KZ250 without direction (Just seeing what happens as we go.) - Page 2 - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

Christ · 09-30-2010, 07:53 PM

I gotta check the laws around here. If I don't need signals, I ain't gonna run 'em, so that stuff can mostly get lost.

If the law says I need 'em, I'll figure out something that isn't mounted on a 6" stick.

Rear fender's definitely staying off, and the front one is definitely either staying off, or getting changed to something not so damn shiny.

Christ · 09-30-2010, 08:02 PM

So right now, I'm looking at a Ducati GT1k front end (maybe, already bought it though), a round cafe tail, custom mounted rearsets in place of the passenger pegs, and clip-on handles, with ZX6 (16") alloy wheels. I'm adding weight to the design, unfortunately, but it'll look and feel more modern with those parts installed, and I'll have hydraulic brakes and more modern street tires instead of the things that are on it now.

I may or may not run a cafe fairing. Still haven't decided.

I also managed to get the carb cleaned out, just need to replace some gaskets, and put a pipe on it, oil and filter, and some gas, and it should be ready to fire up.

The cafe conversion is aerodynamic, at least... it lessens frontal area because of the leaning position.

Christ · 10-01-2010, 12:42 AM

Forgot to post the pics from cleaning the carb. Not too many here, wasn't a clean job, and didn't want to mess up my phone.

The first pic is the top opened up. Nothing going on in there, so I wiped it with oil and put it all back together.

The next one is the main jet holder when I pulled it out. Black/green grimey crap on it. The napkin was what quickly wiped off with no solvents or anything.

The last pic is after a quick brush w/ a brass filament brush. I later cleaned the passages with wire and cleaned the carb body with drill bits and 150PSI shop air.. there was literally caked tar-like stuff (like tobacco tar) in the carb air passages. No idea what it was, but this bike definitely sat for more than a year, like the PO was claiming.

The inside of the motor looks cared-for, though, so it's still not bad-off.

user removed · 10-01-2010, 06:48 AM

Try some tarn-x on the emulsion tubes.

regards
Mech

Christ · 10-01-2010, 08:24 AM

I don't worry so much about them being tarnished a bit, cuz it won't affect the way the carb works, and it's not like anyone can see them anyway.

I just clean 'em up with a brush, clean the passages out thoroughly, and re-assemble. Been doing that for years.

The only things I clean shiny are the air passages, the bowl vent tube, and the bowl/inlet.

ShadeTreeMech · 10-02-2010, 08:38 AM

Smart man. The inside is more important.

BTW I like that quote. I do not want a better life. I want to be happy with the one I have now.

HaiRuiDe · 10-03-2010, 05:03 PM

Looks like you are well on your way keep it up! What do you think you'll squeeze out of that bike?

Christ · 10-03-2010, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HaiRuiDe

Looks like you are well on your way keep it up! What do you think you'll squeeze out of that bike?

To be perfectly honest, I have no idea. According to some others, 65-80 cruising, 30+ under aggro riding.

I don't plan on doing too much "playing" with it, and I'm certainly not a knee-dragger, so I figure on getting into the higher range of those figures.

Christ · 10-03-2010, 08:52 PM

So.

I've decided not to use the USD front end (Ducati GT 1000, inverted forks) that I ordered on this bike. I'll use them on something else. Instead, I'm using the Katana's front end (See "Country Brawler"), with the stock clip-ons but different bars in them.

I'm gonna use the Katana's rearsets as well, and place them low and back on the main frame section. The basic profile here is forward crouch while riding, but I'll have the tank to lay my chest on, so it won't be uncomfortable.

The options come in w/ the seat pan and tank configuration.

I want to keep the classic cafe style of a squarish tank with a rounded seat cowl, level cowl/tank line, long tank and low bars. I also want to hide the wiring and electrical inside a pocket between the seat and tank. This leaves the options as follows:

1. Have someone make a custom tank and pan, aluminum, steel, or even plastic, with a pocket in the tank for everything.

2. Try to find a squarish tank that fits the profile , then cut a section of it and make a compartment big enough to fit the electrics (minimal, by the way). Then make a seat pan and cowl using the cut section of the tank as the front, so they mount flush together.

3. Grab a tank that doesn't fit right, but shim it and raise it off the frame so that it sits level on top, then skin the bottom and put everything behind the skin, then make a seat/cowl that fits properly.

4. ????????

Besides that, I'm using '88 ZX6 wheels with street tires, swapping to hydraulic brakes front and back, and I've got a friend at Custom Fighters sending me a stock muffler from a '99 CBR600 F4 to make a custom undertail or underbody exhaust from. Now that I've made those few decisions, it should start coming back together once I get the oil filters in the mail and get some silly-cone for the engine cover gaskets.

Christ · 10-06-2010, 07:53 PM

I took off some more parts.

Currently, I'm waiting for delivery on a CBR F4 exhaust, a speedo gear for the front ZX6 wheel.

I've checked into bearings sizes needed for the front end swap, looks like it's gonna be pretty straight forward to put the Katana triple trees on to the KZ.

Looking into a longer OE swing arm, thinking about a mono-shock conversion.

Still have to get a cush-hub and sprocket for the ZX6 rear wheel, as well as spacers made for the front and rear once everything is mocked up.

I still have to remove the rearsets from the Katana to bring them over and mock them up.

I'm also second guessing myself as far as whether to go Cafe or sport-touring.