'78 KZ1000 makeover
- porchev914
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Re: '78 KZ1000 makeover
21 Jun 2010 09:03
testarossa wrote:
16 gaugeHow thick is that neck gusset plate stock?
FRANKEN Z!
1978 KZ1000 A2A with 08'Speed Triple SSSA and '06 GSXR1000 front end
1978 KZ1000 A2A with 08'Speed Triple SSSA and '06 GSXR1000 front end
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- mark1122
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Re: '78 KZ1000 makeover
21 Jun 2010 09:10 - 21 Jun 2010 09:20
This is what the race shop did to my frame back in 79.
notice the plate on the inside of the neck. it ties both legs together nicely . The guys who built this bike, competed against all of the big guys,Cooley and Freddy.
notice the plate on the inside of the neck. it ties both legs together nicely . The guys who built this bike, competed against all of the big guys,Cooley and Freddy.

76 KZ, frame gusset work,1200CC.Ported by Larry Cavanaugh, 1.5mm.over intakes, Carron Pipe, ZRX12 rear end, and seat,96zx9 front end.
01 CBR600F4i Track bike.
Cobourg, Ont. Can.
~ ~ ~_@
~ ~ _- \,
~ (k) / (z)
01 CBR600F4i Track bike.
Cobourg, Ont. Can.
~ ~ ~_@
~ ~ _- \,
~ (k) / (z)
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Last edit: 21 Jun 2010 09:20 by mark1122.
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Re: '78 KZ1000 makeover
21 Jun 2010 09:18
This is a neck from a Lange Hindle bike.
They didn't use much bracing back then.
but the circumstances were dif. they HAD to keep them light, and they were NOT afraid of a little flex.
He still got on the podium with it.
They didn't use much bracing back then.
but the circumstances were dif. they HAD to keep them light, and they were NOT afraid of a little flex.
He still got on the podium with it.

76 KZ, frame gusset work,1200CC.Ported by Larry Cavanaugh, 1.5mm.over intakes, Carron Pipe, ZRX12 rear end, and seat,96zx9 front end.
01 CBR600F4i Track bike.
Cobourg, Ont. Can.
~ ~ ~_@
~ ~ _- \,
~ (k) / (z)
01 CBR600F4i Track bike.
Cobourg, Ont. Can.
~ ~ ~_@
~ ~ _- \,
~ (k) / (z)
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- porchev914
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Re: '78 KZ1000 makeover
21 Jun 2010 09:19 - 21 Jun 2010 10:03
Mark, I cut the 1" tube at 3/4" long because I was too lazy to do it by hand, and if I cut it any shorter with my chop saw, the blade skews off and I dont get a vertical cut. Thats cute work from the race shop, I like the speed holes!
I wasn't planning on adding to the existing front down tube sheet gusseting like the shop did to yours, and I'm still contemplating the extra neck to front cradle braces.

FRANKEN Z!
1978 KZ1000 A2A with 08'Speed Triple SSSA and '06 GSXR1000 front end
1978 KZ1000 A2A with 08'Speed Triple SSSA and '06 GSXR1000 front end
Last edit: 21 Jun 2010 10:03 by porchev914.
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Re: '78 KZ1000 makeover
21 Jun 2010 09:23
I'm sure what ever u do will be an improvement.

76 KZ, frame gusset work,1200CC.Ported by Larry Cavanaugh, 1.5mm.over intakes, Carron Pipe, ZRX12 rear end, and seat,96zx9 front end.
01 CBR600F4i Track bike.
Cobourg, Ont. Can.
~ ~ ~_@
~ ~ _- \,
~ (k) / (z)
01 CBR600F4i Track bike.
Cobourg, Ont. Can.
~ ~ ~_@
~ ~ _- \,
~ (k) / (z)
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- 79MKII
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Re: '78 KZ1000 makeover
21 Jun 2010 11:46 - 21 Jun 2010 11:50
Here's a few of my frame for ideas / comparisons. This was also done back in the late 70's or early 80's by a professional racing shop. I noticed a huge difference from my other KZ 1000's with stock frames.
The Kaw List:
Current: 79 KZ1000 A3 MKII, 78 KZ1000 A2, 78 KZ1000 Z1-R, 78 KZ650 SR, 80 KE175
Former: 03 KLX400SR, 99 ZRX1000, 82 KZ750 LTD, 80 KZ1000 A4 MKII, 80 KZ1000 LTD, 78 KZ1000 A2, 74 H-2 750 Triple, 78 KL250
Current: 79 KZ1000 A3 MKII, 78 KZ1000 A2, 78 KZ1000 Z1-R, 78 KZ650 SR, 80 KE175
Former: 03 KLX400SR, 99 ZRX1000, 82 KZ750 LTD, 80 KZ1000 A4 MKII, 80 KZ1000 LTD, 78 KZ1000 A2, 74 H-2 750 Triple, 78 KL250
Last edit: 21 Jun 2010 11:50 by 79MKII.
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Re: '78 KZ1000 makeover
21 Jun 2010 16:32
Thanks for the frame pics 79MKII. It looks like I'll have all the bracing your pro job has, in one degree or another. I wonder if there will be an appreciable difference between using round tubing versus plate steel like your frame. I'm working on the mid top tube cross braces today

FRANKEN Z!
1978 KZ1000 A2A with 08'Speed Triple SSSA and '06 GSXR1000 front end
1978 KZ1000 A2A with 08'Speed Triple SSSA and '06 GSXR1000 front end
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- trianglelaguna
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Re: '78 KZ1000 makeover
21 Jun 2010 16:53
that top neck pick is of interest to me ,as i was just hugging that spot for few hrs yesterday ,and was thinking about adding jmodel type vert bars ..your plates set up is strong in my mind and the cut outs for coils make sense too...some coils are a booger to get in a normal frame ...what with wires and connections all so tight..did you have to wallow those cuts out over the years???
79MKII wrote:
79MKII wrote:
1976 KZ900
2003 ZX12R
2007 FZ1000
2004 ninja 250R for wife
2003 ZX12R
2007 FZ1000
2004 ninja 250R for wife
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Re: '78 KZ1000 makeover
21 Jun 2010 17:24
I've seen a lot of bracing with plate over the years but I think the tubing might be more widely used. Not sure on strength really. Maybe tubing is stronger?? I think as long as you have something rigid in the right places you're good to go.
I actually cut those coil holes about 10 years ago. I had a modded bracket that mounted the coils right below the the original location and just above the cam cover. I had to remove the coils to remove the valve cover to adjust the valves and I got tired of that. I think there's plenty of meat left to make a strong brace. And yes, I've had to adjust them from time to time. I got new coils on this last rebuild and had a rough time. I bought new Dynas and even with special adapters to orient them differently, the plug wire connections at the coil just wouldn't fit. I originally had Andrews coils so I searched high and low and found an NOS pair on eBay that fit nicely. Here's what it looks like with coils mounted:
I actually cut those coil holes about 10 years ago. I had a modded bracket that mounted the coils right below the the original location and just above the cam cover. I had to remove the coils to remove the valve cover to adjust the valves and I got tired of that. I think there's plenty of meat left to make a strong brace. And yes, I've had to adjust them from time to time. I got new coils on this last rebuild and had a rough time. I bought new Dynas and even with special adapters to orient them differently, the plug wire connections at the coil just wouldn't fit. I originally had Andrews coils so I searched high and low and found an NOS pair on eBay that fit nicely. Here's what it looks like with coils mounted:
The Kaw List:
Current: 79 KZ1000 A3 MKII, 78 KZ1000 A2, 78 KZ1000 Z1-R, 78 KZ650 SR, 80 KE175
Former: 03 KLX400SR, 99 ZRX1000, 82 KZ750 LTD, 80 KZ1000 A4 MKII, 80 KZ1000 LTD, 78 KZ1000 A2, 74 H-2 750 Triple, 78 KL250
Current: 79 KZ1000 A3 MKII, 78 KZ1000 A2, 78 KZ1000 Z1-R, 78 KZ650 SR, 80 KE175
Former: 03 KLX400SR, 99 ZRX1000, 82 KZ750 LTD, 80 KZ1000 A4 MKII, 80 KZ1000 LTD, 78 KZ1000 A2, 74 H-2 750 Triple, 78 KL250
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- 79MKII
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Re: '78 KZ1000 makeover
21 Jun 2010 17:26 - 21 Jun 2010 17:28
and here are the dynas - you can see where the tower connections end up - the plug wires put on quite a fireworks display when they're all crammed together like that!
The Kaw List:
Current: 79 KZ1000 A3 MKII, 78 KZ1000 A2, 78 KZ1000 Z1-R, 78 KZ650 SR, 80 KE175
Former: 03 KLX400SR, 99 ZRX1000, 82 KZ750 LTD, 80 KZ1000 A4 MKII, 80 KZ1000 LTD, 78 KZ1000 A2, 74 H-2 750 Triple, 78 KL250
Current: 79 KZ1000 A3 MKII, 78 KZ1000 A2, 78 KZ1000 Z1-R, 78 KZ650 SR, 80 KE175
Former: 03 KLX400SR, 99 ZRX1000, 82 KZ750 LTD, 80 KZ1000 A4 MKII, 80 KZ1000 LTD, 78 KZ1000 A2, 74 H-2 750 Triple, 78 KL250
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Last edit: 21 Jun 2010 17:28 by 79MKII.
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- mark1122
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Re: '78 KZ1000 makeover
21 Jun 2010 17:27 - 21 Jun 2010 17:33
one think that i had to do with my plates, was bang them in a bit. they rubbed on the tank. so keep that in mind.
Did i send u Tony Foale bracing stuff? there may even be a pic of a 750 frame he did in there. he did mention that the brace material did not need to be as heavy as the bikes.
the frame rails are made a particular size due to flex over there entire length(witch turned out to be a little light weight). when u add a brace u are just trying to shorten the original rails length , so to speak, by limiting its ability to flex.
Did i send u Tony Foale bracing stuff? there may even be a pic of a 750 frame he did in there. he did mention that the brace material did not need to be as heavy as the bikes.
the frame rails are made a particular size due to flex over there entire length(witch turned out to be a little light weight). when u add a brace u are just trying to shorten the original rails length , so to speak, by limiting its ability to flex.
76 KZ, frame gusset work,1200CC.Ported by Larry Cavanaugh, 1.5mm.over intakes, Carron Pipe, ZRX12 rear end, and seat,96zx9 front end.
01 CBR600F4i Track bike.
Cobourg, Ont. Can.
~ ~ ~_@
~ ~ _- \,
~ (k) / (z)
01 CBR600F4i Track bike.
Cobourg, Ont. Can.
~ ~ ~_@
~ ~ _- \,
~ (k) / (z)
Last edit: 21 Jun 2010 17:33 by mark1122.
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Re: '78 KZ1000 makeover
21 Jun 2010 17:32
mark1122 wrote:
That's another good point. Mine clear the tank but didn't leave room for the coils. There's always something you forget to think about, but many times you don't realize it until you try to put it back together! :ohmy:
1 think that i had to do with my plates, was bang them in a bit. they rubbed on the tank. so keep that in mind.
Did i send u Tony Foale bracing stuff? there may even be a pic of a 750 frame he did in there. he did mention that the brace material did not need to be as heavy as the bikes.
the frame rails are made a particular size due to flex over there entire length(witch turned out to be a little light weight). when u add a brace u are just trying to shorten the original rails length , so to speak, by limiting its ability to flex.
That's another good point. Mine clear the tank but didn't leave room for the coils. There's always something you forget to think about, but many times you don't realize it until you try to put it back together! :ohmy:
The Kaw List:
Current: 79 KZ1000 A3 MKII, 78 KZ1000 A2, 78 KZ1000 Z1-R, 78 KZ650 SR, 80 KE175
Former: 03 KLX400SR, 99 ZRX1000, 82 KZ750 LTD, 80 KZ1000 A4 MKII, 80 KZ1000 LTD, 78 KZ1000 A2, 74 H-2 750 Triple, 78 KL250
Current: 79 KZ1000 A3 MKII, 78 KZ1000 A2, 78 KZ1000 Z1-R, 78 KZ650 SR, 80 KE175
Former: 03 KLX400SR, 99 ZRX1000, 82 KZ750 LTD, 80 KZ1000 A4 MKII, 80 KZ1000 LTD, 78 KZ1000 A2, 74 H-2 750 Triple, 78 KL250
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