Modern cafe bike - project introduction

So I got this '77 standart in pieces. It cost me about 2000 dollars which is a steal in a country with 180% tax on new motorcycle. This also means that we take good care of our bikes. 25 year old bikes are not unusual on the roads here in Denmark.

It's almost together now. I only need to put on the carbs, airboxes, rear light, horn and tourqe everything down. Next up is to get it running, dailed in, inspected and plated. And then the fun can begin....

The goal is to build a mix of retro cafe and more modern race bike. I want it to be a very simple and reliable riding machine.

The modifications I have planed are.

17" front and rear wheels.
The rear is going to be a Kawa z750 hub with cush drive and disc brake with an akront 3.5" rim. The wheel will be going in a Kawa zephyr 550 swingarm.
The front will start out with stock forks and hub with a 2.5" rim. Later I hope to get an USD fork. Which ones are the best?

I will keep the stock tank but will run a cafe seat. I'm thinking that Omars narrow cafe seat looks nice. But this is a hard one - there are so many nice combos. The XS750 tank looks nice as well also Benjies Caferacers make some very cool stuff.

Handlebars will be low, dunno if it will be dragbars or clipons. Instruments and electrics will be minimal. I plan to go batteryless and remove the starter.

I have an uncle that rebuild motors (mostly harley) for a living. A 270 rephase with pamco ignition is something I hope he can help me to make happen.

For exhaust I would like to do a 2-1 going under the motor (no center stand) and a modern carbon can on the right side.

I know you can see my vision, it's going to be a great bike...in a couple of years

I have a girlfriend and two daughters (2 and 5 years) so the house is quite busy at times. This project is going to be my private "space" that I can go to to keep sane.

Check out the pictures....

I just can't help it. Even before the bike is running I've started to gather parts.

In the pictures you can see the Kawasaki KZ750B (twin) rear hub with akront rim and the Kawasaki Zephyr 550 swingarm. I also got a front wheel from wich I will use the rim.

I plan to run 110/70-17 front and 140/70-17 rear, maybe even a 150 rear. I might have to use slightly longer suspension to make this happen.

Any thoughts?

Do you know how much you are going to have to modify the swing arm yet? Also are much weight will the swing arm swap save?

Thanks and good luck!

As far as I can tell I will need to narrow the pivot area of the swing arm a cm. and make new bushings. The holes for the wheel spindle will also have to be widened from 17 to 20 mm. So nothing major.

I'm still trying to get past 180% tax!.. Ooh my head..

The parts have become a bike

u left your ign switch on!! beep beep!

Tech7 said:

I'm still trying to get past 180% tax!.. Ooh my head..

Click to expand...

That's a huge benefit of NH, no sales tax. I lived there for about 15 years.

MADSEN5- I can't wait to see the updates, keep them coming! I really like that swingarm, I was gonna look at ZRX swingarms to see if one would mount up without to much trouble.

Good looking bike. I'm sorta partial to the 77s myself.

I had a roach coach pull out in front of me one morning. WTF?
Aha!, no headlight on. I had a loose ground wire. To this day, I check my headlight the same way if I can't see its reflection on something.
Nice bike!

180% tax? That is ridiculous.

What is the logic behind taxing new bikes like that?

Well.... we also have 40-65% income tax and 25% sales tax on everything (including cars and bikes... on top of the 180% wich is a registration fee).

I know this all seems rediculeus to you but then again - we don't pay for hospitals, any kind of education, daycare for children and you get a pretty good welfare check if you loose your job.

It's just a different way of doing things..... not that I want to talk politics on a motorcycle forum ;o)

/Mads

- denmark is a kool country...i ride up that way most years for the roskilde music festival