You see weld-on hardtail sections for XS, GS, CB, Triumph, etc. but never for a KZ. I don't understand this when there is clearly a great number of KZ's being built out there. I do not have the tools to build my own hardtail section so it would be nice to have the option to buy one. There's a guy who works in the warehouse next to my job that said he'd weld it up for me if I could find one. What is the reason for fab shops not selling weld-on hardtail sections for KZ's?

If I had to make a quick guess, I would bet that it is due to the lack of interest. For what it's worth, there really isn't that many people hard-tailing KZ's. Most people cafe these bikes. While I'm sure they could be made in a production environment, the cost of development would outweigh the return on investment.

That said, you could always send your frame to me, and I could make one!

It would cost too much to ship back and forth on top of material and paying you. I'm just gonna get the universal hardtail kit from TC Bros or The Factory Metal

Thanks for the offer tho!

my buddy just got done with his hardtailed KZ650 and he just used the universal kit from TC Bros..... said it was pretty straight forward and easy to get to work on the KZ..... it would be nice to see more bolt on, or specific stuff for the KZ though.

Yea, I talked to the guys at TC Bros when I was tryin to get my KZ440 off the ground and they sent me pictures of some customers KZ's with the universal kit installed. It seems pretty straight forward like your friend said. It would just be so much cheaper and easier for someone like me without welding experience to bring the one piece hardtail kit to someone and have them weld the 3 places to the frame. Instead of welding the whole damn thing. But, I guess we'll have to deal with it.

I agree with the basis of this topic. i can see how a lot of kz's are more geared towards cafe. But the kz chain driven twins make great bob/chop powerplants. I used a 78 kz 750 twin in mine, shown in my profile pic and i loved it. I see some universal kits but i would really like to see a kz hardtail. i do see the basis of it maybe not being cost effective and the universals arent bad. I fabbed a lengthier one for mine. But hopefully people see a love for the kz chop like us more and more and we see it offered.

Thanks for the comment Jake! I definitely would like to see more parts made specifically for the kz's. I barely have time to sit on my bike and go vroom vroom between school and work, I def dont have time to be fabbing up parts and shit. This 550 is my first build and I'm not tryin to get too hands on with making one off parts. I'd like to have it lookin cool and feelin comfy enough to ride sooner than later but with no parts available it makes it harder.

I have an 83 KZ750 shaft drive that I just had the frame hard tailed on. I had to have it custom made cost about 500. I can't wit to get bck to the states to finish it. Going to make it jockey shift, bare bones.