Well the time has come!!!!
I broke her down and I’m starting to prep for paint. Theres a lot of work ahead, but the end is in site!! I can’t wait to go for a ride!!
’80 kz750 | where she stands
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Custom SeatCustom SuspensionCustom Swing ArmFabricationGas Tank ModificationHeadlight Bracketmono-shock conversionSeat PansubframeTurn SignalsWelding
This is where she’s at. I’m waiting on some brake seals, then I can start test riding!!!
80′ kz750 | update
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- I made a headlight bracket that also holds the speedo & tach, and made and attached some turn signal ears. Stoked on the way it turned out.
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- Top view of dash.
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- I wanted to keep the exhaust short. The bike came with this cool header, so I modified a silencer to fit inside the header, for some back preassure.
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- Here is a shot of the electronics compartment, with the seat on.
I’ve been busy trying to get this thing going. I’m almost there!!!! I’m just waiting on some brake seals, then a little test riding!!!
80 kz750 | subframe
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- Starting with the top hoop, I make my first bends.
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- I make both sides simultaneously, and along the way I look for symmetry more times than I can count.
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- I first assemble the top hoop off the frame. Then I weld it in as you see here.
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- So far so good. Everything is lining up and looking straight.
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- These are the slugs I made up to attach at the bottom of the frame.
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- Made out of solid stock, they weren’t easy to bend, but I got them looking pretty good.
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- I bent up the bottom supports, attaching them with the slugs I had made.
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- Top view.
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- Left side.
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- I am more than happy with the way the bottom struts turned out.
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- Looking good from all angles.
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- Right side.
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- Everything lined up amazingly!!!
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- I filled in the under-tray, and finished off the back of the subframe.
I was really stoked on the way the subframe turned out!!! The suspension turned out great! Now on to the wiring, and seat-pan.
’80 kz750 | mono-shock conversion
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- Let’s convert this fucker.
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- I started by cleaning up the swing arm. I cut off some tabs and took it down to bare metal.
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- I made a plate to reinforce the swing arm where I will be attaching the shock and the swing arm braces.
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- Reinforcement in place.
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- With the swing arm prepped, the old subframe had to go.
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- I figured out where the top shock mount needed be and tacked it in.
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- Since it was never intended to have a mono-shock. I wanted to make sure the swing arm legs were reinforced as well.
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- I bent up some 1″ tube, and welded into place.
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- Now for the bottom shock mount. I made a cradle where the shock will sit.
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- I added a piece of 1″ tube under the cradle to disburse the load more evenly.
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- Here’s another angle.
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- Originally there was one long bolt attaching the bottom of the shock. The new design would not allow that.
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- So, I turned out a piece that would make it possible to mount the bottom of the shock.
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- The new piece is threaded so I can run two shorter bolts instead of one long one.
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- It worked out great!!
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- The conversion is complete!
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- Left side.
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- Right side.
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- I still need to add some gussets to strengthen the top shock mount, but she is standing on her own. The suspension cycles nicely as well.
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- I added the gussets. Two to reinforce the main hoop.
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- And two to reinforce the top shock mount.
I knew I wanted to change the ride height, and I had a mono-shock lying around so, why not?
I like the way it came out! It cycles smooth and look cool as fuck!!