Thanks for the info.

I'm tuning the bike so I can commute with it it during the week. About a 30 minute drive but I'm on the highway doing about 80-85, or at least trying to. haha Mark, I read your info on the shocks, but like yours I only found people using different swing arms.

I'll have to look into a used or aftermarket guard as mine is original to the bike and I really don't want to ruin it.

Will post pics when they show up.

They fit fine only problem is the chain guard. Either remove it or cut a big hole along side the shock.

just put em on and ride. then you'll know for sure.
i used a whole zrx12 rear end. if u jack the rear too high, u may have chain issues. the front should not be a problem, unless u plan on riding at very high speeds for extended periods. it will steer quicker.which is a good thing.

Thankfully, those shocks are serviceable. If the geo gets weird I can fab up some limiters to make them the right length. Just worried about side clearance as stated above.

EDIT: Already bought them, just want to see what I'm in for. :laugh:

carefull jacking up rear of bike too much,it does weird things to front end geomotry.

Looks like the width is the same as far as the mounts go. Any issues with chain clearance or the top mount/fender area?

Mounts need to be .800 wide top and bottom to fit,as measured on my ZRX.

Besides the ZRX units being 3/4" longer, are they a direct swap? I cant find any info with someone using a stock swingarm. My back is killing me.

650ed wrote:

79MKII wrote: www.kawasaki-cp.khi.co.jp/Z_special/history/index_e.html

Pretty cool stuff on the history...not sure I like the "new" Z though...I'd really like to see more of a tribute bike like a ZRX or Zephyr in Z1 paint.

Agreed! I can't get into bikes that look like they were made from a bunch of parts from unrelated models that don't fit very well together. The new "Z" bikes simply do not flow. The Zephyr, on the other hand, was a beautiful bike that captured the essence of the original Z. Ed

Attachment KawasakiZephyr1100RS971.jpg not found

That is a cool looking machine...haven't seen one in a while. Just noticed how nice the wheels, tires, brakes, swingarm, shocks and forks are....hmmm....that would make a really nice conversion...Spoked wheels and all. Don't believe I've seen any of those parts adapted to a KZ yet.

Actually, the entire front end would look awesome on a Z1 or KZ, gauges and everything. Time to start looking for a donor bike!

mine is about an inch below that.
i'm not sure that u can just copy something like that sanctuary position. Without the shocks in hand and some trial and error , u just don’t know. U need to have the right amount of sag fore the springs, when u r done . so unless u can temporarily mount the shocks and check the sag, u r guessing. If u guess wrong u need to buy new springs, then the valving wont be optimal.
In my case I just copied the zrx geometry so I knew it was going to be right. Of course I didn’t use this logic the first time I did it . :laugh: so I had to redo it.
the ride hight depends on the bikes use. for me, the higher the better. its toooo easy to scrape the motor in the turns, at the track. the 17" wheels and modern forks,take a lot of clearance away. take a look at the stance of my bike. i have it fairly level. i raised the front a bit.

here is a pic fromthe first setup. the forks in the normal position for zx9's . look at the shocks and u can see they r layed down at the bottom, and on stock mounts at the top.