Can't ride, may as well mod - Z1000

[Resident Yank]

I'll go ahead and start off by saying yes... I'm in the USA and no, I don't post much. Go ahead and karma rape me, its cool. Haha. Anyway, this is the forum that I frequent the most, and love reading progress on people's projects. I can't ride for about a month and a half due to a broken bone in my foot that refuses to heal, so I wanted to finish up some mods that I have been wanting to do to my bike but never got around to.
Little history first I guess. 2003 Kawasaki Z1000, I purchased the bike in August of 2007, it looked like this:
https://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a144/Tiffanator/Z1000a1-1.jpg
It had been lowsided on the track once and had some scuffs on the tail fairing and scratches on the stator cover. No big deal, ran great and still looked good.
November of 2008 I went off track at a trackday and the bike (and myself) tumbled through the infield. Then the bike looked like this:
https://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a144/Tiffanator/Bike%20Mods/IMG_0083.jpg
https://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a144/Tiffanator/Bike%20Mods/IMG_0085.jpg
https://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a144/Tiffanator/Bike%20Mods/IMG_0087.jpg
Thankfully I had most of the parts I needed to put the bike back together. The stock handlebars went back on, spare tail I had went back on, bent the shift lever back in shape and bent the windscreen mount back in shape. I did have to buy a new tachometer LCD, windscreen (went with a touring screen), and seat cowl. After a nice fresh coat of paint and some reflective pinstripe the bike now looks like this:
https://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a144/Tiffanator/Bike%20Mods/IMG_0206.jpg
https://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a144/Tiffanator/Bike%20Mods/IMG_0207.jpg
So that's where I am now. I made this thread to motivate me to actually finish this project since I seem to be having motivational difficulty with my other project bike, a 1982 Yamaha XZ550 Vision. I'll update the thread as I make progress, which will hopefully be a lot this weekend.
My high priority list:
1. Fix ill fitting and cracked undertail.
2. Paint peg/passenger peg/exhaust holder.
3. Paint windscreen mount since the paint peeled off when I heated it to reshape it.
4. Paint handlebar top clamp.
5. Paint shift lever that is discolored from heat bending.
6. Get a tank protector, preferably black or carbon fiber.
7. Replace red guage face with black.

My not so high priority list:
1. Replace antennae like mirrors.
2. Replace front indicators with much smaller ones.
3. Fit a ZX9R flywheel.
4. Possibly fit an '07 ZX6R rear shock instead of the '03 ZX6R shock currently on it. (I may get it free... why not.)
5. Have swingarm powdercoated as it is showing some wear.
6. 520 converstion chain and sprockets.

I guess that's it for now. I'll update as I work. If anyone has any suggestions/advice please post. Constructive criticism welcome.
____________________
Snooping in from the US, don't kill me.

[jack_zxr400]

lol people arnt THAT bad on here lol
goodluck and get your arse moving!
____________________
Previous Bike: ZXR 400
Current Bike: R6
Test Date: 8/8/2008-PASSED

[Thom]

That paintjob is surprisingly nice!

The white pinstripe along the bike really adds somthing to it.

You said it was reflective? Got any pictures of it in the dark?
____________________
Current Bike: 1996 Yamaha TRX850 (The Japanese-Ducati One).
Previous Bikes: 1990 Honda NSR125 'Rothmans' (The smoking one), 1990 Suzuki GS500e 'Caf? fighter' (The loud one), 1987 Kawasaki GPX400r (The quick one), 1997 XJ600s Diversion (The reliable one), 2000 Kawasaki ER-5 (The spontaneously combustive one)

[Resident Yank]

Jack... Yeah, I've been reading these boards for a while and frequent many boards and know that people really like to talk trash. I just wanted my disclaimer out there.

metalforever... I wasn't sure how the pinstripe would look, so its not paint and its not under the clear. I applied the reflective decal pinstripe myself after the paint job was complete. That way if I didn't like it I could just take it off. I have more left so could actually follow a few more lines, but I think I like the simplicity as it is now. The company I purchased it from carries basically any color and various widths. I put it on there after the friend who followed me home from the painter's shop said she couldn't see me at all. And I had on a white jacket. I also traced a few lines on my helmet with the stripe. Looking at the helmet you can't tell its on there.

Pic in kinda dark with a flash:
https://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a144/Tiffanator/Bike%20Mods/l_e2a36ffe80714cd093f3b0b9dde0594e.jpg

I took off the footpeg/passenger peg holders last night and cleaned them for paint. Also sanded and prepped the shift lever. Its too humid outside to paint today so they are hanging to dry and I'll paint tomorrow. I also took off the windscreen bracket and still don't like how the screen is sitting so I just ordered a new bracket. That one has been reshaped so much it will never fit correctly.

I think I have some additions to my list. One for sure is to add some LED marker lights to the tail. Probably on the underside to add some visibility. The "maybe" addition is a custom made (because homemade sounds so redneck) fiberglass bellypan. I read a thread on a Z1000 site where a guy made one and I'm inspired now. We'll see how it pans out.

Pics to come once everything is painted.
____________________
Snooping in from the US, don't kill me.

[hellkat]

It looks well cool

In the dark, does it look like you're just riding on a white lightening strike?
____________________
Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[OssY]

Damn, wish i could get away with having my plate there over here... I had to endure the copper witha tape measure (who the f**k carries a tape measure with them) measuring my plate lettering....

[stevo as b4]

Great pic's of a brilliant bike!

When i get around to affording my next big bike, then seeing as i want a 1ltr naked bike that is as grunty and handles 75% as well as the current sportsbikes, for around £4k, then the Z1000 is right up there on my list.

How can people actually prefer the looks of a Blade or GSXR that's been turned into a flat bar'ed naked lash up of a bike, when something like a Z1000 or Hornet9 looks much better, as has much more scope for improvement and parts uprating over a parred to the last ounce sportsbike, thats hard to improve over OE spec significantly, unless you have a huge budget?

[Faldo]

Can I just ask what advantage the 9R flywheel has over the stock item? Just curious.

Love the bike by the way. Really wish I could get a Muzzy can over here.
____________________
Current: ZZR1400
Previous: ZXR 400 L9, ZX-7R P5, ZZR 400, ZX-7R P6, Bandit 600, GSXR 750 Slingshot, DRZ400, DR650, ZX10R C1H, ZXR 750 L1, ZXR 750 L3, '99 ZX7R P4, KTM 300 EXC, ZX-9R E1, TDM850

[Mac_Black]

I'm not in the reading mood really tonight which is convenient as this just so happens to be a "Show & Tell" thread and the pictures do all the talking.

MY only contribution here: HUBBA HUBBA

[Resident Yank]

Thanks for the comments guys.
Hellcat... wouldn't know... haven't gotten a chance to ride at night with the pinstripe. Rode it once to work then my foot started acting up and I had to park it. Hopefully car drivers will think so.

Ossy... yes, after seeing the plates you guys have to use I have a new appreciation for ours. It is actually supposed to be mounted right on the tail, but I'm not big on how that looks so I modified mine a little. Haven't had a problem yet... fingers crossed.

Stevo... Totally agree. I initially had my heard set on the orange trible '06 CBR 600RR, but insurance quotes were unbelievable on that bike. I began looking for an alternative and looked at the SVs, bandits and other nakeds but fell in love with this bike. It still has the sportbike tail and attitude, just no fairings and a more comfortable seating position for me.

yellowninja... one way they toned down the 9R engine for this bike was using a heavier flywheel so it spins up slower. Putting a 9R flywheel on the bike will increase accelleration.

Mac... no worries, You didn't miss anything by not reading. Thanks for the compliment.

As for updates... will post a full summary with pics tomorrow morning... well.. for you guys it will be tommorrow afternoon, or... this afternoon since I think its midnight there now.
____________________
Snooping in from the US, don't kill me.

[thegubner]

Bloody Americans and their bloody nice bikes.

[Resident Yank]

Thanks for the comment guv... sorry I have a nice bike. Perhaps this one will somewhat make up for it?
https://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a144/Tiffanator/Vision%20Restoration/DSC00783s.jpg

Progress was made over the weekend, I was just snowed under at work yesterday (and am supposed to be working now) so I didn't get the update posted.
Friday night I took off the footpeg holders and shift lever and all associated parts. I hope I remember where everything goes:
https://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a144/Tiffanator/Bike%20Mods/Parts-off.jpg

Saturday I prepped the parts for paint, sanded down the shift lever and cleaned the footpeg holder to remove all grease and dirt so the paint would adhere.
Shifter not looking so good, will probably order a new one at some point and keep this as an emergency spare, but for now it works:
https://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a144/Tiffanator/Bike%20Mods/Shifter-before.jpg

Footpeg holder all clean and ready for paint:
https://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a144/Tiffanator/Bike%20Mods/Peg-Holder-before.jpg
I would love to do away with those huge chunks of metal, but can't afford rearsets at the moment and don't want to take a hacksaw to them, so for now they are going to be black so they don't stand out quite so much.

Sunday I painted everything, for some reason I don't have the finished pics of the paint on this comp, they must still be on the memory card. I'll post them up when I get them. I used a truck bed liner so its not a smooth finish, but it will be much more durable than plain rattle can paint. I tend to tap my heels on the footpeg holders and the rattle can would rub right off.

I also removed and repaired the undertail, more on that when I get all of the pics.
____________________
Snooping in from the US, don't kill me.

[user]

NIce bike I don't usually like these, it's amazing what painting a few parts black can do.

Can't wait to see it with black peg holders too...

Good luck with the yamaha also, I've just got an '82 vt250 in similar condition, have fun with it

[Resident Yank]

Ok, bit of an update. Haven't been able to accomplish much this week as I've been busy at work and after work. However last night I managed to get some things done.
The footpeg holders had cured nicely and seem pretty durable, only time will tell.
Done:
https://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a144/Tiffanator/Bike%20Mods/PegHolderAfter.jpg

After I painted those I decided to pull off the undertail and see what its problem was. When I wrecked the taillight mounts had been torn off the undertail, so I cast new ones from polyester resin and glued them down. Worked fine for me, apparently the painter didn't think so and he smothered a black epoxy all over them so the taillight no longer fit correctly. He just bodged it back on there and sent it back.
I ground off the black epoxy:
https://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a144/Tiffanator/Bike%20Mods/Undertailbefore.jpg

And on the second mount I found this:
https://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a144/Tiffanator/Bike%20Mods/Brokenmount.jpg

Guess that explains why he covered them with epoxy. So I pulled out my plaster mold and mixed up a 2 part quick epoxy. Much stronger than polyester resin. After a few hours and a little bit of sanding and grinding I had this:
https://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a144/Tiffanator/Bike%20Mods/NewMount.jpg

So I used the same epoxy to mount it to the undertail and it cured quite strong, shouldn't have anymore problems from these.

Next up was the small crack that the painter said was too small to repair. Um... ok, well I just bought some plastic welder so thought I would try it out.
The crack:
https://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a144/Tiffanator/Bike%20Mods/CrackedTail.jpg

I mixed up the 2 part plastic welder and applied it liberally and left to dry for several hours. No pics of the finished product but it appears to be holding very well. Now I just need to wire up my marker lights and then I can put the tail back together.

Anyway, yesterday I arrive home actually on time to find that the nice mailman has left me a present:
https://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a144/Tiffanator/Bike%20Mods/NewScreenMount.jpg
Yay for the new windscreen bracket! Doesn't look that much different from the old one (on the left) but a little bit of a bend made a huge difference in the fit. I happily started to attach it, only to find that one of the nuts had escaped and run away, so I have to stop by the hardware store today to buy a new nut. Pics of it mounted tomorrow.

Now for the big finish to the post (I know you are happy its almost over). Mounted the peg holders and all attached goodies. I think it looks pretty sweet and will look even better once the bike is whole again and in the sunlight.
Its getting blacker:
https://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a144/Tiffanator/Bike%20Mods/Blacker.jpg

Whew... I know you are glad that's over. Wait... one more thing... Need a suggestion on front indicators if anyone wants to throw in their opinion.
These:
https://photos.imageevent.com/bikeguy/ebay/signals/stalk/websize/YM-1916LED-W-1.JPG

Or these... black with clear lenses, little bit bigger than the others:
https://www.targa-acc.com/images_large/07-0714121.jpg

Thanks.
____________________
Snooping in from the US, don't kill me.

[loply]

What did you use to make the mould for those bits? Was it easy to remove the casting from the mould?

I've often thought about doing this (for a variety of dilemmas) but never actually tried.

Likewise when no mould is possible I thought about carving a part from wood or clay, then making a mould, then casting the part from liquid metal or epoxy.
____________________
Yamaha SZR660 Caution to the wind, the throttle pinned!

[a person]

just showing some love
looks nice, i like the fluorescent tape idea. have you had any trouble with it pealing of or is it got a good stickiness

the first set of indicators would look better imo
dont know why just would prefer them lol

[a person]

come on some updates please
what happened to the big push to finnish

[Resident Yank]

Sorry about the lack of update. I kinda forgot about the thread. Got everything back on the bike and took a few pics:

https://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a144/Tiffanator/Bike%20Mods/DSC02753.jpg

The passenger peg holder really disappears into the swingarm and rear wheel. Just what I was wanting.

https://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a144/Tiffanator/Bike%20Mods/DSC02755.jpg

Can't really tell much from this pic, but those LED marker lights are blue. Given to me by a friend. I wanted something to add visibility at night when cars are behind me.



https://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a144/Tiffanator/Bike%20Mods/DSC02760.jpg

I haven't had time to put the new front indicators on yet, was out of town all weekend. Will hopefully get to that soon. I'm still trying to find some mirrors that I like. I'll probably get folding bar end mirrors, but will also have to replace the throttlemeister with standard bar ends if I do that.

Next little project that I dreamed up:

https://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a144/Tiffanator/Bike%20Mods/DSC02763.jpg

Yes, that's the front headlight cowling... covered in blue painter's tape with a layer of fiberglass over it. I have always wanted to work with fiberglass so am finally taking a step forward to do it. That will be a mold to make a race fairing to use at the track. If I'm successful with the headlight I'll make a tail. I have the new resins I will be using, just have to take the time to lay it up, and hope for warm, dry weather so it will cure properly. It has not been warm lately. I'm hoping this will get me familiar with fiberglass and mold making methods so I can pursue my bellypan project this summer.
That's all for now.
____________________
Snooping in from the US, don't kill me.