!PROJECT! KZ650 Cafe racer

[Andy the gringo]

Matt you probably already know this but I'm gonna bring it to your attention anyway. Those rubber oil lines that close to the header are going to melt the first time you run this bad boy. I'd just hate to see you roast your engine due to an oversight. The taillight looks great BTW.

[zeiss150]

Andy! Way to go! Once again you're looking at the details. I knew that they were in the way of the header and last knight I re-ran them next to the frame, and out of harms way. I also reclocked the spedo drive, it was on the wrong side of the of the little thing that holds it on the fork. The other thing that I need to do isre-rout the clutch cable. Right now it sticks out in front of the headlight.

I'm getting close to being done... I just have to figure out how to do gold leaf.

Have a great day!
Matt-

[Killbert]

it's beautiful! keep it up!

[zeiss150]

MY seat should be ready to pick up tomorrow. Its like Christmas Eve! I'll get pictures as soon as I get it tomorrow.

Matt-

[zeiss150]

It feels like Christmas! I love it ... the seat looks exactly like I wanted it. And it was only $65 bucks. Here's the pictures!



I had them stitch a spade in to the top of the seat ... Its subtle ... but that's what I wanted.



This is the bottom of the seat ... I still need to pain the pan... no big deal just some tape and plastic and it'll be safe from rust.




I knew there was a better way to fasten the vinyl to the pan.... and it was rivets ... that why I pay the professionals.



A side shot!




Check out that spade!






Well that's all for now... I'm going to try to finish up the gold leaf and paint this week. Then just a few more easy fixes and I'll almost be done.

Stay tuned sports fans.
Matt-

[NCDave]

Matt, I admire your craftsmanship. the bike looks really good.

This is ONLY my opinion, but I think you missed it on the rear section. I'd like to see it end about where the turn signals are at. I'd also flatten the seat more and make a lip on the back end of it where it meets the rear section.

Oh...one other thing. cafe's usually don't run a front fender or either I'd have it black as well.

Just my 2 cents, but keep up the great work!

[zeiss150]

Hi NCdave! Thanks for the compliment. I agree with you about the tail section but I just couldn't find anything that worked with the KZ frame. It also would have involved me cutting the frame... and I wasn't ready to mess with the frame.

The seat... Well, we'll just agree to disagree


The front fender... I've seen Many a cafe with front fenders. Its a personal choice, I had the bike without the fender for a while and I like it better with it.

Thanks for your comments and I hope you enjoy the rest of my build!

Matt-

[NCDave]

Well, don't get me wrong, I like how the seat turned out. Sorry, but your local guy did MUCH better than you! I was just saying to chop the back and actually make it a single seater. It might help to see a pic of you sitting on it to put it in more perspective. I've been looking at several with the idea of chopping off the back so it's flush with the signals. After thinking about it all though, and the time I've NOT got for the project, I figured I'd just eventually buy a Triumph Bonnie and make it look kinda like this:

[zeiss150]

That Triumph is beautiful! My next bike will be a Sportster cafe... I know its not a Kawi but... My sportster will be a one seater. I already have some of the parts picked out in my mind. I was very close to making my KZ cafe a one seater but I just couldn't find a tail section that I like that would fit.

I'll try to get a picture with me sitting on the bike soon.

Have a great day!
Matt-

[Torques]

Good stuff.....

[sharky nrk]

very cool thread and super nice build

[NCDave]

Originally Posted by zeiss150

That Triumph is beautiful! My next bike will be a Sportster cafe... I know its not a Kawi but... My sportster will be a one seater. I already have some of the parts picked out in my mind. I was very close to making my KZ cafe a one seater but I just couldn't find a tail section that I like that would fit.

I'll try to get a picture with me sitting on the bike soon.

Have a great day!
Matt-

Think about going with the XR1200. That's another one on my bucket list.

[elr658]

If you went with an XR1200, all you'd have to do is WAX IT!

[zeiss150]

The New XR1200 is a pretty bike. Its to pretty. I was thinking of something a little more like this!

[NCDave]

Very nice! I just love that style of bike. Chop that rear fender off though. it'll have a sportier look.

the nice thing about the XR1200 is the power the motor is putting out. Relative to the standard sportster motor at least.

[zeiss150]

I started doing the paint and gold leaf today.... What a nightmare! My first attempt was a disaster... as was my second attempt. Tomorrow I will try a third and Hopefully final attempt. The hardest part seems to be making a clean stencil and putting the glue on.... oh, and pin striping... is NOT a skill that I have.

Pictures tomorrow.


Matt-

[NCDave]

Some things are better subbed out, huh!

[Rocket_88]

Originally Posted by NCDave

Some things are better subbed out, huh!

Yep. If it's worth doing, it's worth doing well. If you can't do it well yourself, give it to somebody else who can do it properly.

[zeiss150]

AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!! Goldleaf! and then I wake up in a cold sweat. Anyway... I'm fortunate that it comes off super easy. It turns out that the hardest part of doing goldleaf is laying down the sticky stuff. First I had to cut out the stencil which is a pain in the butt. The next step is to put the stencil on the tank and fill it in with "glue". That's the hard part. If the stencil doesn't lay flat then the glue will get under the stencil and mess up the final product. 4 attempts later and I think I've got it. Once the goldleaf is down then I needed to pinstripe.... ohhhhhh man and I thought the goldleaf was a pain. All and all I think it turned out pretty good... I'd give it a 7 out of 10. The only reason that i didn't pay someone to do it is because I like to try to do everything myself ... if it sucks... its on me... If it rocks... its on me.

Here's some pictures..















If your wondering why the tank looks dull its because I sanded the base coat with 1000 grit in order to give the smoothest surface... once the clear coat is laid down the black will be back and it will shine like my new spokes.

So...What do you guys think? Does it suck... Should I be embarrassed? Or do you like it?

Thanks guys, I'll be waiting for your opinions.

Matt-

[KAW>BOY]

I have loved every thing you have done to the bike. The whole build has just been incredible to watch. The gold leaf just doesn't work for me. I don't like the old english font much, and I think it looks out of place, here. Looks like you did a good job on it though. If I were you, I would check into some custom decals or vinyl stick on pieces. They would still be your unique designs, and imho, would give it some more class.

Again, great looking bike.