Kz440 track day?

So what would it take? I went on a ride yesterday.. Everything felt spongy.. Not sure where the flex was coming from.. Just very different than my rocket.

Rearsets needed because I can't throw my weight around with my legs out front..

And maybe a bigger pilot jet.. Seems to stutter at low rpm, then after3/4 she pulls pretty consistently..

Throw up a pic.
my guess, not knowing these bikes, would be that everything is flexing .lol
thin forktubes, thin swing arm, and then thin frame.
just tune up the forks and springs, raise the pegs then rider her.
have fun and upgrade as u go, or search out a dedicated track bike that suites your needs for next season. i picked a 01 cbr600 for my track bike.

mark1122 wrote: Throw up a pic.
my guess, not knowing these bikes, would be that everything is flexing .lol
thin forktubes, thin swing arm, and then thin frame.
just tune up the forks and springs, raise the pegs then rider her.
have fun and upgrade as u go, or search out a dedicated track bike that suites your needs for next season. i picked a 01 cbr600 for my track bike.

I Ve got a dedicated track bike.(2005 Kawi 636) I think that's what spoiled me..

I was thinking tarrozi(sp?) rear sets.. They make a bunch of bolt on sets but of course none for the 440..

I still can't believe how much feedback there is.. It's good but just a whole new skill set.. I can't be the first person to want to play with a 440??

Ps. My other baby:)

As the 440 sits now

since no 1 makes peg, that leaves the slate wide open. buy anything u can find cheap and make them fit.
ebay has some cheap rearsets from china.
it will be harder to find a fork brace. Leon can reinforce the swing arm for u.
.

go watch any AHRMA or WERA vintage race and youll see guys lapping faster than modern bikes with CB350's, RD350's, GS450's and what have you, Flexy frames, punny forks and all.... that's part of the fun.... so there's no reason why your 440 couldnt be turned into a good vintage track bike too.

looking at the pic of your bike though, there'll be quite a bit of work to do, mostly on the cycle side.

What i did before i built my first racer was to attend a local vintage race meeting, ask racers plenty of questions, take tons of pictures, etc. Gave me good inspiration.

The WERA vintage forum is another good source for info. Regretfully there are just a few of us road racers here in KZrider....

Where's your nearest track?

TG

Thanks turbog. That's good to hear..

I'm about an hour from road America, an 2 hours from Blackhawks farms.

I did a trackday on weds at blackhawk and there was a guy on a 70ish triumph running around.. He was a wealth of info and recommended the ahrma group too.. That will be my weekend google project..

What did u mean "cycle" work?

DaddyJamma - I'm planning on going to AHRMA Weekend at Road America this year. Let's hook up. I'm trying to build a Kz650 to race in AHRMA for next year, hoping to do a track day and a racing class at Blackhawk Farms this year, but not certain I'll make it.

well, ahrma is indeed racing in road america june 8, so get your camera, pen and notebook ready.

By cycle work i meant, different rims, racing tires, proper suspension setup, checking out that you have enough ground clearance and more.

I believe the Kz440 would be in the AHRMA's Superbike Lightweight class. My buddy is doing a Honda CB450T and will be in that same class in AHRMA.

Here's the org's website: www.ahrma.org
And the rulebook: www.ahrma.org/ahrma_pdfs/Z-2012/12_handbook_withlinks.pdf