1982 GPz750 (R1) coming home

[Bad Kaw]

Originally Posted by hipsterdufus

i still have yet to go to the cassoday meet. i did the whole "dirt road only" dual sport thing for a few months on a 09 KLR, and it was just a pain to hit the highway on. after i get this up to my standards ill for sure be there a few times a year.

Oh, did you do that BTK thing (Backroads Touring Kansas)...very unfortunate choice of acronyms for a Kansas club, eh? I had a few friends that hung out with them; they made it sound like you had to find the right group in that crowd in order to have an enjoyable time...but I wouldn't know.

-KR

[hipsterdufus]

me and my buddy always dual-sported by ourselves. riding in a dual sport club kind of takes the "adventure" out of it, lol


well went on a 90 miles trip tonight on the gpz, im a little leary about dumping money into this thing, i was a big sportbike rider and might need that feeling back.

i'll post up in the classifieds if i let her go with all goodies i ordered.

[Bad Kaw]

Oh HEY!!!

You guys, go check this out: http://www.kz1000r.com/

My bike is bike of the month over at KZ1000R...cool!!!

-KR

[HAILCON71]

Great article Kaw. I love the pegs. I like reading these pages because it so full of information and it gives me ideas. You mentioned in the article get "coating" for your exhaust. I did a little fact finding on the original exhaust on mine and the general concensus is that it is black chrome! I rubbed some of the coating off on the back side of one of the pipes and I would agree that it is black paint on chrome if anything. I was thinking a ceramic paint or a powder coat would really look great! What were you planning on using?

[Fahrfrumworkken]

Hi guys, new to the Kawasaki forum and can't help but notice how similar the bikes are in this date range. My project bike is a 1983 KZ750L. I paid $850 with it running and in fair condition but have sunk about 1k into it with carb overhauls, all the connecting rubber mounts since it was left out in the sun.
New seat cover and I just ordered new mirrors for it. Now I am working on the paint. The tank is factory as is most of the frame. I am working on getting it all finished up and its a nice runner. There is another place for decals that I found when looking for the 750 that goes on the tail piece.
I have the link at work but will post it tomorrow. Never mind I found it here. Its RDdecals.com - Vintage and Discontinued Decals and they were the only place that had an exact match for my bike.
Heres where it stands today.
Nice bikes everyone.
Jim

[Bad Kaw]

HAILCON71,
Thanks man!
Yeah, the "coating" I'm likely to go with is with these guys: Airborne Coatings
Reason being that I have two friends with turbo bikes and they have used them (Airborne) on numerous occassions. One guy has a drag bike, the othe guy has a drag bike and two streetbikes. Turbos get HOT and the punishment these guys put their stuff through is a testament. Both of these guys had some pipes done 5 years ago and both guys' pipes still look like new.
That being said I have heard good things about JettHot out of Oklahoma, but I have no experiencial data to relay to you on their products.

Interesting that you should comment on the header; first off there is a place in NY that does 'black chroming' but it is very expensive, and yes the factory guys refer to their black header coatings as 'black chrome' and their motor paint as 'black enamel'.

My mechanic/genius buddy who is working on a little problem with the bike did this to it over the weekend w/o my knowledge. Tell me what you think about this can. I AM STOKED! Looks great!

[Bad Kaw]

Fahrf...,
Very cool bike man! I'm looking for some KZ750 side plate emblems like yours to install on mine as I think I could do some neat things to them and make them look 'good' and 'right'.
Your bike is very good looking! If you do anything to it, post up!

-KR

[Fahrfrumworkken]

Hey Bad, thanks for the compliments. I am very pleased with the way it is shaping up.
I learned something about the speedometers on this model of bike over the weekend. Mostly no gears inside to shred. The mechanism is magnetic based. I thought I had shelled the speedo and when I pulled it out to inspect it, a through cleaning and relube had it up and displaying speed again. I was even able to "calibabrate" it with my GPS by comparing and moving the needle (remove and re-insert) in the appropriate direction. I was not looking forward to spending $400 for a new OEM speedo.
I would assume that would apply to the ELR bikes since they use basically the same speedo but with a better range.
Jim

[tri650]

Wow - good stuff on the 750. I am a new Gpz750 owner (82) and would like to replace the current clamp on bars with a set of handlebars. I was told the KZ triple tree work for the same year but when I bought one on ebay it was about 1/4" wider at the fork tube openings - I measured center to center. Does anyone know if a KZ triple tree will measure the same as the Gpz? I don't want to replace the entire front end - just the triple tree so I can mount a handlebar. Not sure if making a spacer for the front wheel could make up that 1/4 inch and if that is even feasable.

[HAILCON71]

Fahrfrumworkken
I bought Decals from RD and they were junk! I had a detailer do my GPz stripes for 1/4 the price. He found vinyl "Tape" that turned out just beautiful.I would avoid RD if you can! It can't hurt to call a detailer or bring the tail piece in. Your 750 L is gorgeous. It makes me want to look for one for my next project!

[HAILCON71]

Originally Posted by Bad Kaw

HAILCON71,
Thanks man!
Yeah, the "coating" I'm likely to go with is with these guys: Airborne Coatings
Reason being that I have two friends with turbo bikes and they have used them (Airborne) on numerous occassions. One guy has a drag bike, the othe guy has a drag bike and two streetbikes. Turbos get HOT and the punishment these guys put their stuff through is a testament. Both of these guys had some pipes done 5 years ago and both guys' pipes still look like new.
That being said I have heard good things about JettHot out of Oklahoma, but I have no experiencial data to relay to you on their products.

Interesting that you should comment on the header; first off there is a place in NY that does 'black chroming' but it is very expensive, and yes the factory guys refer to their black header coatings as 'black chrome' and their motor paint as 'black enamel'.

My mechanic/genius buddy who is working on a little problem with the bike did this to it over the weekend w/o my knowledge. Tell me what you think about this can. I AM STOKED! Looks great!

I like the can. Only problem is once that you have the Pipes and down pipes painted...your going to want to paint the frame! That pipe on there right now gives it more of a GPz look than an ELR. Sort of like mixing Genre's. I'm a 4 into 2 kinda guy, so staying with stock makes that decision easier for me. I wish I knew how to modify an engine so I could put any pipes I want on my 750. My roomate has a 2009 GSXR 1000 and I would love to talk him into getting a header for his bike so I could "Take his old pipes off his hands"
I'm still waiting for the paint guy to give me some parts. I started the rear caliper rebuild, so I guess I could go out to the garage and start some cleaning. Did you buy your brake lines as a kit, or did you have to buy each one individually.

[Fahrfrumworkken]

Hailcon, thanks for the heads up. I haven't ordered anything decal wise and was planning on checking out the local custom graphics shops. Albuquerque has a few. Thanks for the compliment as well. I really like the looks of that model.

[Ponzilla]

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos...646974_n.jp g
Congrats on getting your scoot back!!
Sorry, just the motor is GPZ, the rest is KZ...
I have a new soft top for that Bronco though, I had a 67 and a 77.

[Ponzilla]

Congrats on getting your scoot back, I think everyone can relate to selling something only to wish they had it back!
BTW, I have a new soft top for that Bronco, I had a 67 and a 77.
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos...646974_n.jp g

[Bad Kaw]

Ponzilla,
Thank you! Yes, I'm glad to have it back in the garage. Good looking KZ! What are the rims? Are they 18s or ??? I like the black.

[Bad Kaw]

Fahrf,
The brake lines are custom made; but didn't cost any more than a pre-fabricated set. I don't know if they make sets for my bike or not. I just had a Russell set put on my GS1150ES and it's a 1984, so it stands to reason that Russell should have a set for the 82GPz as that bike probably has identical brake cable lengths to several other KZs.
I used "Extreme Cycles" in Topeka, Ks: 785-234-5007. They can order and ship anything to you; I am friends with the owner (Brian Lewis) for over 20 years and I'll put my name behind him. His name is his reputation; give him a ring and drop my name (Kenton Russell). I'm sure if they make lines for the bike he can find them and get them delivered to you.

-KR

[Bad Kaw]

Originally Posted by HAILCON71

I like the can. Only problem is once that you have the Pipes and down pipes painted...your going to want to paint the frame! That pipe on there right now gives it more of a GPz look than an ELR. Sort of like mixing Genre's. I'm a 4 into 2 kinda guy, so staying with stock makes that decision easier for me. I wish I knew how to modify an engine so I could put any pipes I want on my 750. My roomate has a 2009 GSXR 1000 and I would love to talk him into getting a header for his bike so I could "Take his old pipes off his hands"
I'm still waiting for the paint guy to give me some parts. I started the rear caliper rebuild, so I guess I could go out to the garage and start some cleaning. Did you buy your brake lines as a kit, or did you have to buy each one individually.

Yeah! I know! I had outter engine covers on my 'J' powdercoated black a year ago and when I saw them I was like "YES!", then I put them on and I was like "NO!"...need to paint the frame now! Ha!!! It's okay, Kraig painted the whole header yesterday and the exhaust is FANTASTIC looking now...hope it doesn't set things off too bad. I agree with the GPz v ELR, so I think I'll stay with the megaphone and the ELR look...if I go back to GPz I'll come up with maybe a HTP blacked out cannister or something.
I know what you mean about the GSXR dual canister systems, they're sort of bad-*** looking...if you could swing that you might pull off a very cool look. If you do = POST UP and let me know!!! Sounds like a killer project.
On a similar note I have an entire TL1000S rear end (suspention, tail section, eshaust) and I've got a little idea about grafting that stuff onto a KZ in my garage...

-KR

[kirkg]

looking for elr green paint. Any one?

[Ponzilla]

Originally Posted by Bad Kaw

Ponzilla,
Thank you! Yes, I'm glad to have it back in the garage. Good looking KZ! What are the rims? Are they 18s or ??? I like the black.

The front rim is a stock 18" KZ650 rim, the Back is a 16" Harley rim. Stock Kz hubs. I had them powdercoated with satin black and the spokes are stainless, Buchanan has the spoke kits.

[Ponzilla]

Originally Posted by kirkg

looking for elr green paint. Any one?

Any automotive paint supplier should be able to match that color if you can give them a sample. I deal with a place in Baltimore called Kunkle. They have a Dupont color chart called Spectra Master that has every color you could imagine in it.