Team 47

Kawasaki GPZ 750 – ZX9R Rear Wheel Swap… Sort of.

Karl — Thu, 03 May 2012 20:34:47 +0000

	The stop start GPZ project is moving again, and this time some actual progress has been made. We completely stripped the bike down to the bare frame, made up a plan, and then rebuilt to a rolling chassis and engine. We’ve also started on attempting to install a ZX9R rear wheel. Attempt number one: We’re ignoring the rather important issue of spindle size for now and focusing on getting the wheel centered, and the chain running in a straight line. With the ZX9R sprocket carrier installed (carrying the GPZs’ sprocket which just so happened to fit), the wheel is to far to the right, and the chain runs off to the left. So there’s work that needs doing there.
	Attempts to move the wheel toward centre were hampered by this tag. So I cut it off.
	Attempt 2: With the ZX9R caliper hanger installed the wheel is to far over to the left, and the sprocket carrier won’t fit at all. More work. The options at this point seem to be machining the spacers and sprocket carrier so that they go into this swinging arm. Or to try and find a ZX9R swinging arm, and get that into the bike. Either way some machine work is going to be involved. The issue of spindle sizes hasn’t been forgotten either; I think getting the ZX9R spindle into the GPZ swinging arm would be a good idea, this would then mean that no bushings would have to be made to take up the difference in spindle size.

Yamaha FZR600R – Cartridge Forks

Karl — Thu, 03 May 2012 19:49:15 +0000

The final year for production of Yamahas’ FZR600R was 1996 for Europe. In that final year the FZR was given cartridge forks, and a much improved rear shock absorber featuring a remote reservoir and adjustable rebound and compression dampening.

After waiting for quite some time I finally found a set of those final year forks on eBay. I rebuilt them with fresh seals, oil, and new Yacugar fork springs, and they are now installed in my bike.

All of this actually happened in the middle of March.

The install took about three hours including the time taken to rebuild the forks, and was done in the course of an afternoon.

So how do they work on the road? The new forks are awesome! They are so much better than the old set-up. Less violent diving under braking, far more responsive to changes in road surface, and with much better feedback. I now know exactly what the front end is doing and I like it.

Yamaha XJ650 Maxim – Refreshed Filler Cap

Karl — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:43:40 +0000

The original tank cap on this bike had been painted by a previous owner, unfortunately they didn’t do a great job of it, so it had to come off.

	Attacking it with a wire wheel on the Dremel got rid of the paint.
	I then used a fibre wheel and some rubbing compound to give it a bit of shine, there are still some scratches in the chrome but if I go any more severe I’ll probably just end up either back to bare metal or at least down to the nickle.
	Back at home on the tank. I really need to get this tank sorted out.

Yamaha XJ650 Maxim – New Grips and Mirrors

Karl — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 22:47:32 +0000

The new grips turned up in the post today which meant I could finally get around to fitting the new mirrors – which I promptly scratched on the wall whilst parking the bike up; ace.

Yamaha XJ650 Maxim – Grab Rail Remains Deleted

Karl — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 16:34:37 +0000

Today saw the removal of the ungainly and potentially unsafe remains of the stock pillion grab rail. I’d love to know how it ended up in that state, but chances are I never will. What I do know is that they had to go.

	Here is a new stainless steel spacer I’m using to keep everything in check, one of a pair.
	Just one small change makes a big difference to the appearance of the bike. I think that rear end is much tidier now, and will look even better once it’s de-lugged.

Yamaha XJ650 Maxim – Dry Build 95% Complete

Karl — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 14:37:35 +0000

Not many days after the acquisition of this bike she’s almost roadworthy. There are still a couple of odd jobs that need doing here and there, but for the most part the dry build portion of this project is complete.

	Some corrective surgery was required to mount the indicators, but nothing that a Dremel couldn’t handle.
	A shot from the rear to show the indicators in place.
	A shot from the left, that side cover came to me from the USA, a rare item found thanks to eBay.
	From the front, new indicators to match the rear, and a new headlight.
	A shot from the seat.

Yamaha XJ650 Maxim – Gremlins

Karl — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 19:48:15 +0000

Today saw the removal of all electrical gremlins from the system, mainly down to cleaning up the fusebox and installing new fuses.

I still need to lengthen the wiring for my indicators and get a new relay for them, and then it’s just a case of bolting everything on and I’ll be done with the electrics.

Yamaha XJ650 Maxim – New Speedometer

Karl — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 23:10:05 +0000

This project is already taking shape, the bike is running and now has fresh oil and a new filter. Some of the parts I’ve ordered have started turning up and the first to arrive is this shiny new speedometer courtesy of eBay.

Yamaha XJ650 Maxim – Introduction

Karl — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 23:06:13 +0000

The bike as it started.

Yet another project

I recently started working at a supermarket in the next town over and have been commuting to and from work on the FZR, this wouldn’t be a problem except for the fact that the FZR doesn’t like short journeys; it starts leaking oil and eating spark plugs. It quickly became apparent that I need something else to commute on, and being the cheapskate that I am I decided to take on a CAT C bike – for those who don’t know, CAT C in the UK refers to a category of insurance write-offs. In this case the bike has been vandalised and set fire to. With a bit of luck this shouldn’t take too long to convert into a useable commuter.

Basic Info

1982 Yamaha XJ650 Maxim
Entered the stable August 2011
Air cooled in-line 4 cylinder, DOHC, 653cc, with YICS
71 BHP @ 9400 rpm, 5.5kg/m @ 7500 rpm

More Pictures

Kawasaki AR80 – Concept 1

Karl — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 22:42:25 +0000

Track bodywork for the AR80, fairing is based on a Honda RS125, and the seat is based on a TZ125. Both items are from roughly the same period (around 1989).

The colour scheme is based on a stock Yamaha YZF750.