Lucid
Registered
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2010
- Messages
- 581
- Reaction score
- 21
I got the bug a few months ago, and finally found the right bike at the right price.
Even though cafe racers aren't about speed, I didn't want something too slow. I ended up with this awesome 1978 KZ650, bored out to 720.
I LOVE these damn cafe bikes; every part on them is so damn cheap! Entire braking system off an 81? $30 shipped. Stock swingarm? (this one has a 6+ for some reason, maybe raced in the 80s or something) $50 shipped. Plus really, the more stuff you take off of them, the cooler they seem to get. (which is free, -nuts and bolts)
Anyway, pics:
The way I got it:
Big ole front and rear fairings:
As soon as I got home and got a wrench:
Removed fairings, lights, etc.
Brakes were almost non-existent. I was engine braking for 90% during the first ride. Cracked the MC and saw this haha!
Getting a stock swingarm, new chain/sprocket (old one was rusted and loud/binding), getting more stuff taken off like front and rear fenders, center stand, etc.
Changed out:
Bars
Front master cylinder
satin paint (temporary)
Removed rear section
Stock swingarm back on
new and rerouted fuel lines and filters
plugs and other maintenance stuff
grinded off random tabs, extra metal, etc
chain/sprockets
LED Tail (temporary, waiting to integrate it into the cafe tail)
Removed left hand controls
New grips
Who knows what else.
Cut for led tail.
Rewired the entire thing, removed gauges and excess wiring. All of this got reduced down to about 8 wires: Headlight, tail/stop lights, and spark. Took awhile but was worth it.
Removing gauges did the MOST for the look I was going for!
Found a sweet old church:
And the latest update: Spoke wheels finally on and fitted! 18 rear, 19 front, new coils and plug wires. Exhaust tubes flat black now. Front fender and center stand back on:
Still want to clear out the "triangle" under the seat, all I have left to do is to put a smaller battery in the tail section to clear out under the seat, adding to the cafe look. Gotta decide on a seat, and a few other things, but she's done until winter probably!
Even though cafe racers aren't about speed, I didn't want something too slow. I ended up with this awesome 1978 KZ650, bored out to 720.
I LOVE these damn cafe bikes; every part on them is so damn cheap! Entire braking system off an 81? $30 shipped. Stock swingarm? (this one has a 6+ for some reason, maybe raced in the 80s or something) $50 shipped. Plus really, the more stuff you take off of them, the cooler they seem to get. (which is free, -nuts and bolts)
Anyway, pics:
The way I got it:
Big ole front and rear fairings:
As soon as I got home and got a wrench:
Removed fairings, lights, etc.
Brakes were almost non-existent. I was engine braking for 90% during the first ride. Cracked the MC and saw this haha!
Getting a stock swingarm, new chain/sprocket (old one was rusted and loud/binding), getting more stuff taken off like front and rear fenders, center stand, etc.
Changed out:
Bars
Front master cylinder
satin paint (temporary)
Removed rear section
Stock swingarm back on
new and rerouted fuel lines and filters
plugs and other maintenance stuff
grinded off random tabs, extra metal, etc
chain/sprockets
LED Tail (temporary, waiting to integrate it into the cafe tail)
Removed left hand controls
New grips
Who knows what else.
Cut for led tail.
Rewired the entire thing, removed gauges and excess wiring. All of this got reduced down to about 8 wires: Headlight, tail/stop lights, and spark. Took awhile but was worth it.
Removing gauges did the MOST for the look I was going for!
Found a sweet old church:
And the latest update: Spoke wheels finally on and fitted! 18 rear, 19 front, new coils and plug wires. Exhaust tubes flat black now. Front fender and center stand back on:
Still want to clear out the "triangle" under the seat, all I have left to do is to put a smaller battery in the tail section to clear out under the seat, adding to the cafe look. Gotta decide on a seat, and a few other things, but she's done until winter probably!
i need to go work on bikes. 
