, have wrap for it, but haven't wrapped them. New filters for the carbs, but it has been sitting since the seal went on me so I am thinking that I am going to need to deep clean them, or just rebuild them... I think i am going to order club bars this week... I have the rear seat cal, but not using it, going brat.

Any tips? On any of these things....