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Caliper forward or behind forks?
- RonKZ650
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321,000 miles on KZ's that I can remember. Not going to see any more.
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- Patton
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1976 KZ900 brakes (last 900 and last rear drum)
Front brake caliper redesigned as one piece unit
UK model: dual front disc on front of forks
US model: single 6mm front disc on front of fork*
* Kaw offered factory kit for conversion to dual front disc on front of fork -- twin 4.5mm disc (reduce unsprung weight); junction box with extra outlet; another lower hose; right side brake pipe; right side chrome bracket lower hose holder; larger 5/8" front master cylinder
1976 LTD -- rear disc; dual front disc rear of forks
1977 KZ1000-A1 brakes:
Went from rear drum to rear disc
US model has single front disc on front of fork
Am guessing UK model kept dual front discs on front of forks. Also guessing Kaw still offered dual disc conversion kit for US models on front of forks.
1978 KZ1000-A2 moved single front disc caliper to rear of fork. Am unaware of any differences between UK and US models or any dual disc option offerings from Kaw.
1978 KZ1000-D1 (Z1R) had dual front discs with calipers on rear of forks.
1979 KZ1000-A3 and KZ1000-D2 (Z1R) had dual front discs with calipers on rear of forks.
Above is my understanding. Would welcome any and all corrections.
1973 Z1
KZ900 LTD
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- Oznative
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1977 KZ1000 A-1 Just north of Boston
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- wiredgeorge
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wiredgeorge Motorcycle Carburetors
Mico TX
www.wgcarbs.com
Too many bikes to list!
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- The Fish
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swap the fork tubes and calipers left to right and the wheel stays the same orientation with the speedo drive on the original side. You are just swapping the forks to mount the calipers behind the tubes. The wheel stays the same.
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- RetroRiceRocketRider
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Huh??
swap the fork tubes and calipers left to right and the wheel stays the same orientation with the speedo drive on the original side. You are just swapping the forks to mount the calipers behind the tubes. The wheel stays the same.
I was thinking that exact same thing when I first read WG's post, but it makes sense to me.
I think what WG is trying to state is that if you leave the wheel mounted to the fork tubes and just slide them out of the triple clamps as an assembly to rotate them, then this will be a problem:
On my '78 KZ650, my '84 ZN700, and my wifes '96 VN750 there are two "tabs" protruding from the inside of the lower left fork tube. These keep the speedo drive unit in a specific postion, and prevent it from rotating and possibly causing the front wheel to bind (= a possible crash :pinch:) should the speedo cable become detached.
I imagine the 1000 has a similar or same setup on it's left fork tube, as all the KZ's were fairly similar in some regards.
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- JimatMilkyWay
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What did he say???:dry:Mounting brake calipers behind frt. forks was done to minimise tensile stress and movement of the caliper under braking,the main forces involed push the caliper against the fork legs (telelever/paralever setup)....
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- RetroRiceRocketRider
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900cows wrote:
What did he say???:dry:Mounting brake calipers behind frt. forks was done to minimise tensile stress and movement of the caliper under braking,the main forces involed push the caliper against the fork legs (telelever/paralever setup)....
With caliper(s) mounted behind the fork leg, under braking the caliper presses forward against the fork leg, which acts as an anchor of sorts, and is basically a stronger mounting placement.
With caliper(s) mounted in the front, under braking the caliper is actually pressing forward away from the fork leg, and the only thing providing support and strength is the 2 caliper mounting bolts.
A roughly 3" diameter fork tube plus the 2 caliper mounting bolts together IMHO is much stronger/less prone to flexing than just having the 2 bolts alone to rely on.
Post edited by: RetroRiceRocketRider, at: 2007/02/11 12:47
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- The Fish
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From what I understand, the calipers are put behind the fork tubes to put the weight of the calipers lower on the fork leg to help with cornering.
When you are leaning in a turn the weight of the high mounted foward calipers tends to fall towards the inside of the turn (the weight of it is higher/taller and has more "leverage" when pulled down by gravity).
When the calipers are mounted behind the forks, the weight of the calipers is conciderably lower on the fork legs and affects the cornering less than the high foward stock placement of the calipers.
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- dutchz
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Post edited by: dutchz, at: 2007/02/11 19:49
1974 Kawasaki Z1
Stock front hub and rear axle.
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