The engine covers originally are not chrome plated. So those were plated or aftermarket. The only chrome piece is the starter cover. Those covers are supposed to be polished aluminum, but NOT mirror polish.

You can find stock carbs for about $200-250 set. You'll need an airbox too. Mine runs ALOT better without those dumb pods, stock airbox and stock jetting.

You can buy aftermarket shocks with reflectors that look OEM. They are not the greatest for riding at high speeds though. For that I swap them out with a modded set from a ZRX. But I easily swap tham back for cruising or shows, etc.

Rear wheel is not stock either and it looks like the brake plate is chrome? That's supposed to be polished.

Here's by restoration thread: kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/375078-75-z1-resto

I cut away the tabs and fabricated the ears/ then tig welded them in place. Perfect fit for my old mulhollands and now the zrx shocks. I can photo it for you and provide more details like final size of the new tabs/etc...
Worked very well and has been rock solid for 5 years ir so. Position kept same height as well.
I have two more in the attic that some winter ill crank out a few more.
Z1ent also sells weld on tabs, but there is a "ridge"along the top that i felt should remain, would make it hard to weld their tabs if u kept it. I would love to hear if anyone has used thise tabs on this swingarm.
K

NakedFun, if you don't care maybe with some help from 531bb I'd like to compose a parts list on this build page of yours for converting a kz into an old school ZRX. I'll wait for your approval to build a build sheet on your page and I'll fine tune this specific thread so one doesn't have to search all over the build for specific parts. And if you don't want me to just say so. I've sure enjoyed watching you build and am gearing up to do the same/similar to this old 78 1000 I picked up.

2001-2005 components

Swingarm 250.00
Set of shocks 200.00-300.00
Offset sprocket 50.00
Forks ???
Triple trees upper and lower 200.00
Brakes front/rear used 200.00
Wheels/tires 500.00

These prices and list are composed from what I've found on fleabay.

Lets not forget there is going to be money involved in machine work to make all the newer parts jive with our old dinosaurs.

I'll keep adding to the list as necessary.

Thanks for the info. I knew they looked similar to the ZRX shocks, but it didn't occur to me they could be off of one, I just assumed they were KYB aftermarket. The bike handles nicely up to about 90-95, then starts to get a wobble, though no where near as bad as some I've been on. I took it up to around 110, but it didn't feel too stable at that speed, so I didn't push it any farther. Seems pretty solid in turns, though I haven't pushed it too hard in them, so I am assuming they are reasonably close to OE shock length. I didn't buy it to push too hard, just wanted to see what it had and how it handled at higher speeds now that I had enough miles on it to know it was basically pretty solid. It definitely turns some heads, and gets questions at the gas pump. Amazes everyone that it is 31 years old.

jdougs wrote: After going about 25 years without riding, I finally just couldn't take it any more! I decided I needed a green GPZ 750 or 1100, and it had to be a twin shock model to look at close to an ELR as possible without actually being one. So here's my new baby!

Beautiful Green Machine!

BTW, You do know that you have KYB shocks from the 1999-2000 ZRX 1100 and 2001-2005 ZRX 1200 Models?

I´m thinking of installing 1998 zrx 1100 shocks to my KZ 1100. The zrx shocks are 20mm longer (KZ shocks are 340mm eye to eya and zrx, as far as I know are 360mm). How will this change the geometry/handling of the bike?

I started riding in 2011.

My first bike was a 1980 kz440 ltd. It was running but had original 32 year old tires, bad brake master cylinder, one muffler baffle, and no air box.

I fixed it up by rebuilding the forks, new dunlops, new tachometer, new handle bar, new master cylinder, air pods, removed muffle baffle, dynojet kit, wrapped pipes, euro style grips and mirrors, and free saddle bags from my neighbor.





rode this bike for a year, received a lot of complements from Harley riders on the look and sound of the bike. was able to sell it quickly on craigslist for a good profit <-- this confirms my opinion that the KZ ltd is a beautiful thing.

my new bike is a KZ 750 ltd, I have been riding it for about a year but there was a lot of down time. this bike was purchased in non running condition but it was complete with airbox and mufflers.





I fixed this bike up with handle bars, aprila mirrors, rebuilt and painted the forks, zrx1200 shocks, z1 lowering links, custom turn signals





after I fixed the bike up to running condition I had an accident colliding with a deer at 55mph

I just noticed the ZRX shocks in the pic, no wonder it's leaning so far, it's got shocks that are ~14.75" long, and the stock shocks were much shorter.

You jacked up the back end, which raises the frame, and you didn't lengthen the kickstand

I put 14.75" Koni shocks on my 750 twin to replace the worn out 12.5" stock shocks.

I now use a piece of 2"x4" under the kickstand. :laugh:

tk11b40 wrote: Rear shocks:

fully extended 13.5" center to center eye to eye.

Yes they are 17 inch wheels, Front from an early 90's GSXR, rear from a 99 ZRX 1100.

Thank you for the compliment, you appear to be from Seattle, I was living in Wenatchee until 2007.

When you are ready just hit me up. I can walk you through the swingarm switch. The 99 ZRX fits right in. Then there is the chain alignment, and the front and rear wheel alignment.

Its all do-able.

Rear shocks:

fully extended 13.5" center to center eye to eye.

Yes they are 17 inch wheels, Front from an early 90's GSXR, rear from a 99 ZRX 1100.

Thank you for the compliment, you appear to be from Seattle, I was living in Wenatchee until 2007.