Welcome. I'm partial to the '82 GPz750 myself. Mine still has the stock swingarm but with new bushings and ZRX shocks. I would suggest the cartridge emulators in the front with appropriately sized springs. 

Managed to get an hour or so on the bike today, small progress, but progress nevertheless, fitted new swing arm bearings and fitted it into the frame. I had a good pair of shocks from a ZRX1200, so they went on next. The ZRX being a little lighter than an old Z650, so the spring rate should be ok. However, the top eyelet is 17mm, while the Z650 mounting stub is only 14mm. Will have to make a pair of sleeves to take up the difference..

Thank You Wookie!  I really like the bike.  Made me sick to my stomach when I snapped off the fork pinch bolt stud.  I will get it out.  It is bone stock except for CDI ignition, aftermarket shocks(Works Performance), and Race Tech fork springs.  The latter two changes really improved rideability and handling. 

Otherwise, I have a slight hoarding problem when it comes to motorcycles.  Other than the vintage Kawasakis and a couple of more modern ones(ZRX 1200R and C-14), I just purchase last fall a new KTM Duke 890 R.  I am sure there is a 12 Step Program but I refuse to be cured! 

Well, this is what I wound up with-made-to-order Ikon 7614 alum body shocks from Ikon USA in PA and YSS 265 Emulators from Brooks Suspension in England. Waiting for the seat from Sargent where they’re going to try to replicate a ZRX seat shape.
 

Moving on, the oil leaks and the engine problems. Woe is me!
 

The usual spots on the cylinder head, which is not a huge problem, I'm doing a re-ring anyway so I'll try again. A bit at the base gasket too, but who cares. What worries me more is the leak from the bottom (main suspect is the shift shaft seal) which is kind of embarrassing when I visit my well-to-do friends and family. Furthermore, I feel like I lose about a quart every hundred miles, so I'm putting in some viton valve seals and the aforementioned rings. Compression is not too bad but also not spectacular. 

Starter clutch is going but I have a spare rebuilt from my siezed engine; think I'll change the dampers in there too since I did the clutch basket last year and it still feels jerky. 

The shocks I'm using (thanks to the generosity of Marty in Buffalo) have been leaking for a while; I like them and they feel fine but I'd like to keep oil in them. Not sure if rebuild supplies exist for these, so maybe I'll find some ZRX shocks for less than the cost of putting more metal in my face. 

Thanks, and will do!

I just ordered a front brake line kit from HEL Performance, and plan to get caliper rebuild kits from Brakemasters. I’ll probably get all OEM pieces to rebuild the master cylinder. 

Deciding on the shocks has been the hardest part. I was looking at ZRX400 shocks, but they don’t appear to have the same adjustability. The ZRX1100 shocks do, but then I’d have to have them rebuilt for my smaller bike. Doing that would cost nearly as much, or maybe more than a brand new set of Öhlins. 

Edited to add: my order for the rear fender got cancelled, so I’m grabbing one off eBay. I could easily go with a fender delete kit from Webike, but I’d lose mounting points for reflectors, and I’m not keen on being seen less. 

I currently have a pair of Bitubos on the back of my ZRX1100. They are fully adjustable and fully rebuildable, and several members of the ZRXOA who have ridden both Bitubo and Ohlins say the Bitubos are equal to or nearly equal to Ohlins in performance. I am very pleased with them.
Ohlins and Penske are the gold standard of motorcycle suspension, and are priced accordingly.
At a step lower in price are products from Bitubo, Traxxion Dynamics, Race Tech and such. They are fully adjustable, customizable and rebuildable. Frankly, for street ridden KZs, these will out perform most riders and any stock KZ frame.
A little lower on the price scale are offerings from Ikon, Hagon, Progressive and such. They offer some adjustability and are, in my opinion, an excellent choice for most KZ enthusiasts.
Yet another step down are the non-adjustable shocks from the companies above. They are significantly better than the stock pieces and are also a good choice for many folks.
Below that are the Chinese offerings, and the quality and performance vary quite a bit.

I am not aware of any company offering fork assemblies for stock triple clamps on any KZ, so we are looking at springs and sometimes cartridge emulators. Several of these companies offer springs that will be significantly better than 40 year old stockers.

ymmv

No eBay APP ID and/or Cert ID defined in Kunena configurationHey Guys,
Turning my nice original 81 1100 shaft into a daily driver with ordering shocks, cartridge emulators, fork springs and a Sargent seats job to give the seat a ZRX look.

I’m thinking of fitting fork preload adjusters and getting rid of the air valve. Does anyone know of compatible fork preload adjusters such as the following link? I’m half assuming someone here’s done it already.

711-127632-2357-0

thanks if there’s info to share.

wrote:

I am not sure if the ZRX units would physically fit your Zepher 

I think the fit is the biggest question.  I've read some threads where folks say the spring interferes with the chain guard (not specifically on the ZR550), or some other bits collide.  And if they are longer it might change the geometry.  Here is a random thread I found where someone fit some on a ZR550.

www.sportbikes.net/threads/my-zr550-zeph...-build.426437/page-2

However, if they do fit and you're willing to invest in them, you can get different springs and change the valving to fit the bike.  Race Tech is one place that rebuilds these shocks.  I'm assuming it's not cheap, but still likely cheaper than buying new piggyback shocks from Race Tech.

www.kzrider.com/forum/5-chassis/218595-g...-back-from-race-tech

Overall it might be cheaper to go with Icon, although the end results will probably not be quite as good (or cool looking).

www.ikonsuspension.com/product/7610-1523/



 

Found some ZRX1100 shocks for sale, does anyone know if they will fit and be a good upgrade for my bike? Or can anyone give me any tips on how to track down the answer to that question? Seems like finding reliable info on OEM shocks is just as hard as finding info on USD fork lengths.*

*Reference to another thread.