kz 400 build

sensei · 07-13-2012, 10:44 AM

this 1976 kz 400 build started as a clean up and assemble prodject for a friend but turned into a full on custom build.
Please let me know your thoughts on it!!!

sensei · 07-13-2012, 11:20 AM

here it is striped of all extra brackets and refabed the rear part of the frame for seat. then i painted frame with satin black, got new tires, and cleaned up wheels.

RBnite · 07-13-2012, 12:35 PM

Don't stop now!!!

Unstable Rider · 07-13-2012, 12:38 PM

friend of mine had one in 1976-77. it was bad ass in its day, rather snappy n light.

digging the classy lines of that frame.

pennswoodsed · 07-13-2012, 01:28 PM

Mine was the maybe most reliable ,brush the snow(yes,snow) off and go bike I ever had.
Regards,Ed

sensei · 07-13-2012, 02:44 PM

Next was to build the seat pan and put the tank on but the original tank had a hole so insted of fixing it i said to myself, "hey you should build a custom aluminum tank!" WHAT AN IDEAH!!!! haha it took me about three months (of part time hr by hr work) but i got it.

this was my first design but i didnt like it

This was the design i went with. plus my fabd seat pan.

sensei · 07-13-2012, 02:46 PM

the tank finally got finished and polished! then was to clean up the motor and mount it. plus rear suspension.

sensei · 07-13-2012, 02:51 PM

Next i built the header.

Wrapped the header and exhaust tip

Then i built custom polished aluminum carb manifolds.

sensei · 07-13-2012, 02:53 PM

to come...... Clip-ons, seat, electrical, and then hopefully.... RIDEING!!!!! The best part!

updates coming soon.

jordan325ic · 07-14-2012, 10:59 AM

My '79 kz400 is my daily rider, but it's decked out towards the other end of the spectrum decked out with luggage rack, saddlebags, engine guards, etc. Judging by the front drum brake you've got the stripped down kz400 "special" there, which were $995 new from the dealers. My friend's dad bought same year same model new when he went to college and he still remembers how crazy cheap that was for what you got. And, they were made in America.

The z400s was billed as the ultimate commuter bike back in the day... which roughly translates to "really boring". On the plus side nobody will cry over as they get chopped/cafed by the hundreds.

Yours looks really good! How long did it take you to make that tank? Are you going to paint it or leave it bare?

Zecatfish · 07-14-2012, 10:22 PM

I rode a KZ400 in high school till a kid in a Toyota 4x4 turned left into my lane in front of me. Picture my flying, collapsed the tank with my knees. It caught fire and burned to a crisp.

It was reliable, SLOW, but fun to ride. Buddies Suzuki 250 would out run it.....
I preferred the ring a ding of the RD variants I rode better.
Peppy is not a work that should ever be used in conjunction with the KZ400.

Good Luck with your build.

sensei · 07-20-2012, 07:49 AM

Here are my clip-ons i made

Here's my seat i had made

sensei · 07-20-2012, 07:51 AM

Things are takeing shape!!!!

Just have electrical left to do

bk brkr baker · 07-20-2012, 08:47 AM

Looking good !

Uh, it may be a slip of the typeing finger , but, the handle bars you made are more commonly referred to as "Clip-ons".
Also you may want to build a set with some down-ward angle to them . You'll find it more comfortable.

Try this. Stand with your hands to the sides. Bring your arms forward. Notice that the hands are at an angle , not flat.
That seat looks great ! Surley not your first rodeo ?

JerryH · 07-20-2012, 08:58 AM

I love the way it looks, but those velocity stacks and that open exhaust are well beyond the carbs tunable range. I hope you only plan on using it for short rides.

I never had a KZ400, but I did have a KZ440. Belt drive. Only problem I ever had with it was starters didn't last

07-13-2012, 10:44 AM	#1
sensei ^OP .......... Joined: Sep 2006 Location: colorado,western slope Oddometer: 29	kz 400 build this 1976 kz 400 build started as a clean up and assemble prodject for a friend but turned into a full on custom build. Please let me know your thoughts on it!!!

07-13-2012, 11:20 AM	#2
sensei ^OP .......... Joined: Sep 2006 Location: colorado,western slope Oddometer: 29	here it is striped of all extra brackets and refabed the rear part of the frame for seat. then i painted frame with satin black, got new tires, and cleaned up wheels. sensei screwed with this post 07-13-2012 at 11:27 AM

07-13-2012, 01:28 PM	#5
pennswoodsed lizards,bugs and me Joined: Jan 2007 Location: Reading,Pa Oddometer: 525	Blue 77 Mine was the maybe most reliable ,brush the snow(yes,snow) off and go bike I ever had. Regards,Ed

07-13-2012, 02:53 PM	#9
sensei ^OP .......... Joined: Sep 2006 Location: colorado,western slope Oddometer: 29	to come...... Clip-ons, seat, electrical, and then hopefully.... RIDEING!!!!! The best part! updates coming soon. sensei screwed with this post 07-20-2012 at 01:08 PM

07-14-2012, 10:22 PM	#11
Zecatfish XTique Rider Joined: Dec 2006 Location: Arkansas USA Oddometer: 7,919	I rode a KZ400 in high school till a kid in a Toyota 4x4 turned left into my lane in front of me. Picture my flying, collapsed the tank with my knees. It caught fire and burned to a crisp. It was reliable, SLOW, but fun to ride. Buddies Suzuki 250 would out run it..... I preferred the ring a ding of the RD variants I rode better. Peppy is not a work that should ever be used in conjunction with the KZ400. Good Luck with your build. __________________ Google Earth GPS Howto (still a work in progress) use USGS TOPO Maps to layout trails. http://home.windstream.net/catfish/GPS The Early Bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. https://sites.google.com/site/ozarkadventuretours/

07-13-2012, 12:35 PM	#3
RBnite Adventurer Joined: Feb 2012 Location: Down by the river Oddometer: 41	Don't stop now!!!

07-13-2012, 12:38 PM	#4
Unstable Rider World Wide Inmate Joined: Jul 2010 Location: 10,000 Lakes Oddometer: 2,096	friend of mine had one in 1976-77. it was bad ass in its day, rather snappy n light. digging the classy lines of that frame.

07-13-2012, 02:44 PM	#6
sensei ^OP .......... Joined: Sep 2006 Location: colorado,western slope Oddometer: 29	Next was to build the seat pan and put the tank on but the original tank had a hole so insted of fixing it i said to myself, "hey you should build a custom aluminum tank!" WHAT AN IDEAH!!!! haha it took me about three months (of part time hr by hr work) but i got it. this was my first design but i didnt like it This was the design i went with. plus my fabd seat pan.

07-13-2012, 02:46 PM	#7
sensei ^OP .......... Joined: Sep 2006 Location: colorado,western slope Oddometer: 29	the tank finally got finished and polished! then was to clean up the motor and mount it. plus rear suspension.

07-13-2012, 02:51 PM	#8
sensei ^OP .......... Joined: Sep 2006 Location: colorado,western slope Oddometer: 29	Next i built the header. Wrapped the header and exhaust tip Then i built custom polished aluminum carb manifolds.

07-14-2012, 10:59 AM	#10
jordan325ic Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2010 Location: Austin, TX Oddometer: 206	My '79 kz400 is my daily rider, but it's decked out towards the other end of the spectrum decked out with luggage rack, saddlebags, engine guards, etc. Judging by the front drum brake you've got the stripped down kz400 "special" there, which were $995 new from the dealers. My friend's dad bought same year same model new when he went to college and he still remembers how crazy cheap that was for what you got. And, they were made in America. The z400s was billed as the ultimate commuter bike back in the day... which roughly translates to "really boring". On the plus side nobody will cry over as they get chopped/cafed by the hundreds. Yours looks really good! How long did it take you to make that tank? Are you going to paint it or leave it bare?

07-20-2012, 07:49 AM	#12
sensei ^OP .......... Joined: Sep 2006 Location: colorado,western slope Oddometer: 29	Here are my clip-ons i made Here's my seat i had made sensei screwed with this post 07-20-2012 at 08:57 AM

07-20-2012, 07:51 AM	#13
sensei ^OP .......... Joined: Sep 2006 Location: colorado,western slope Oddometer: 29	Things are takeing shape!!!! Just have electrical left to do

07-20-2012, 08:47 AM	#14
bk brkr baker Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2006 Location: The Bluegrass Oddometer: 4,134	Looking good ! Uh, it may be a slip of the typeing finger , but, the handle bars you made are more commonly referred to as "Clip-ons". Also you may want to build a set with some down-ward angle to them . You'll find it more comfortable. Try this. Stand with your hands to the sides. Bring your arms forward. Notice that the hands are at an angle , not flat. That seat looks great ! Surley not your first rodeo ? __________________ RR's Catnip Hill to Peoria ___Loopin' Seattle to WestFest It started with some beers __1500 miles to the Dentist Skeedaddle to Seattle______ A 30 year old on a Three Flags Run

07-20-2012, 08:58 AM	#15
JerryH Vintage Rider Joined: Jul 2009 Location: Chandler, AZ Oddometer: 1,653	I love the way it looks, but those velocity stacks and that open exhaust are well beyond the carbs tunable range. I hope you only plan on using it for short rides. I never had a KZ400, but I did have a KZ440. Belt drive. Only problem I ever had with it was starters didn't last __________________ "I refuse to give up the thrill of living for the relative safety of existing" Nick Ienatsch "Life is not a race. Don't treat it as such. If you don't believe me, just have a look at the finish line"

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