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Thought I'd say 'hi' before looking for advice
- tv_cafewannabe
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I picked up an '82 KZ750 M1 - yes that bastard CSR model. As I understand it though, the motor and frame are effectively the same as every other KZ750 twin ever built (correct me if I'm wrong here). It was a barn find in immaculate shape cosmetically, engine kicked over freely, and it rolled and shifted with little effort....and the guy took a $100 bill for it. I figured I could double my money in part it out alone, but wanted to build a cafe bike out of it. Anyway, check out the picture, say hi, and look for my other posts in the technical and project sections for newb questions that I can't answer in the search bar.
Attachment 82kz750m1aspurchased.jpg not found
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- tv_cafewannabe
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- GPzMOD750
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I'm not a big fan of the LTD and CSR. I would be curious on how that would turn out. BUT.....
You are going to hear an earful from many that are going to mourn the loss of such a well preserved original bike. I'm going to have to agree to some degree.
You might want to consider flipping that and buying a less well preserved candidate.
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- tv_cafewannabe
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Thanks for the reply!
I figured that might be the case, but I can take the heat. Ultimately, if a purist wants to offer me a reasonable price for what it would take to find a less well preserved plateform with a well running motor, I'm open to offers. Otherwise, this style of bike isn't for me at all, so I want to make it my own....a cafe.
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- Julian_Boolean
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- GPzMOD750
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Nothing says classic cafe like a parallel twin. It would look great with those spoked rims too.
If you want to do it right you will have to either straighten or replace the rear of the frame to get rid of the cruiser sway-back look. Some have been done that don't and they look terrible.
Imo, cafés should have a rear cowl or tail piece and not the flat ironing board looking tracker type seat.
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- tv_cafewannabe
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- tv_cafewannabe
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Only issue with the seat is that my wife likes to ride with me every once in a while and so I want the ability to go two-up every so often. Sacrilege in the cafe world but rules were made to be broken :evil: Perhaps I'll go with two different seats to swap out if needed???
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- GPzMOD750
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I'm going the 2 seat route for my build. The solo seat is going to have a small rack it on the back of the seat pan.
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- Nerdy
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tv_cafewannabe wrote: GPzMOD750 - I'm with you all the way on the parallel twin (huge appeal to me), design, and I think I'm definitely going with those spoked wheels.
Only issue with the seat is that my wife likes to ride with me every once in a while and so I want the ability to go two-up every so often. Sacrilege in the cafe world but rules were made to be broken :evil: Perhaps I'll go with two different seats to swap out if needed???
it's your bike. Go nuts.
I just started working on mine this spring. To clean up the back end I pulled off 30lb of fender and turn signals, made a quick fender eliminator kit, and replaced the lights with modern equivalents. The seat has a new cover but otherwise is going to stay the way it is because it's reasonably comfortable. I don't want to sit on .5" of foam.
This winter the carbs and exhaust will be replaced, clip-ons will replace the clubmans, etc. However, I am cleaning up the original parts and putting them away. Ya never know - the KZ400 might achieve Vincent Black Shadow desirability someday! (Then again, it might not.)
1967 Yamaha YCS1 Bonanza
1980 KZ440B
1981 Yamaha XT250H
1981 KZ440 LTD project bike
1981 GPz550
2013 Yamaha FZ6R
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- tv_cafewannabe
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- tv_cafewannabe
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