Swingarm Question...

Hey fellas, been a while, I've been riding all summer and its getting closer to repair season. So I saw a KZ in passing that had a huge tire. It was pretty wide so I assumed he did some chopping and customizing somewhere, espeicailly since he didnt have any shocks bolted to the outside. I looked up americanclassix and theyve got two for the KZ1000.

Does anyone have any experience with the K+J swingarms? The one that has the round tensioner looks kinda scary. But in any case I'd like to hear some pros and cons and offset problems for the sprockets and chain. Also I see there are tabs for the shock mounts but how does that work from the bike to the swingarm...

Thanks fellas,

I have no personal experience with those arms, but in general, the wider the tire the more complicated the project. If you are talking in the 230mm range, then the complications and expense grow exponentially - like running the chain outside the frame with an extended output shaft and outboard bearing and bearing support system. The bike will also need a custom chain guard since the chain will be running where your left foot presently hangs out. Priced one of those tires lately? You can also kiss handling goodbye.

Plenty of guys run 160 and 170 tires with very little difficulty - note that most of AC's swingers max out about there.

What makes you nervous about round tensioners? Looked at any modern sport bikes?

That round adjuster is just a eccentric chain adjuster like the ones on some Kawasakis.

Well 230 is huge and I can only imagine the mechanics since you've brought that to light. This is the swingarm I was looking at. Its all bolt on. Max on this one is 160, I just like the look of a wide tire.Not sure 40mm more is going to make much of a difference. Right now I have a stock setup with a 120 rear. I don't think I can go any bigger without rubbing.

www.americanclassix.com/swingarmKJSA900_180.html

Ah, that one I posted there accepts up to 190 and I think is for the 900. Here is the one for 1000.

www.americanclassix.com/swingarmKJSA900_150.html

As for these newer sport bikes I've never really looked at them. I like the older bikes. I do however love the look of the ZRX. I may just save my money on the kz project and get one of those. But on the first swingarm link I posted it looks as though if it were overtightened or someting (anything could happen) that it may crack or break. I dunno, just looks like it.

Mine has a 130 and thats all I am gonna get in my opinion 160 looks huge in comparison and a 180 was my goal until I saw a 300 now I dream about it.

here is a 160 tyre



here is a 190 tyre

the 160 tyre is in a 3 inch extended stock swing arm

I got a 150 in a gs 1100 swingarm, a 160 MIGHT fit
depending on the brake setup

Ah, a 160 does look bigger. What year and model did that swing arm come off of? I have an 83 GS1100E in parts that I was going to start before I got this KZ. Looks good, alot of work?

1976 kz 900 that i had extended