76 KZ400 Kawasaki Hardtail build

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.

 

cool kill

 

dang, this is one sweet build

 

VERY nice! I love the tank and the tires!

 

I got my tires mounted up. Defidently a unique look.

 

you're right, it aint no cookie cutter bike

 

Unigue - yes.... BADASS - HELL YES!

I love the tires... they look great.

 

Awesome rubbers indeed. Looks like its gonna be a lot of fun.

 

My seat mounts are all tacked together, I plan on burning the front on tonight. Im going to wait on the final position of the rear mount till I get my fender. I bought some sissor style 3.5" springs last night also. the 2" ones I had were not tall enough. I bought a 5" wide Peak fender. I found a picture from somewhere else but this is what it will be similar too.

 

Update? I have to admit, your progress on these builds makes me a bit jealous. You married? Have kids? Wait, don't answer that--the answer won't help me no matter what it is, lol. Keep up the good work.

 

My favorite part of the build is the Hodaka tank! Spent lots of hours riding Hodakas!

You know from working with it how tough that tank is. My POS ex brother in law has one from his Super Rat hanging in his workshop. The interesting part of the tank is that his nut prints are in the tank from when he hit a tree, the bike stopped, and he didn't. Two nice dents right where the tank starts to slope down in back. Couldn't have happened to a more deserving guy!!! He went on to father three kids so I guess the tanks are not as tough as they look. Wish I'd been there when it happened!

Loren