The rear zrx shocks are on the way, shipped today.

Just my $.02,
For my Z1 (which will mostly be used for looong distance rides when finished) I'm using a PMC frame bracing kit, stiffer springs/heavier weight oil/gold cartridge fork emulator valves in the stock front and ZRX shocks in the back. Not that major but I figure it'll kick the handling up from the flexi flyer the Z1 could be to a fairly stable ride

That's what I'm talkin' about! You guys are fantastic.
I am buying forks this week.!
This is all very important stuff. This bike will be capable of being a daily rider, Especially if gas is $4.00 again:ohmy:
I plan to ride a little on the weekend with my girlfriend, maybe 100 miles.
I am about 225 lbs and she is 5 foot and size 2.
I am not looking to take down a turbo Hayabusa or win a bike show. I do plan to modify and improve this bike correctly and in the end I do not want to compromise.
My fork tubes are pitted and I have lost a lot of oil.
The rear shocks are off of a,,,, truck?
I basically have a hard tail with failing front suspension.
Thought about calling Z1 or Redline and ordering tubes.
I have decided instead that I really like new technology.
I like stopping also. This bike is actually a 1980 MkII with a 78 body. I like this body.
If this were a Z1 or 900 I would restore it.

Anyway It's looking more and more like zx9 forks and wheels, zrx shocks, an offset sprocket, and custom rear sprocket and a swingarm from Klasmos for mounting a zx9 rear wheel on a KZ. this is not written in stone.
Ground clearance for leaning into turns is a big concern for me, I drag the toe of my boots as it is.

Again everyone, thank you very much for the help.
I hope you can enjoy this project also.

i would remove material from just the swingarm and leave the frame alone, remove equal amounts from both sides of the swingarm so it's centered in the frame, a grinder or a file would work but i would find somebody with a mill to trim the arm for you that way you know the ends are straight, thats what i did with my swingarm, and do the spacer caps off yuor 650 arm fit on to the new arms. you'll wanna try and use them if possible to geep the bearings some what shieled, oh yeah good luck on them zrx shocks they go between 150 225 dollars on ebay i've been watching them for over a year :ohmy:

Got new sprocket and chain. I found a JT front sprocket with 5mm more off-set that previous one. Also I can get 2mm extra by putting the rear sprocket "up-side-down" if you get my meaning.

JT sprockets:
-Front: JTF528.17 (24mm, offset 15mm) old one was 527.17 (19mm, offset 10mm)
-Rear: JTR502.45

Tomorrow I´m going to see my pal at his shop. He runs a small steel fabrication company and they´re specialized in stainless. We´re going to fab the extra axle sleeve, some sleeves for rear shocks and shave down the right side axle sleeve. Also if we have time we´ll fab new brackets for instrumentpanel, fairing and lamp.

Updates coming, hope somebody finds this intrestingB)

My first project! 1984 KZ750 L4


I'm planning on installing:
- a new front end (zx636 forks. trees, clipons)
- a ZRX1100 swingarm/rear shocks
- ZRX or ZX wheels
- gussets to stiffen the frame
- a round headlight

Never done anything like this before but I"m excited about the challenge.

Any thoughts???

Thanks for the help. I'm planning on stiffening the frame with some gussets and installing a new front end (zx636) and rear swingarm (ZRX1100) and shocks. I'd like to use the ZRX shocks too but believe them to be longer than these stock ones so I'll have to decide sooner or later.
It's got a full Muzzy system and jetted carbs too. The bike will be primarily used on the track but be street legal as well.

It's going to be tons of work but the reward at the end will be worth it.

Well, went ahead and bid on an SV swingarm, just gonna see what happens. They're cheap, so no big deal. Convert, in the pic the wheel is just wedged in there...it hits both side of the swingarm taper. Just wanted to get a visual. As for the shocks, I'm not planning on doing a monoshock setup, but rather have some mounts welded onto whatever swingarm I end up using. A pair of ZRX shocks would be mighty nice looking
If I use the sv swingarm a half inch will have to come off somewhere and the tabs on the frame are exactly 1/4 inch on each side which would leave me with nothing...so maybe I could take 1/8 from the frame and 1/8 from the sides of the swingarm. Just worried about the bearings.

Looking good. Did you relocate the lower clevices that the shocks mount to ?

Bad Kaw wrote:

Lorcan wrote:

I've had a couple of JMC arms. They aren't as strong as they look. Fine for a 100hp road bike, not so good for a 200hp+ road/drag bike. They are a bit bendy, I've bent two JMC wheel spindles, and the roll pins that locate the adjuster bolts fall out. On my dad's bike the chain jumped off at over 190mph due to this. Take whatever delivery time you are given and double it.

TRAC and MacIntosh arms are popular with the UK drag racers. Spondon arms are too, but with the same delivery caveat as JMC and don't bother ordering any accessories such as chainguard or caliper hanger - they won't fit.

If you need a strong box section arm for a Z or KZ you could do a lot worse than a GSXR600/750/1000/Busa arm. I run an extended 600 arm and it's run over 200mph several times and low 9 second passes with no drama. You can weld in or bolt in extensions, and weld on shock mounts. They polish up ok too, once you get past the weird outer coating. They are narrow enough at the front to fit most KZs, unlike modern Kawasaki arms which are generally too wide.

Information to "live" by; thanks for that post, especially the info about the arms that fit. I've run into the 'fit' problem with later model Kawasakis, with your post I don't have to "buy and learn". Thanks again!
-KR

Ok, I want to make sure i'm on the same page. The gsxr600/750/1000 and busa arms fit our Kz'z? What about mine? What kind of mods do I need to do other than welding shock mounts to the arms? I'd like to use ZRX1200R rear shocks.
Oh, what year arms are we talking about here?
Thanks