Swingarm Conversion Q's - Function or Looks

KraZyRIDER wrote:

ramtough_63 wrote: This one?

...not that lame ass, this one!

LMAO :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

...not that lame ass, this one!

[/quote]

LMAO :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:[/quote]

...see, I was right. Most of you guys are too damn young to get my 'good old day' references. That's OK, it'll happen to you, some day.



...Yvon was the man back in the day! Duhamel, Nixon, Smart, Bauman, Wilvert and a host of others thrilled the crowds on those beautifully ugly Team Green machines.

...just imagine being able to do 170 on THAT flimsy swingarm. Look at the perfectly vertical shock absorber. Just imagine having to jump the binders and dive into the Daytona infield! Those guys had moxie!

Moxie noun Slang
1. vigor; verve; pep.
2. courage and aggressiveness; nerve.
3. skill; know-how.

...otherwise known as, a BIG pair of balls!

...and all your KZ's grew out of these 2 stroke wonders. The race for speed.

More than a couple ole timers here. I remember when Nixon was running British bikes. In fact, I bought one of his race engines from him for a street bike. Those really were the good old days! Ed

650ed wrote: More than a couple ole timers here. I remember when Nixon was running British bikes. In fact, I bought one of his race engines from him for a street bike. Those really were the good old days! Ed

...definitely, the competition between Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki was intense! Two strokers were the thing back then. Sounded like millions of angry bees buzzing around the track on race day.

I agree with the sentiment expressed in the previous posts regarding wheels, tires, suspension, steering dampers, etc.

The only thing I would add, is that it's all about "the package"! It's how the whole bike works together. The old "domino effect" comes to mind. More often than not, when you modify one thing you'll need to change/adjust/fix a series of other things to make it work as well as it did before you even started. :woohoo:

Having said all that, I honestly believe my KZ does EVERYTHING better that the original ever did! I've owned it since it rolled off the showroom floor and loved every minute of that time. Never more than I do today!

As has already been said, beware of the "slippery slope" when you're tempted to modify an already good thing!!

IMO, good things CAN be made better though!

Drooz wrote: I agree with the sentiment expressed in the previous posts regarding wheels, tires, suspension, steering dampers, etc.

The only thing I would add, is that it's all about "the package"! It's how the whole bike works together. The old "domino effect" comes to mind. More often than not, when you modify one thing you'll need to change/adjust/fix a series of other things to make it work as well as it did before you even started. :woohoo:

Having said all that, I honestly believe my KZ does EVERYTHING better that the original ever did! I've owned it since it rolled off the showroom floor and loved every minute of that time. Never more than I do today!

As has already been said, beware of the "slippery slope" when you're tempted to modify an already good thing!!

IMO, good things CAN be made better though!

...well, I couldn't agree with you more, Drooz. Patchwork just won't get it done. If you're going to modify, go all out. If you're going old school, like I intend, stick to old school.

...I was looking for some tips and such and I got plenty of them. For this project and probably even for future projects. I plan on updating as much as I can, while staying within the confines of the period, the 70's that is. Bushing, bearing, springs, shocks, will all be updated. On the swingarm, I'm going two routes. Mostly, because I'm a mental case and like a choice. I'm going to have the stock swingarm gusseted and I picked up a aluminum box swingarm from ramtough_63. At a very good price, I might add. Thanks RT, I appreciate it and will return the favor one day.

...I'm going to stick with the stock tank, or should I say with the '77 tank that's on my '79? I'm going with the front fender and the tail/seat combo off of that late 70's factory Kawasaki pictured on this same page. No full faring, no sense in puttin' a dress on a prize fighter, but it will have a T-shirt on in the form of a 1/4 fairing.

...the stock three disc set up will be good enough for me, but I would like to go to a bigger chain and sprockets. Wheels will remain the stock mags, so the tire size will follow suit. A new 4 - 1 header, and some velocity stacks. I'm going to use the clip-on style bars and mount some mirrors off the ends, maybe even get some new levers.

...can you picture this yet? I can and I like what I'm imagining. Factory lime green and white, trimmed with black, gold wheels, black engine, aluminum cam and side covers. Yep, it's all becoming very clear now.

...I was really having a hard time deciding what I wanted to do with this bike. But, since I came hear and chatted with the bunch of you, my fuzzy ideas have become very clear. I'd like to thank all of you for your help, ideas and opinions. This is a fabulous group here and I'm very glad to be a part of it. I am humbled by the way so many of you have come forth and helped me with my dilemma. If I in any way can be of help to any of you, I will do my best to do so. I never forget a good turn.

...I'm heading of to Hong Kong and China for at least 10 days, so I won't be around to answer anymore replies. I will make a bee-line for this forum when I get back, though. You can be sure of that! There won't be much entertainment in China. I'm heading to the factory that produces the product that our company makes. It seems they've forgotten how to do certain things, things that put our company on the map. I'm heading there to reintroduce them to the proper way to do things, with a foot in the ass if necessary. Microsoft has been up our butt lately about certain details, so I'm going to make sure the next round of Halo figures makes them very happy.

...once again, thanks to all of you for your time and help with my questions. You guys are the best. See you when I get back.

That's cool that you have a clearer picture in mind now! Sounds like a super bike that anyone would be proud to own and ride!

And that is the "name of the game", isn't it?! To own and ride one of the coolest bikes ever built?! :woohoo: :woohoo: With a few personal touches to set it apart, of course. :laugh:

Have a great trip! See ya on the other side!

Drew

I'm hopeing all my modifications do help handiling -aluminum swingarm, concours 41mm fork with zephyr triple trees. If not I'm still happy ith the wow factor. It really is cheap therapy

I'm hopeing all my modifications do help handiling -aluminum swingarm, concours 41mm fork with zephyr triple trees. If not I'm still happy ith the wow factor. It really is cheap therapy

I have a gs1100 (called a gsx1100 over here)swing arm with zrx 1100 shocks and modified std front forks on my z650.
Hope I get this photobucket thing right :blink:

Krazy Rider: Polishing sucks, lots of work involved, best left to a professional that has the proper equipment needed. Sorry I didn't quote the original post.

Kra_Zee750 wrote: 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"

I guess I'll just keep asking until I get an answer on this. What year model GSX-R swingarm will work on an 82' kz750?