TOPIC:

Ok, i have a kz550 (the one in my profile picture) laying around at a friend's house and he is about to move soon. So, I'm looking for some opinions on what to do with it. I hit a dog with the thing a few years back and the upper triple clamp broke in half right where the stem nut attaches. Now i'm wondering should i try and revive this thing or just keep/sell it for parts (i have another 550 i'm fixing up but my space is limited)
If i plan to fix it, how would I know if the forks themselves are bent if not visibly? Or should I just go with new forks and clamps from the get go. I am only assuming the frame is sound in this area as it appears that the clamp took the brunt of the impact. This was my first bike so i hate to see it go but i don't know if i can justify having two. Thanks for any and all comments

thanks to whoever move this to the correct category, i was trying to figure out how.

You can take the forks off the bike and remove the lower triple tree to separate the forks. Clamp the lower part of the fork in a vise and spin the top portion by hand. If upper wobbles at all, the fork is bent. You can use a gauge measure the runout. I'm not sure what the tolerance is but I can't imagine it being more than a few hundredths.

Link: www.visordown.com/forum/workshop/checkin...s-are-ok/305336.html

Another way to check the tubes is to roll them on a glass table or the equivalent. I have a mirror leftover from a bathroom remodel that could be used.

The frame is probably fine, but you should check the steering stop peg to see if it's bent --- assuming the 550 has the same peg as my 81 650-CSR.

cool thanks. i think i may just go ahead and search for new forks on ebay and see what turns up. maybe if i can get the whole assembly cheap enough i won't have to worry. im thinking even if i decide not to keep it the bike would be worth more this way.

If you fix it, it could be someone else's first bike. I remember mine. I still miss it. If that's all that's wrong with, I'd think twice about cannibalizing it. I know, I'm a big softy.
Steve

not at all man, that's the whole reason i'm even considering fixing it. i mean i have another bike of the same exact model. By all accounts i really don't need two but,,, c'mon it's my first bike! funny how easy it is to grow attached

kz glory days. deals gap 2009

I owned my first KZ550 in high school. Had it before I got a car and rode that bike all year round: sun, rain, snow, .... It was a great bike and I still miss it. I crashed her once and bent the forks. I had them straightened and got her running like new. Sold her before I left for college.

I'm rebuilding an 81 GPz550 because that's the bike I wanted when I bought the KZ.

check with www.bikeboneyard.com/ they surely have the forks and triple trees

After the wreck in 86, I was thinking about fixing bossie. There she was all broken and mangled. I wanted my bike back but didn't know if I still had the nerve to ride again. Both of were dead. Heard the elevator music, white light, no pain and NO fear! I bought a GPZ 550 for $500 from a friend, rode it for a while, great bike but I missed the long gears and power so I put her back together. I've never regretted it. Should have kept the 550 though.
Steve