Swingarm Conversion Q's - Function or Looks

531blackbanshee wrote:

stock swingarms flex,skinny tires lose grip.



here is a kz650 swingarm that i under braced for t-dub.

[/img] lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Gkkh81NGT_E/T...0%2525282%252529.JPG [img]

Nice job on both Leon!


Thanks for the props on the KZ guys! It has been a labour of love for me fo sho!


The bike stops, goes and hooks up just fine! The motor is basically stock with a few minor mods. That's the next thing to get some "lovin" as soon as I can squeeze some funds! :lol:


As far as cost of the swinger and shocks... honestly... I forget!! They were embarrassingly expensive though, I can say that much! It came down to "want" for me! I HAD to have 'em!


Good luck with your choices! You have a lot to digest! Sounds like you're well on your way to making an informed decision though!

thanks drooz.



leon

personaly, i think 1 of leons additions to your stock arm is the best way to go. specialy if u want a period look. i just dont see how an aluminum square box are looks as good as a round tube arm on a kz.
a brased stock arm gives u both, forrm , and function.
Leon , please dont take this as a put down, because i think u do awesome work.
i think if u made the top main arm on your z1r arm, out of bigger tubing(stock diameter) it would look even more killer than it does now.

Someone mentioned earlier that an early Gsxr swingarm would work. Just curious as to what year period I should look into, and what all I need to do this. all I want to do is put a set of Gsxr wheels on it and take the rear wheel out 2-4"

How well did the linkage line up and what mods were needed?

This post has instructions on how I did it:
forums.kz650.info/index.php?topic=582.0

On the front end I also have an ATK fork brace.

Be glad there are guys like Leon around that'll do this, I just priced a new Myrtle West swingarm for a zx10 braced in this fashion; only $1,406.99

faffi:

I don't disagree with a thing you say. There's no doubt that the stock dampers have got to go and I'll definitely look into your shock recommendation. I'm very open to recommendations, since I've been away from go fast windy-twisty bikes for decades now. I truly am getting an education here. What a great bunch! But, I can guarantee one thing, it won't take long to reacquaint myself to it.

As you say, I think the gusseted swingarm looks bad ass! But, since ramtough_63 has offered to sell me a ZX6 swingarm, I'm going to take a crack at using it. Now my quandary is, do I polish the crap out of the aluminum swingarm, or do I powdercoat it like I'm going to do to the rest of the frame? Hahahaha! Such problems.

I thought of wheel change, but I decided to stick to the stock mags and just put some really good skins on them. Back in the 70's we didn't have a choice of installing fat tires. The super bikes of my time, the Mach III's and the Honda 750-4's, didn't come with fat tires. They didn't even make fat tires back then! Like I said before, I'm not looking for the perfect, or even imperfect 100 MPH sweeper at 58, so I think I'll be fine with putting good rubber on the stock rims.

Thanks for your tips and for your humble opinion.

camaroguy:

That's a great tip, thanks!

Godfrey, that's just rape! $1400 and change is just, rape! What are they, made of gold and welded with silver? Adams run what, 700 for a street style arm and a grand for a drag race arm and that's still high but if your gonna play your gonna pay. There is other choices. :whistle:

ramtough_63:

Yep, it's always the little things in life that drive you crazy. Which certainly carries over to bike building. That's what makes a place like KZR so worthwhile to be a part of. The vast amount of time and experience that is stored here, is like a bottomless well.

Lucky for me, I spent over 25 years of my life wrenching cars for a living. I don't do that anymore, haven't done it for about 15 years. But, I still have friends in the business, so I can tap into certain equipment and skills to make this project a bit easier on me.

One thing I do have, is a pretty nice shop I put together for the company I work for. I have access to lathes, mills and other machines. So, between work and friends, I have pretty much all the resources I need. Being a toy maker actually comes in handy.

531blackbanshee:

You're F'n killn' me, Dude! That is an awesome pair! I haven't seen an awesome pair like that, since my last time surfing porn! Woo-hoo! (wink-wink)

OK, so you offered to go on a ride, but didn't say where you live. How the hell am I supposed to find you?

You say you gusseted that stock swingarm? What do you get for the job? I would consider backing up the aluminum swingarm with a gusseted stocker in reserve. LMK!

Drooz:

Hahaha, that's funny, Dude. It's amazing how we forget the expensive things and not the cheap. I think it's a self defense mechanism so we don't commit suicide when we think about what we did later. It also helps when you get married to be able to forget how much you spend when your wife asks. It could keep her from killing you.

:laugh: