Rob K from Denver - KZ racer

[RobK]

Hi,

Just found the site. Currently in the early stages of building a racer out of a '78 KZ400.

The bike was rat racer'ed, and had also been down but the damage is minimal. Picked it up for $350, running, but hardly perfect.

Looking to old race bikes as much as old cafe's for inspiration. Its Japanese after all. When I find that old featherbed frame, I'll start on the Triton.

So far I've swapped out the tail-light (and set it into the tail section), dumped the old rear fender, slowed down the vicious oil leak from the clutch pushrod, put some decent tires on there, and have started cleaning the thing up.

Clipons are on order and I think I've got a good plan for a tail chop and single-seat configuration. Rearsets are also in the works. Front fender is in process, (the first time riding in the rain proved that they do serve a purpose) Once the snows come, I'll break her down, rebuild the engine and give everything a nice fresh coat of black gloss. Can't decide if I want to stay with red for trim or go over to gold.

 

[VonYinzer]

Nice man! MORE PICS!

 

[RobK]

OK - more pics

this was the bike when I first got it.

Notice all the slime on the exhaust. This thing was pouring oil.

The exhausts were also chopped, which sound great, but are very loud. I've put cocktail shaker tops on since, but I miss the growl.

The bike had bent drag bars when I got it and the mirrors and directional indicators had been removed. I've added a bar-end mirror, but going with hand signals for the minute.

The thing that's occupying a lot of my thinking right not is how to mount the rearsets. The place that seems most natural is to mount them right in the middle of the triangle. Hoping to find an easy/elegant solution to figuring out how to attached them to the frame.

 

[RobK]

more pics.

The last one shows the cocktail shakers.

 

[rawfish]

Welcome! Good to see someone else from Colorado.

 

[RobK]

Thanks - it's a great site - lots of good stuff. Do you do the first Thursday event at the 404? I just recently saw the ad on CL and was planning on going to next month's event.

 

[beater]

interesting - in denver as well, and just begun the tear-down / build on a kz400. I can form sheet copper/steel and the like if you need.

On the rear sets, I think I am going to take some from a fzr600, weld in a bracket in the bottom front of the triangle and go from there. I have seen people use the passenger pegs, but leans a lot of weight on the bars when on the bike.

pm for contact information

john