70s 4stroke Kawasaki parts interchangability

[Stretchy]

I am sure Gos will know this so going to ask.

I have seen and read about parts being changed from models but dont know if they are stright swap or custom.

In particular i am looking at z650, z750, z900, kz1000. Can the frames from these fit any size motor. Have read of a 1000 in the 650 frame.

Can you fit the twin disc setup on any model forks?

Any websites with detailed knowledge?

Reason i am asking is i am going to the states again early next year and looking at picking up a few bikes. Some to sell and one to setup as a cafe racer road bike and one to setup as a classic race bike. They are cheap as chips over there, sometimes even free as my mate just got given a KZ1000 so could get a few for very little.
Just starting my research so i can decide what i am going to do, if this doesnt work out may just pick up a ZXR750 or ZX7R. Or take the plunge and get an 08 ZX10R for the new Formula Extreme rules.

Decisions, Decisions.

[Gosling1]

......I have seen and read about parts being changed from models but dont know if they are stright swap or custom.

In particular i am looking at z650, z750, z900, kz1000. Can the frames from these fit any size motor. Have read of a 1000 in the 650 frame.

Can you fit the twin disc setup on any model forks?......Any websites with detailed knowledge?

Reason i am asking is i am going to the states again early next year and looking at picking up a few bikes. Some to sell and one to setup as a cafe racer road bike and one to setup as a classic race bike. They are cheap as chips over there, sometimes even free as my mate just got given a KZ1000 so could get a few for very little.......

Hi Stretchy - lets see what we can do for you........

The z650 and z750 motors are basically exactly the same bottom ends. z650's have kick-starters, z750's don't. You can fit a set of z750 pistons and cylinder onto a z650 bottom end, for a cheap conversion to a 750. Heads are interchangeable. Fitting a 650 head onto a 750 bottom end will give you a slight increase in compression as well - always a good thing . z650 and z750 motors can be swapped between 650 and 750 frames.

You can even fit 750 Zephyr bits to the early motors, they use the same bottom-end, lots of castings and just dress the outside up a bit.


You *cannot* fit an early Z900 / Z1000 motor into the z650/z750 frame. You can however fit the later GpZ1100 or Z1000J motors into the smaller frames. The reason is that the early 900s and thou's had the kickstart casting at the rear of the cases, the later 1000's and 1100's don't, and thus can be squeezed into a 650 or 750 frame. Its a tight fit - I just did a Z1000J motor into a 1980 z750 frame for a Period 5 racer I am currently building. Its a really tight fit, but it can be done. You need to take the cams out to fit the head on, then put the cams in and keep going !

Most of the early 650's, 900's and 1000's use 36mm forks. These can be swapped between models pretty freely. z650 or z750 triple clamps will fit into z900 or z1000 frames, and give you much quicker steering due to the reduced offset. I have used z650 triple clamps in the Black Pearl now for 10-12 years ?? can't really remember when they went in.

Brakes - the early 900's used 6-bolt disc rotors, from the 1976 Z900A4, they went to a 4-bolt pattern. z650's also used a 4-bolt pattern, so disc rotors can be swapped freely between all models that use the 4-bolt rotor. All 4-bolt disc rotors are 295mm diameter, so no worries changing between models. The early 6-bolt rotor is the same as a H2750, as is the early-model calipers. Calipers from the 1976 900 can be freely swapped between most 1000's up to 1980. Rear brake drums / hubs can be freely swapped between H2 and early 900's with a drum brake rear. You will need to change some small items, axle spacers etc, but this is pretty easy.

From the Z1000J onwards, different calipers were used - GpZ1100 calipers can be freely swapped with J calipers from 1981 to about 1983.....the parts interchangability started to decline in the early to mid 80s, there are a lot of external cosmetic stuff that can be changed, eg GpZ1100B1 and B2 and Z1000J tanks are the same, but from 1983 onwards, the models became a lot more *specific* to themselves, in a lot of respects. During the 70's, it was another story altogether !

The twin-disc setup can be done on every Z900. They all came with a set of mounting lugs on the lower RH fork leg, and the RH side of the front hub is already drilled. Getting a disc rotor is easy, but getting a RH caliper for an early Z900 will cost you an arm and a leg. Stick a set of Z1000A1 (1977) forks on an early 900 if you want a twin-disc set-up, its way cheaper.

Wire-spoke wheels - these are freely interchangeable between all spoked model Z900's and Z1000's. The spoked front wheel of a Z650 is also exactly the same as the z900 spoke wheel. The 650 rear wheel cannot be interchanged, the rear drum and hub is smaller than the 900/1000.

Stay away from the Z1000ST - shaft drive model. *Nothing* on these models will interchange with anything else, apart from the barrel/head to other Z1000's. Everything else is different, wheels, brakes, forks, everything.

There are a few good Z Owners websites, but none of them have any type of list of parts interchangeability.........good to get knowledge from, and parts.

Good luck mate, hope you find what you are looking for. If you spot a cheap 1980 Z1000G *Classic*, can you bring it back for me ??

cheers
Gosilla

[Neka79]

wholly crap Gos....

who needs hte M encyclopedia (motorbicycle) when Gos is about??


probably forgotten more shit abt bikes than i kno....

glad ur on our side!!

[Gosling1]

cheers Neka

There is a lot of other stuff that is interchangeable, tailight lenses, headlights, switchblocks etc etc, but it depends on wether you are building a 'concours' bike, or just want an everyday runner. Rear shocks, chain adjusters, footpegs - the list is almost endless. Kawasaki were really good with parts swapping - but for later model stuff, I-K is the man. He has done much the same type of shit I have done, only with later model ZX6's and 9's. It seems that during the 80's, Kawasaki dropped the ball a bit on parts swapping, but seem to have gone back to their old ways with models from the 90's ?? Its those bloody beancounters, wanting to keep things as cheap as possible.....

[Stretchy]

Thanks for that Gos.

I have already been looking at bikes through the web to get an understanding of prices. 650s are really cheap and thats why i was asking about interchangability.
900s and 1000s vary greatly in price depending on condition and if the owner knows what they are. I may just look at these so i dont have to be doing a lot of searching for parts.

One other question - over there they have the LTD models which are the cheapest of the 1000. Are they the same as the normal models mechanically and frame wise as they basically look the same just with cruiser bars, big seats and lots of chrome.

Have also thought about a H1500 but not real sure.

Would definatly like a H2750 but they are expensive unless total shit heaps.

I saw this heavily modified H2 on Ebay, stopped watching after it got close to $10000us. Very nice though.

[Gosling1]

yes, the LTD models are basically the same as far as engines and frames are concerned. They normally have poxxy King/Queen seats and apehanger bars, but all that stuff can be changed easily.

Thats a nice lookin' H2 !