My '76 z900 'Strip-fighter...sorta

StreetfighterKz wrote: The tail is about 4-5" longer than a stock tail. It be nice if I could make it a couple inches longer. I have a feeling the tire is going to kiss the taillight and license plate.

Later, Doug

mine has kissed mine several time 2 mounts and a tail light later think i got it ok LOL

I figured out a simple solution for mounting the stock gauges to the upper Gsxr triple clamp. I borrowed Mark's solution and modified it a little bit.

I purchased some 3/4" SCH 40 6061 aluminum pipe and cut off two pieces 1" long. Then I had them welded on using a gauge bracket as a jig. Afterwards I smoothed out the welds a little. I still need to do some more cleanup but I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.


Since I was able to mount the gauges I went ahead and copied the LTD headlight bracket from my 1000 but changed some of the dimensions to fit the 8" GS1100E headlight.











Here's the headlight mounted up. It almost looks factory...



However, from the above photo you can see that I no longer have room for the steering damper under the headlight. Looks like I'm going to have to find another solution for that. I could run a side mounted damper but they don't look as clean as a front mounted IMO.

Later, Doug

It all looking pretty good Doug.
i was just wondering if those stock front mount steering stabilizers r adjustable??

mark1122 wrote: i was just wondering if those stock front mount steering stabilizers r adjustable??

The one I have, from a '01 Gsxr600, is not adjustable. However, there is a tutorial for changing out the oil to a higher viscosity by following the instructions here .

Later, Doug

I didn't really want to run a side mount as the factory Suzuki damper is quite small. I was able to mock up the damper below and behind the forks and it looked like it would work so I fabbed up a bracket and tacked it into place.

I have just enough room for it to fit and move through the motions. Actually the fork tubes hit the tank before the damper runs out of travel.

So for now, I'm keeping it underneath and hidden unless, I find a good enough reason to move it again.

The simple bracket I made...


The damper mounted and the forks at full lock left and right...






Later, Doug

dang there is alot going on under the neck :ohmy: !

as long as it all fits tho :lol: ,

leon

The swingarm turned out nice.

big props coming from you mike.

thanks,
i wouldn't have had the confidence to do it if i had not read your write up about the busa arm conversion.
thanks so much for what you share on here.

leon

I was able to get into the garage last night for a few hours.

I tackled the new steering stops.

I thought about using one central steering stop on the lower triple and two tabs on the frame but I placed a bolt on the lower triple and I didn't like the fact that it overhung the curve a little.


So I found a tab I had already made for the frame but felt it was too simple.


I made a template and made the tab wider but angled that sides. I felt this design was much better.



The next step, I cleaned up the tab a bit and tacked welded it to the frame. I took two rubber washers that were 3/16" thick and taped one to each side of the gas tank where the fork tubes would hit. I then proceeded to mark where the bolts should go, keeping in mind the reinforcing tabs on the underside of the triple clamp. The hardest part was making sure the bolts were in the same spot so that everything would look even. I think I did OK for just eye-balling the position of the second bolt.

Here's the final product...



I hit the reinforcing rib but just barely. I don't think that I will have affected the strength too much.


Later, Doug

very cool I could look at this stuff all day! very ingenius

Very clever Doug. Great job.

looks good doug.

don't worry about hitting that re-enforcing rib,i have milled them out before.

leon