1980 KZ750 bobber build

[MetalArc Customs]

This is a build I did last year. I bought this bike off of craigslist from a young guy in Helena Mt for $700. It only had 6100 original miles on it and he said it just died one day and he didn't know why. I'm not much of a mechanic but knew enough to know there couldn't be TOO much wrong with it as it turned over easy enough. Turns out new points and condenser was all it needed ...this is it the day I hauled it to the shop.

 

[MetalArc Customs]

I started by cutting off all the "un-necessary" stuff....like all the frame work and shocks off the back end.....I left the swing arm to keep the wheel in the original location and heading. I slid the forks up 4" to lower the front end....which made using the original handlebars un-possible......oh darn....guess I gotta build some.....BTW....I did this whole build with the DeWalt 4" grinder in the picture.....a Harbor Freight 110 v flux core welder....and a Harbor Freight 36" sheet metal brake.....I wouldn't recommend this method to the novice builder....but I have spent 30 years as a sheet metal worker/pipeline welder and I know all my welds are good....even with this welder. I was actually pretty impressed with how well this little welder worked[

 

[MetalArc Customs]

The original handlebars were 8" high. Since I lowered the front end 4" I was able to build a set that was 12" high and still be able to use the original cables and brakelines. As you can see, sliding the forks up blocked the path for "normal" handlebars that swept up on the outside of the clamps so I built this set to come up between the clamps.

 

[MetalArc Customs]

The next step was building the tank.

 

[MetalArc Customs]

I cut the bottom out of the original tank so the tunnel would fit the frame......genius.....I know. I trimmed the sides so I had straight edges to work with. I built the top and just let the sides end up where ever they did.

 

[MetalArc Customs]

I cut the bung hole ( giggity ) out of the original tank and welded it to the new one.

 

[MetalArc Customs]

Looks like a coffin tank from above or behind.......

 

[MetalArc Customs]

....and a prism tank from the sides.....happy accident!!!!

 

[earthman]

Raw-thuh nifty i say.

 

[MetalArc Customs]

Hard tail time....didn't have a tubing bender at this point but the straight frame matched the lines of the tank really well......BTW....the white wall are Moon Eyes port-0-walls......the front one went on great the first try.....the back one (not pictured here) was a pain.....never did get ALL the wrinkles out of them.....but for the price I like them.

 

[MetalArc Customs]

Hard tail

 

[MetalArc Customs]

Engine out.....seat and spring mounted......robbed a fender off a 73 CB750 and slapped that on....

 

[MetalArc Customs]

LIGHT IT UP!!!!!!.......the lights are from Washington Choppers.....really great guys there.....use them if you can. The headlight is not the one I ordered...they were out of the one I wanted so they sent the next higher priced one at no additional charge....cool....the tail light is way cool and super bright.....the cops here don't like it at all.....which just makes it cooler ....

 

[MetalArc Customs]

The seat and spring are both off of EBAY.....I can do better leatherwork than this, but this was a budget build and got this one for $117. The spring is a mountain bike coil over 300 lb adjustable thing.

 

[soltz]

Looks like a fun build and a fun ride. I like doing odd things as well. The CB750's are fun to play with. The other one is a Kawasaki Vn750
I like to lengthen swing arms and cutting the junk.

 

[MetalArc Customs]

Get rid of those pesky mufflers and weld on some straight pipes!!!!![

 

[MetalArc Customs]

Thought I would add a jockey shift......turns out this didn't work too well......too "floppy" and kept hitting the tank so changed it back to foot shift.....I will rework it and put the jockey shift under my left leg so I can just reach straight down a grab it...

 

[MetalArc Customs]

Wrapped the exhaust with fiberglass pipe wrap. Instructions said to wear gloves to do it......I didn't.......on the FIRST one ......gloves AND long sleeves on the second one......HOLY BUCKETS!!!!!!!

 

[MetalArc Customs]

Done-ish.......a few bugs to work out......this thing is crazy fast. No speedo but guys I run with ride between 100 to 120 on the interstate....cops hardly ever try to pull over large groups of bikes in Montana....especially when 90% of us have REAL patches....I.e. NOT H.O.G. Or some other Ma and Pa "club". Put over 10,000 on this bike this year. Started riding in February riding 35 miles every night to my night job (bouncer at a a "gentlemans" club) and riding back at 3:00 am at temps in the single digits......never claimed to be the smartest knife in the chandelier!!!!!