76 KZ400 Kawasaki Hardtail build

I recently sold my XJ650 bobber that I built. I picked this new bike up for a $100 not running.





So far I replaced the Points, condenser, coils, wires and plugs. I have a nice fat blue spark. The carbs are in pretty rough shape so Im replacing the twin carb setup with a single CR125 carb. Its a 36mm PJ Keihin carb.

I started stripping the bike down getting it ready to cut the back end off.



I also bought a tank for this project. 70's Hodaka Chrome tank. I really like the style and a chrome tank is different.

 

Stripped the frame down and started trimming off parts of the frame. Hopefully I will be putting the hardtail on this weekend.



Last night I started thinning out the harness. This bike will be similar to my XJ as it only have a headlight and taillight. The KZ is kickstart only so it is fairly simple.

Im going different with the tires on this build. Pirelli MT43's. DOT rated for speeds to 93mph. which is handy cause my bike tops out at 90mph stock in 76.



Heres how they look a different bike.

 

I like it!

 

nice start... where did you get the tank?

 

I bought the tank off ebay. It was more expensive then I wanted at $280, but it is mint and unique, so I bought it anyways.

 

WOW! I'm hoping to get one more in the $50-$75 price range I want something that resembles a sporty only bigger. I don't know what to get

 

It's off the topic, but what is the other bike you pictured with those tires?

 

Im not sure. Its some sort of twin cylinder Kawasaki

 

It's not an XJ, but it is a total thing of beauty.

 

The other bike is a KZ750 twin (Kawasaki).

If you are going to put big fat rubber on the front, you will want a wider rim to accommodate it. Otherwise your bike will handle like sh#t and if you go TOO wide you can be in danger of rolling the tyre off the rim in corners.

 

No turning back now.





I havent started putting the new tubes in yet but I did start by lining up the rear axle plates. I tacked a piece of 1/4 to the inside of the stock swingarm so that my new axle plates keep the same inner distance.

 

My bike has wide wheels front and back. They are the same wheel actually.

 

What welder is that in the background that you're using. I need one and have been scouring CL for a used one. I think I'll hit up some pawn shops on Monday or Tuesday

 

Thats a Lincoln 175 (220v). I use Mig wire with a Argon/CO2 mix gas.

 

Looking good

 

My copper Dual carb to single carb manifold came in today.

 

that engine sure is a looker.



but i really like where you're going- do work son!

 

Where did you pick up the dual to single carb dealio? That is SWEET!

 

http://www.billetproofcustoms.com made it for me.

Im going to soda blast the motor so it should clean up some.

 

hhhhmmmmm $80 for the 2 into 1. I wonder how much he would charge for 4 into 1? I think I'll go the PVC route maybe. Won't look nearly as cool though.

 

Im on a tight time schedule and I dont have a brazing setup or else I would have made it my self. but the 80 was worth not having to mess with it.

 

I agree.... If he would hook me up for $80 I would jump at it as well, but I doubt he would do mine for that.

 

Im not sure how well a 4-1 manifold would work. Maybe a 4-2 would work better?

 

I don't know. I might attempt to stick with the stock air box if at all possible.

 

Ordered my seat today. Went with a plain black hi-back single seat.

 

ooooohhhh....I like that. Where did you get it and how much was it?

 

ordered from Tcbrothers choppers. Tcbroschoppers.com. It was 119 but I bought their front and rear mounts also. it ended up at around 215 shipped.

 

wow....the pics on their website don't do it justice then. I picked up one from a guy on thechopperunderground.com for like $40 shipped. The guy I bought the XJ off of works at an upholstry place and is recovering it for me for free. that's with the springs and all.... can't wait to get it.

 

119 isnt to bad, the seat on my last bike was about $180 shipped.

 

Psssst, you don't need a brazing torch to do that, it's only solder, a
BernzOmatic would work fine

 

what's that sharp bike in the backround?

 

Im not sure thats the picture I grabbed off their website.

 

Welded some gussets on the lower bars and notched my crossbars, Im going to wait till my seat comes in before I weld those in.

 

I ordered the Pirelli MT43 tires and a set of tubes today. They are scheduled to arrive next week, my tank should be here tomorrow.

 

Tank came in. Its a tad bit longer then I thought but Ill deal with it. My seat came today also.

 

lookin' good - what are you going to do with the rusty forks and spokes?

 

I just bought a set of NOS inner fork tubes on ebay for 25 dollars. The wheels are going to get painted black, so I will wire wheel or sand them down.

 

could someone explain why you do all this work and change a good looking bike to this? I don't understand... I am not being rude I just really don't understand...
thanks.

 

Oh boy

 

oh boy what?
that doesn't explain anything. I don't understand why you would take a nice bike and make it look like that.
can anyone explain?

 

Im not sure what pictures you were looking at but what nice bike? but in all honesty Ill explain. Stock anything sucks. If I own it and it has a motor and wheels Im going to modify it. I like unique, fun toys. From the factory a KZ400 is boring. It was made to be a commuter bike and get good gas mileage.

 

thank you. that i can understand. it wasn't any specific picture, it was just the "bobbing" in general.
I saw a guy who had a vintage 82 Seca that was perfect with only 9k miles on it. and he was going to "bob" it. I cringed at the thought of hacking that beautiful bike up. but to each his own.
thanks for the response.

 

I rolled it outside for some mock up pics of the tank and seat.

 

I started on the tank mounts. The rear mount is all tacked together. I hope to finish that and get the front done today. Then I can move on to my seat mounts.

 

Tank is mounted.

 

I'll second that....

Toreadorranger, looking very speedway bikeish, i like. WD

 

Looks like it's coming along nice man. Keep up the good work bro.

Narftroz,
Basically bikes are an individual taste thing. I prefer to have my stuff be pretty near stock, but I do enjoy the look of some of the bobber builds I've seen on here. It's all about putting your own touch on something to truly make it yours, whether you are going to bob it out or put a custom paint job on a stock set up, it makes it yours.

 

Tires came today.

 

I dropped my wheels and tires off today to get mounted. Local shop will do both for $15 each so it saves me the trouble.

A company I used to work for in VT, Lebanon Screw Products (lsp-vt.com) makes some nice stuff for circle track guys so I called them up and had them send me a billet anodized killswitch they make. Not that I hope to test it but they havent had a single switch fail yet even after a crash.