Thoses are super awesome rides. Could I have a ride on the Yamaha XS650 Bobber, that looks like fun. Oh yeah and you can trust me, no license, last time I rode a dirt bike off-road into a electric fence, I'll be a lot more careful next time! zap zap

Round fender it is. I'll take it to the wire wheel and beat the chrome off of it.


Lucky my friend owns so many bikes, I'm going to have to temporarily rob some stuff like mirrors and foot pegs so I can pass my inspection by the end of next week. I'm living in Regina for school, but Alberta is home so that's where I'm going to register the bike. I'm only home until the start of next week, so things have to happen fast.


This weeks check list includes:
finishing the frame welds
rear engine mounts
chain guard
exhaust
wiring the handle bars (Left: kill switch ||| RIght: signal switch, horn button, Hi/Lo beams)
mounting signal lights (front & rear)
Seat mount
mounting the kick stand
license plate holder and brake/running light


A lot to do, but I can get it done I hope. I normally go home for a week after every semester, but I think this time I'll need to use that to finish my bike, and go back for the weekend sometime soon.

There's some work to do ahead!. Good luck, you can finish it!!

wow thats really come together nicely, you`ve done a great job so far, cant wait to see it finished, I`ll go with the others as well, round rear fender ftw

If anyone wants to hear how it sounds (headers only, no pipes yet).

Yes, I am going to wire it cleaner, I just needed to know if my cylinders we wired properly (and I was dying to hear it).

Sensible Jones -> She barks quick with the throttle, but takes a while to idle down. I know my carbs need to be synced, but will adding a baffle to the exhaust help this or is it strictly a fuel/air mixture problem? (I'm terrible with carbs ha ha)

Sounds like a beast mate!! You need to git that sucker on the road!!

Oh great, I get the Techhie questions!!!!!

OK, adding a baffle will help that. Think of the Air coming in through the Carbs, getting mixed and then burned and spat out through the exhaust with no resistance anywhere along that process (because there's no Back Pressure). So, when you open the throttle it'll run up quickly but will take some time to drop back to idle as the engine is having to overwork to stay running due to it's 'free breathing' state. Once you add a bit of Back Pressure with a baffle you should alleviate this! You don't need to go too mad with the baffling and loose too much noise!! Once you have the Exhaust finished THEN Sync/Balance your Carbs. You may need to adjust the mixture as well to get optimum performance/economy.
My last Z650 was running straight through pipes and open filters, I had to put in larger Jets and richen up the mixture and it would still give about 33 MPG and that was riding it hard!!

Ok thanks SJ. Today I started to build the exhaust.



I also started my chain tensioner (Just like this one.). But I think I'm going to use a old school skateboard wheel instead. I just don't like the idea of having that sprocket seize up while I'm going dow the highway. Having a roller that has no teeth, at least the chain won't bind and lock my back wheel up.

I also decided to build a new battery box. The old one was sort of ugly, and didn't match the bike. The new one is tucked under the seat, as you can see. Almost fully mounted, and still needs the corners rounded out.


You can also see, I put a leather "tool" bag on the front of the bike to hide the wiring that would normally go into the old headlight. Since I was changing the headlight, I couldn't hide wires so this was my only option. I think it finishes off the front of the bike.







Chain guard got started today. Took a 1.5" square tube, and cut off one side. That actually took forever since the tubing wall was an 1/8" thick.

Also started beating the chrome off the rear fender.


The electrical system in the shop isn't the best, so I sorta have to take breaks or start working on other parts. This gives things time to cool down, otherwise I'm popping breakers every couple of minutes.

Hey guys,

This is the final progress report on the KZ650. Hope everyone who is following this build likes the finished product. The only thing I'm changing is painting the rear fender black (and hiding the wires underneath it).

The bike is balanced perfect, and rides great. It pulls really hard (surprisingly) for a 30 year old bike. The carbs are sync'd but set a bit rich, and I'm still neck and neck with my friends GS750.

Hey man, bike looks (and sounds hehe) really cool! Congrats on building it! I wish I had something similar to ride )) One day....

beautiful mate! And just in time for this summer! cue the steppenwolf.....

SWEEEET!!!!!!
Great job mate!!!

WOOW, great bike man and awesome mean sound heavy metal indeed hahaa \m/

Carbs and air filters look awesome

Thanks everyone. Finally got all the bugs worked out with the setting the carbs properly.

Going to debut the bike to the world (in person) this weekend in a rally for diabetes. Anyone who has seen the bike during the test rides has stopped as asked about it. I'm just waiting for a "Nice Harley" haha.

I'll post another vid this weekend of me actually riding it, if I get a chance.