Spectre shaft to chain, just a thought?

Just wondering if anyone here has had to work on their front bevel gear. Now I'm thinking the tran output shaft must be the same on all the 80's KZ750 fours (he says with an earnest look on his face). Was thinking surely it would be just be a question of fitting a chain sprocket.

More to it than that. I wouldn't think it would be worth it.
Steve

I've looked at what it would take to do that with the shaft 1100's, and it does seem possible without any major surgery or custom machining, just lots of part swapping. Kawasaki (and Suzuki) were much better for parts compatibility between different models of the same family than either Honda or Yamaha back then. Many parts were the same between the shaft and chain transmissions and final drives.

The reason why I looked into it was in case I buy an '84 - '85 ZN1100LTD and decided to build it up to maybe 150 hp. I don't think the stock shaft drive parts would be real happy about that.

On the 750, I don't see any reason to, unless you want to change final drive gearing?

I just picked up a 99 ZRX1100 and my 83 KZ1100L needs fourth gear and a starter. So I've been asking myself the same question. I love the shaft, but making it work with the ZRX engine would be tons harder than converting the shaft to chain drive.

I was just thinking in the long term fitting a wider diameter rear wheel. I've had a quick look at most of the options regarding a Kwaker shaft rear hub. Most of them are 16" so would not be an option. Something to mull over in the future

JoHNY wrote: I was just thinking in the long term fitting a wider diameter rear wheel. I've had a quick look at most of the options regarding a Kwaker shaft rear hub. Most of them are 16" so would not be an option. Something to mull over in the future

The Z1300 has a 17 x 3 inch rear shaft drive wheel, how big were you looking to go. There's a company I know of in South Africa that will widen any alloy motorcycle rim, just a thought....

Really buddy, have you got a link?

JoHNY wrote: Really buddy, have you got a link?

I spotted a bike on Gumtree {free selling site in Australia} a couple of years back, it was a Z1300 and it had stock wheels but the rear was 5.5 inches and the front was a 3.5, I sent him a message asking about the wheels and he said he sent 2 sets of wheels to a shop in SA that cut the lip off one set and the rims of the second set and had them tigged together, they were then machined flat and looked awesome, the place was Hitech mag Repairs , the link is below...

www.hitechmagrepairs.co.za/index.html#services

This isn't the bike i saw but its very similar, this one is a South African z1300 with the rear rim widened, probably by the same guys, looks the same as the one I saw...

www.olx.co.za/ad/kawasaki-kz1300-six-cylinder-IDUB6Io.html

That 1300 looks lovely, I expect it wont be cheap but the real expense would be the shipping from the UK. Your a buddy R1, thanks for the heads up

Kosman Racing in the USA used to do this - and they still might do that. (widening your stock wheels, I mean...)

I was thinking of having a couple of '79 CBX wheels (stock they are bicycle tire like 2.15" wide) widened a few years back, to keep stock looks yet have a 4.5" rear wheel, but I don't have any intentions of street racing CBX's anymore....too slow, WAhaYYYYYY too expensive....




JoHNY,

Do what I did and start comparing part numbers on-line at Partzilla between the shaft and chain bikes....also any compatibility listings that might come up while checking the part numbers....

Converting the engine will likely prove to be the easy part. Getting a normal chain drive swing arm into the shaft's chassis is going to be much more difficult, unless you can fabricate and weld....

Thanks Kray. Not going to do anything about it at the mo. I need to get it running sweet first then maybe spring next year will look into it. Did some measurements and I ordered a 2.25 shim for the cylinder that was giving me grief. Will see if that cures the issue. If not, will drill down further