Disc brake conversion

How hard is to swap from drum to disc brake ? My 1976 KZ 900 currently has drum brakes and I just got a swing arm with a 18 spoke rim with disc brakes. How hard is it to swap from drumt to disc ?

You will need a mount for a master cylinder and a disk swingarm would be easier to buy than fabing a brake stay unless you are good at fabing stuff.

One of Wired George's bikes has that conversion. I sent him the swingarm,wheels,and bracket. Roy

u will just have to take a close look at disc brake modles. the petal will have a provition to atatch to the master cyl. not sure off hand if u can just swap the pedles.i may have a spare? then u will need to buy a master,(i have a good spare)and put some mounts on the frame. they r welded on from the factory, but i have seen guys get creative and stape a mounting plate on with gear clamps and such.

www.powersportsplus.com/parts/search/Kaw...ex864CFYEx3wodlS5YnQ

It's not too difficult. See the "Z1-900" link in my signature. It's much easier to not use a '77-'78 KZ1000 rear brake M/C in my experience. See what M/C I ended up using. Made a simple mount of out heavy cardboard first, that fabricated a replica out of steel.

Welcome back Bob.

I gound a 18 inch spoke drum brake rear rim with a dry rotted tire on it. The rim measures 115X18. What is the widest tire that I can put on this rear with the stock width swing arm and drum brakes that won't have any interferance issues ?

I checked the rim again and it is not 115X18, but 215X18. What is the widest tire that will fit that rim with no interferance on a 1976 KZ 900 with drum brakes ?

Anyone have any idea ?

BUMP, Someone should be able to answer that question.




I think I am going to convert the 76 wire wheel bike to mags. I removed the rear master cylinder bracket from my wrecked bike.
There is going to be a little more involved in the battery area. The bracket that holds the battery box in the front of the box is shorter on the rear disk model. There is also a bracket for the side cover that bolts to the master cylinder.
I will start another thread and take photos. Roy

BIGKEVIN: If you stick with that 2.15" X 18" rim, then the widest tire you can fit is whatever the max your selected tire manufacturer says can be used, probably 120mm x 18".

I fitted a 130mm X 18" rear tire on a 3.00" x 18" rim to my '73 Z1-900 when it had an OEM drum rear brake setup - that's about it for that rear tire came very close to the rear brake torque arm.