KZR's Bikes of the Month for 2024

we want to see your pictures, kz650 with 18" mags

More
28 Mar 2008 15:53 #202762 by rstnick
Replied by rstnick on topic we want to see your pictures, kz650 with 18

I think you will absolutely notice a handling improvement.


This is why I bought it.
I was talking to a mechanic at the Kawi dealer about tire sizes and handling, mainly the rear. I was asking if a 120 rear would handle better than the 130 I presently have. One person I know of went back to the 120 and personally liked it better. Ma Kaw engineers thought so as well.
The mechanic and I also talked about front tire possabilities.

Then the mechanic said something to the effect that if I wanted even better handling, find myself a '78 Z1R 18" front wheel. It's a dirrect swap as the brake rotors will just swap over from my 650. Off I go and find one.

The mechanic races 650/750s in Vintage Racing, so I figure he must know a little about handling.
I gave him one of my 650 motors, and he is building me a braced swingarm, stock length. Should be ready soon, I hope.

During my search though, another person mentioned Ma Kaw swiched the '80 Z1R to a 19" front wheel because of stability problems with the '78's 18" !!
Any truth to this issue?

Bad Kaw, have you had any issues that you know of with stability of the '78 Z1R.
I read where you said in another post about it having a squirrly feeling powering out of corners, or something like that?

Rob
CANADA

Need a key for your Kawasaki? PM me

1978 KZ650 C2, 130K kms, Delkevic ex, EI, CVK32, PMC easy clutch, ATK fork brace, steering damper, braced swingarm, ZRX shocks, 18" Z1R front wheel.
2000 ZRX1100
2011 Ninja 250R - Wife's
2005 z750s (aka GPz750)
1978 KZ1000 project

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
28 Mar 2008 19:40 #202810 by Locozuna
Replied by Locozuna on topic we want to see your pictures, kz650 with 18
I didn't build her my brother did but here she is with Lesters.

KZ900LTD, KZ750LTD, KZ650, 72'Triumph Trident
"Over the Mountains
Of the Moon,
Down the Valley of the Shadow,
Ride, boldly ride,"
The shade replied
"If you seek for Eldorado!"

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
29 Mar 2008 15:45 - 29 Mar 2008 15:49 #202953 by Bad Kaw
Replied by Bad Kaw on topic we want to see your pictures, kz650 with 18
rstnick wrote:

I think you will absolutely notice a handling improvement.

...During my search though, another person mentioned Ma Kaw swiched the '80 Z1R to a 19" front wheel because of stability problems with the '78's 18" !!
Any truth to this issue?

Bad Kaw, have you had any issues that you know of with stability of the '78 Z1R.
I read where you said in another post about it having a squirrly feeling powering out of corners, or something like that?



Yeah, I had two ’78 Z1Rs, both of them liked to dance around in the corners. The higher the speed of the corner, the worse it was. Neither of them were a problem in the slower corners. I don’t suspect the 18” front to be the problem so much as I suspect a confluence of several things:

> The 18” front wheel is admittedly narrow at 2.15 inches, so the contact patch is going to be relatively narrow (although not more narrow than the 19”).

> The frame is basically a Z-1 which was available in late 1972 (as a 1973 release)…and remember the “Project New York Steak” was ready to be released as a 750 when Honda released the very first CB750 (sohc) in ’69. So, in short, the frame is basically a design from the end of the 60s. :ohmy:

> The stock rear shocks were total crap and both my Z1Rs had ‘em. Most people don’t know that problems that they perceive to be ‘front end’ issues actually originated in a rear-end suspension problem: shocks, swing-arm bearings, rear wheel bearings, tire pressure, etc…:blink:

> The front fairing was mounted on the forks. The fairing is beautiful and made out of fiberglass…it’s heavy. The wind-force that the fairing deflects has to transfer the energy somewhere, in this case it’s the forks, not the frame. I am very suspect of the fairing b/c I have ridden several high performance Z1Rs and GPz(’81-‘82)/ELRs that exhibited similar weirdness in the handling...and all these bikes had frame-mounted fairings. In each case of a steering damper being added, the instability disappeared. With one particular ELR that I ‘test rode’ it would start to wobble in a straight line once you got above a certain speed (well into triple digits); that bike had an MTC big-block that pulled – obviously – very hard.

> Steering head bearings. Mine were abused, and stock...could have been a contributor, but: the performance Z1Rs/GPz/ELRs that I rode had brand new tapered-roller steering head bearings, yet still squirmed...but not after a steering damper was installed.

Sorry about the dissertation, but here is what I think: your application of the 18” wheel is going to yield benefits, period. I’ll be shocked if you have stability issues, but if you do the cure is a steering damper away. 18”s aren’t the problem, they’re only 1” radially shorter than the stock set up, and it’s not like that difference would send your rake-geometry into the low 20-degree range or anything. I think a lot of little things made both my Z1Rs ‘weird’…and I’ll be finding out this summer (hopefully) as I’m adding a 1260 motor to my ol’ stocker (if I get the head done in time...got a grand to spot me?;) ) and we all know that more power only makes suspension issues worse.:ohmy: I’ll be frame mounting an FRP fairing, adding inverted suspension, big swingarm, and wide 17”s (all off a ’91 FZR1000) to it.

I’m no Wile E Cyote, super genius; but I’ve seen several high performance Z1Rs (Japanese and Eurpean), they all had their fairings mounted to the frame, they all had steering dampers, some had inverted forks, all had either 17”s or 18”s. One was even a top speed record holder of some sort out of Japan. I think your 18” is only going to produce good results for you especially considering your particular application.
Keep posting and let us know what you think. I suspect you’re going to be pleased.

-KR

78 Kawasaki Z1R
81 Kawasaki KZ1000J (mods)
82 Kawasaki ELR Clone (1000 J)
82 Kawasaki KZ750R1/GPz750 ELR-ed
70 Kawasaki KV75
83 Honda CB1100F (few mods)
79 Suzuki GS1000 (rolling frame / project / junk)
84 Suzuki GS1150ES (modified project)
83 Yamaha XJ900R (project / junk)
Last edit: 29 Mar 2008 15:49 by Bad Kaw.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
29 Mar 2008 20:06 #203010 by rstnick
Replied by rstnick on topic we want to see your pictures, kz650 with 18

I am very suspect of the fairing b/c I have ridden several high performance Z1Rs and GPz(’81-‘82)/ELRs that exhibited similar weirdness in the handling...and all these bikes had frame-mounted fairings.


Do you not mean to say they had fork mounted fairings?

Rob
CANADA

Need a key for your Kawasaki? PM me

1978 KZ650 C2, 130K kms, Delkevic ex, EI, CVK32, PMC easy clutch, ATK fork brace, steering damper, braced swingarm, ZRX shocks, 18" Z1R front wheel.
2000 ZRX1100
2011 Ninja 250R - Wife's
2005 z750s (aka GPz750)
1978 KZ1000 project

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
29 Mar 2008 23:00 #203031 by Bad Kaw
Replied by Bad Kaw on topic we want to see your pictures, kz650 with 18
rstnick wrote:

I am very suspect of the fairing b/c I have ridden several high performance Z1Rs and GPz(’81-‘82)/ELRs that exhibited similar weirdness in the handling...and all these bikes had frame-mounted fairings.


Do you not mean to say they had fork mounted fairings?


Yes, I did. You caught me. Forgive me, I had to write that response twice; my 2yr old boy was practicing his 'take down' technique on his 3.5yr old sister and she gave him a little love right back...I need a black-and-white striped shirt and a whistle around this house! :silly:

-KR

78 Kawasaki Z1R
81 Kawasaki KZ1000J (mods)
82 Kawasaki ELR Clone (1000 J)
82 Kawasaki KZ750R1/GPz750 ELR-ed
70 Kawasaki KV75
83 Honda CB1100F (few mods)
79 Suzuki GS1000 (rolling frame / project / junk)
84 Suzuki GS1150ES (modified project)
83 Yamaha XJ900R (project / junk)

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
29 Mar 2008 23:06 #203032 by Bad Kaw
Replied by Bad Kaw on topic we want to see your pictures, kz650 with 18
BTW: one of the Z1Rs had a 1260 with n.o.s. and a 4.5" over arm. It stood straight up on me when I hit the button shifting into 3rd gear. The frame hadn't been raked (yet!) and when it came down the thing was going I-don't-know-how-fast and it went into a head-shaker that launched me out of the seat, I kept a hold of the bars and by the grace of God I landed back on the seat and just coasted thru the traps...soiled trou and all. :)
-KR
PS> That was a fun bike...off the juice.

78 Kawasaki Z1R
81 Kawasaki KZ1000J (mods)
82 Kawasaki ELR Clone (1000 J)
82 Kawasaki KZ750R1/GPz750 ELR-ed
70 Kawasaki KV75
83 Honda CB1100F (few mods)
79 Suzuki GS1000 (rolling frame / project / junk)
84 Suzuki GS1150ES (modified project)
83 Yamaha XJ900R (project / junk)

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
16 Feb 2010 19:22 - 16 Feb 2010 19:24 #348718 by rstnick
Replied by rstnick on topic we want to see your pictures, kz650 with 18
Finally getting around to swapping on the 18" Z1R front wheel onto my 650.



Got the rotors swapped over from my 19" wheel, the new tires (Bridgestone BT45s) are at my work. Just waiting on new tubes and Spring to take the first ride.
Pictures to come with the wheels installed...

18" on left, 19" on right:



With 19' front and some photoshop color change:



Rob
CANADA

Need a key for your Kawasaki? PM me

1978 KZ650 C2, 130K kms, Delkevic ex, EI, CVK32, PMC easy clutch, ATK fork brace, steering damper, braced swingarm, ZRX shocks, 18" Z1R front wheel.
2000 ZRX1100
2011 Ninja 250R - Wife's
2005 z750s (aka GPz750)
1978 KZ1000 project
Last edit: 16 Feb 2010 19:24 by rstnick.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
17 Feb 2010 06:34 #348763 by Bluemeanie
Replied by Bluemeanie on topic we want to see your pictures, kz650 with 18
krcrawford29 wrote:

Hi eslaterb, I might be interested in swapping. Do you know what the widest rear tire is we can fit on the 18" rim without having fitment issues?


Depending on tire brand, I believe a 130 is about as wide as you can go?


1980 KZ650F1, Bought new out the door for $2,162.98!

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
18 Feb 2010 23:59 #349129 by Dave Sloan
Replied by Dave Sloan on topic we want to see your pictures, kz650 with 18
Put on a 17" front






Z650B2 - Injected

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
07 Mar 2010 14:08 #351785 by rstnick
Replied by rstnick on topic we want to see your pictures, kz650 with 18
Got out for my first ride this season, with the 18" front on.
Roads are still sandy in places, and I have new tires on so I took it easy.
Felt good overall.
Got down to Lake Simcoe and saw some people still ice fishing:









.

Rob
CANADA

Need a key for your Kawasaki? PM me

1978 KZ650 C2, 130K kms, Delkevic ex, EI, CVK32, PMC easy clutch, ATK fork brace, steering damper, braced swingarm, ZRX shocks, 18" Z1R front wheel.
2000 ZRX1100
2011 Ninja 250R - Wife's
2005 z750s (aka GPz750)
1978 KZ1000 project

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
07 May 2010 20:40 #366343 by Bad Kaw
Replied by Bad Kaw on topic we want to see your pictures, kz650 with 18
Well as soon as it warms up I'll be very interested in your feedback on the 18".
-KR

78 Kawasaki Z1R
81 Kawasaki KZ1000J (mods)
82 Kawasaki ELR Clone (1000 J)
82 Kawasaki KZ750R1/GPz750 ELR-ed
70 Kawasaki KV75
83 Honda CB1100F (few mods)
79 Suzuki GS1000 (rolling frame / project / junk)
84 Suzuki GS1150ES (modified project)
83 Yamaha XJ900R (project / junk)

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
03 Jun 2010 19:14 #373243 by rstnick
Replied by rstnick on topic we want to see your pictures, kz650 with 18
It's been hot here lately.
Almost too hot to ride.

I have been out a fair bit though, and am loving the new tires and 18" wheels.
I was a bit concerned about reported wobbles with the 18" front wheel on Z1Rs (that's why they switched to 19" front on the '80 Z1R), but so far have not had any problems myself, and I have taken her up to high speeds.
Taking corners feels really good now. I can easily use my body to lean the bike over, but since my last rear tire was getting a little bit of a flat spot in the middle, having a new rounded profile sure makes handling feel different.


Early in the season:


Out at a local meet:



Rob
CANADA

Need a key for your Kawasaki? PM me

1978 KZ650 C2, 130K kms, Delkevic ex, EI, CVK32, PMC easy clutch, ATK fork brace, steering damper, braced swingarm, ZRX shocks, 18" Z1R front wheel.
2000 ZRX1100
2011 Ninja 250R - Wife's
2005 z750s (aka GPz750)
1978 KZ1000 project

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Powered by Kunena Forum

If you like KZR Please consider making a donation. Thank you.

KZRider is free, but not without cost.

Please consider chipping in a few bucks to help cover the cost of running the KZR servers.