Kawasaki take notice, another Ninja Mutant is being built

[pjm204]

Originally Posted by sailah

Assuming the frame is similar to the fz1, it's a great choice. No swingarm through the motor means you can adapt dirt bike swingarm. The pipes do stick out but r6 header should be a close fit or go custom. Front end is as easy as the other build s. The motor is peaky but should haul ass. The limiting factor for some is getting the 650 ninja rear travel to match the 10+" of usd forks. Having an easily replaceable swingarm from a ktm with no linkage streamlines the process and matches travel front and rear.

now about those pics...

Haha pics won't happen until Friday/Saturday. I'm in texas currently. But I should make progress this weekend. Everything I need is on its way.
Rear wheel, Front end, rear shock, oil pan.

[b0mb3r]

ok im in

[Zapp22]

i shall poke around for a cadaver

Originally Posted by sailah

Assuming the frame is similar to the fz1, it's a great choice. No swingarm through the motor means you can adapt dirt bike swingarm. The pipes do stick out but r6 header should be a close fit or go custom. Front end is as easy as the other build s. The motor is peaky but should haul ass. The limiting factor for some is getting the 650 ninja rear travel to match the 10+" of usd forks. Having an easily replaceable swingarm from a ktm with no linkage streamlines the process and matches travel front and rear.

now about those pics...

[pjm204]

I just want to let you know, I think you owe this build partly to me haha. I almost bought that bike from the Flea Market if it is the one I'm thinking of. You got a great deal. I'm just kidding though, the bike went to the right place!

Originally Posted by sailah

if you look at my build thread I used 1" 0.065 wall DOM for everything bent except the bottom tubes of the subframe which are 1.25".

I just used my 1.25" die this week to make the lower frame spars.

The 1" is the best one to have, my heavens they are expensive though right??

[Grainbelt]

Every time one of these threads pops up I wonder if somewhere, some Kawi employee is thinking about the old KLE500 and wondering what went wrong.

[pjm204]

Originally Posted by Grainbelt

Every time one of these threads pops up I wonder if somewhere, some Kawi employee is thinking about the old KLE500 and wondering what went wrong.

I dunno, it lasted 16 years, couldn't have been too big of a failure. Sad we never got it here. This engine is a little more potent though, should prove to be a very fun/capable bike.

My only concern is how much the steering will be reduced with the USD forks, hopefully the 25mm offset will help.

[Tonibe63]

Originally Posted by Grainbelt

Every time one of these threads pops up I wonder if somewhere, some Kawi employee is thinking about the old KLE500 and wondering what went wrong.

Lack of power and petrol tank too small.
We have them over here in the UK and values seem to hold up well but they don't get much of a following.
Now if Kawasaki put decent suspension on the Versys they would have a fantastic bike but then I suppose the price would go up towards BMW/Triumph XC level and to command that sort of money you need good 'brand' image which they just don't have.

[Multisurface Rider]

I know this idea would be more work/money.

Could a different swing arm be adapted to give the Versys more travel to match the travel of the converted front suspension?

[ben2go]

Originally Posted by Multisurface Rider

I know this idea would be more work/money.

Could a different swing arm be adapted to give the Versys more travel to match the travel of the converted front suspension?

Upgrading the shock allows for more travel.The up travel will be limited by the rear frame and liner/fender pan.Check JDRocks build thread.

[pjm204]

Originally Posted by Multisurface Rider

I know this idea would be more work/money.

Could a different swing arm be adapted to give the Versys more travel to match the travel of the converted front suspension?

In order to use a different swingarm you would need to change the frame since the shock is mounted on the right side instead of in the center of the frame

[Multisurface Rider]

Originally Posted by ben2go

Upgrading the shock allows for more travel.The up travel will be limited by the rear frame and liner/fender pan.Check JDRocks build thread.

Yes, I have read all his threads.

[Multisurface Rider]

Originally Posted by pjm204

In order to use a different swingarm you would need to change the frame since the shock is mounted on the right side instead of in the center of the frame

This can be done with more time, work and money?

[sailah]

Originally Posted by pjm204

I just want to let you know, I think you owe this build partly to me haha. I almost bought that bike from the Flea Market if it is the one I'm thinking of. You got a great deal. I'm just kidding though, the bike went to the right place!

So youre the guy...

I thought he was dealing with some guy in tn who couldn't get his act together, but could be he was dealing with multiple guys. I just told him I'd pay his asking price in cash and ready to roll. It makes it even more funny that I had bought a ninja to do your build and it ended up being stolen hence looking for another donor.

For the guy asking about swingarm s, it's def doable. You would probably need to replace or modify the subframe extensively to either run a ktm swinger without linkage, reengineer a link suspension or build your own swingarm that either uses the stock location for the to p mount or build a custom mount. Def can do it, and the money isn't really that much more, I have maybe $50 for a ktm swinger, $300 for a ktm shock and $20 in steel and brackets.

Don't know if it's going to work yet but I do have 12" travel front and rear with a sweet shock.

I'm just going to have to find a ninja and try it.

[pjm204]

Originally Posted by sailah

So youre the guy...

I thought he was dealing with some guy in tn who couldn't get his act together, but could be he was dealing with multiple guys. I just told him I'd pay his asking price in cash and ready to roll. It makes it even more funny that I had bought a ninja to do your build and it ended up being stolen hence looking for another donor.

For the guy asking about swingarm s, it's def doable. You would probably need to replace or modify the subframe extensively to either run a ktm swinger without linkage, reengineer a link suspension or build your own swingarm that either uses the stock location for the to p mount or build a custom mount. Def can do it, and the money isn't really that much more, I have maybe $50 for a ktm swinger, $300 for a ktm shock and $20 in steel and brackets.

Don't know if it's going to work yet but I do have 12" travel front and rear with a sweet shock.

I'm just going to have to find a ninja and try it.

I would agree that the money is not the issue here. It just requires a lot more work. You'd then want to strip the frame down to repaint it after all the welding. I'm going to try and keep my frame/subframe uncut. I wish the subframe was bolt on.

I would have paid the asking price too but I couldn't get there in time. And at the time I had no where to store a project. But your bike turned out great.

[Multisurface Rider]

Originally Posted by sailah

For the guy asking about swingarm s, it's def doable. You would probably need to replace or modify the subframe extensively to either run a ktm swinger without linkage, reengineer a link suspension or build your own swingarm that either uses the stock location for the to p mount or build a custom mount. Def can do it, and the money isn't really that much more, I have maybe $50 for a ktm swinger, $300 for a ktm shock and $20 in steel and brackets.

Don't know if it's going to work yet but I do have 12" travel front and rear with a sweet shock.

I'm just going to have to find a ninja and try it.

Your bike is bad ass, that for sure.

There have been some great builds here and I enjoy reading and thinking of the easy way to ride one of these bikes. Bolt on everything no welding is the easy way. I just don't think it can be done without some kind of mods done to the swing arm. I don't know maybe make the swing arm a inch or two longer?

All the builds I have looked at are great, some greater than others, (JDrocks)