KZ400: My first build

[Cascadian]

This will be the first time I've worked on a bike. Funny that I chose to just cut the thing up from day one. It all starts will a partially running 1978 KZ400A and it goes like this.



I'll admit, I got a little ahead of myself having never worked on a bike before.




Made the decision to go bobber rather than tracker so I closed my eyes and cut away.

[Cascadian]

Dipped the frame and cleaned it up for the new hard tail.


Lack of a bender had me a bit stuck so I went with the TC. Bros universal kit. Took a bit but I liked the end result.


Got the frame welded up and ready to roll.

Tig work was done by a buddy of mine.


Had some time to kill so I cleaned up 33 years worth of cooked oil and road grime off the engine and wheels. Painted up and ready to go back on.




Was able to buy an old sporty tank for cheap off a friend. Paint and decals had to go.


Found a leak.


Fixed the leak.


Moved the front fender to the rear wheel and went with some bigger tires. I like the way this thing is sitting now.


Cut out a seat pan, lined it with an old camping pad and got some leather from the boys down at Langlitz..




Grabbed some Biltwell Keystonesn seat hinge and 4" springs. Welded a 1" drop down crossbar for the seat rest.


Engine is back on. Need to get a battery and some initial wiring done for kick only. This is how it sits now.

[Cascadian]

Battery Box.

[OldSchoolBully]

Looks well. FIrstly, nice to see someone else who accepted that the sporty tank would hang over the frame at the seat and went 'ah, fuck it'. I have a frisco on mine. Even with the rear tab ground off it overhangs the frame. Meh.... But really, looks fecking great.

[jessadamessa]

Great start man...coming along real well. How did you get the original frame so clean?

[JamesM]

Hell of a job for your first build. Hats off.

[Cascadian]

Great start man...coming along real well. How did you get the original frame so clean?

Have a friend with access to a chem bath.

[truerobotech]

nice

Have a friend with access to a chem bath.

Now thats a friend!

nice build, going to be sweet ride, keep posting the pics as a ya go

[2stroketim]

This is your first build? Lookin good man.