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My road back to being a zed owner!

Talk about all your non-Zed or even Kawasaki bikes here.

Moderators: KeithZ1R, chrisu, paul doran, Taffus

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dixiethedog
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Re: My road back to being a zed owner!

#16 PostAuthor: dixiethedog » Tue Feb 04, 2025 1:54 pm

Back to bearing/spacer sizes. I read that the internal diameter should be 25mm. Having checked some online Suzuki micro fiche parts diagrams the internal should be 22mm. Not the end of the World, but double check measurements yourself before making bits. It's OK for me as I have a lathe, but if you had farmed the job out and found the parts to be incorrect you could find yourself being a bit erm... angry. :D
Every silver lining has a cloud...

dixiethedog
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Re: My road back to being a zed owner!

#17 PostAuthor: dixiethedog » Tue Feb 04, 2025 2:35 pm

I have just done a double check on some micro fiche things and it appears that the dimensions that I was working from were OK if I had been using a 2005 GSXR front end. Mine is a 2018 one.
I now need to find some wheel bearings with an outside diameter of 47mm and an internal diameter of 22mm. Which looks to be impossible.
I can buy 47x25x12 bearings, but would it be safe to machine inserts to take the internal diameter down to 22mm??
Every silver lining has a cloud...

Hard Road
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Re: My road back to being a zed owner!

#18 PostAuthor: Hard Road » Tue Feb 04, 2025 4:08 pm

dixiethedog wrote:I have just done a double check on some micro fiche things and it appears that the dimensions that I was working from were OK if I had been using a 2005 GSXR front end. Mine is a 2018 one.
I now need to find some wheel bearings with an outside diameter of 47mm and an internal diameter of 22mm. Which looks to be impossible.
I can buy 47x25x12 bearings, but would it be safe to machine inserts to take the internal diameter down to 22mm??


I have sleeved swingarms and wheel bearings a few times now, just using aluminium tube (you could use steel) and never had an issue. the sleeve doesn't rotate so its not gona wear it just takes the weight.

dixiethedog
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Re: My road back to being a zed owner!

#19 PostAuthor: dixiethedog » Tue Feb 04, 2025 4:52 pm

I have sleeved swingarms and wheel bearings a few times now, just using aluminium tube (you could use steel) and never had an issue. the sleeve doesn't rotate so its not gona wear it just takes the weight.


I was a bit pee'd off before but after chilling out with a cup of tea I then went out and machined some EN8 (engineering steel) sleeve/bushes that I think should be a close tolerance fit into a 6005 (I think?) bearing (25mm internal) with the22mm GSXR spindle. I am back in the house now so I dont have the measurement at hand, but I think the "22mm" spindle is 21.8mm. The bearing sleeves I have machined are a nice tight firm fit onto the spindle so should be alright to use.
I will order some new bearings and seals and continue when they get here.
The daft thing is, with the bike being a retro gsx look a like, the bandit 1200 forks that are already fitted might actually look better! :D
Every silver lining has a cloud...

dixiethedog
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Re: My road back to being a zed owner!

#20 PostAuthor: dixiethedog » Tue Feb 04, 2025 4:59 pm

Z1streetfighter71 wrote:Any project has got to start somewhere, swingarm is as good a place as any!


I have another project tucked away for now, and that started with the swingarm. I narrowed a GSXR modern day arm to fit a Blandit 1200. I was inspired by zed1015's build where he narrowed a Yamaha arm to fit his zed(s). This one that I am busy with now is odd that it needs to be widened! I like how you have done something similar with you ST framed project. :D
Every silver lining has a cloud...

dixiethedog
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Re: My road back to being a zed owner!

#21 PostAuthor: dixiethedog » Wed Feb 05, 2025 2:00 pm

I am going to take a break from my own stuff for a little while whilst I move onto somebody elses project.

Image

I am going to do the paint which is going to be a nice funky green metal flake. Andrew, the owner is trying to get himself started with a custom bike building business so this bike is going to be a rolling advert for him. I've always thought of him as a muscle bike person (Turbo bandit engined GS1000 and big bore Katana owner), so I am wishing him well with his new venture. He is a proper biker. :D
Every silver lining has a cloud...

Hard Road
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Re: My road back to being a zed owner!

#22 PostAuthor: Hard Road » Wed Feb 05, 2025 2:19 pm

dixiethedog wrote:I am going to take a break from my own stuff for a little while whilst I move onto somebody elses project.

Image

I am going to do the paint which is going to be a nice funky green metal flake. Andrew, the owner is trying to get himself started with a custom bike building business so this bike is going to be a rolling advert for him. I've always thought of him as a muscle bike person (Turbo bandit engined GS1000 and big bore Katana owner), so I am wishing him well with his new venture. He is a proper biker. :D


I like hardtails, built a few but couldn't ride one now :|

dixiethedog
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Re: My road back to being a zed owner!

#23 PostAuthor: dixiethedog » Thu Feb 06, 2025 10:06 am

Hard Road wrote:
dixiethedog wrote:I am going to take a break from my own stuff for a little while whilst I move onto somebody elses project.

Image

I am going to do the paint which is going to be a nice funky green metal flake. Andrew, the owner is trying to get himself started with a custom bike building business so this bike is going to be a rolling advert for him. I've always thought of him as a muscle bike person (Turbo bandit engined GS1000 and big bore Katana owner), so I am wishing him well with his new venture. He is a proper biker. :D


I like hardtails, built a few but couldn't ride one now :|


I am the same, I have what was a nearly finished Hard up Chop Bandit chop tucked in the back of a shed which I keep on thinking about. My thoughts with it now are to pull the front end out, the engine, the wiring harness, the rear wheel, the brakes... and if I get a V5 for my z650 frame bung them all into that frame. I would sooner have a z650 with a Suzuki engine than a hardtail chop. I already have a false hip, a buggered back so a zed would make more sense! :D Even with just a 600 engine it would be fun. I am past the stage in life for going fast on an unfaired bike. 60-70mph suits me fine.
Every silver lining has a cloud...

Hard Road
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Re: My road back to being a zed owner!

#24 PostAuthor: Hard Road » Thu Feb 06, 2025 1:34 pm

dixiethedog wrote:
Hard Road wrote:
dixiethedog wrote:I am going to take a break from my own stuff for a little while whilst I move onto somebody elses project.

Image

I am going to do the paint which is going to be a nice funky green metal flake. Andrew, the owner is trying to get himself started with a custom bike building business so this bike is going to be a rolling advert for him. I've always thought of him as a muscle bike person (Turbo bandit engined GS1000 and big bore Katana owner), so I am wishing him well with his new venture. He is a proper biker. :D


I like hardtails, built a few but couldn't ride one now :|


I am the same, I have what was a nearly finished Hard up Chop Bandit chop tucked in the back of a shed which I keep on thinking about. My thoughts with it now are to pull the front end out, the engine, the wiring harness, the rear wheel, the brakes... and if I get a V5 for my z650 frame bung them all into that frame. I would sooner have a z650 with a Suzuki engine than a hardtail chop. I already have a false hip, a buggered back so a zed would make more sense! :D Even with just a 600 engine it would be fun. I am past the stage in life for going fast on an unfaired bike. 60-70mph suits me fine.



If the roads where like glass then a hardtail would be great, but that'll never happen :roll:
Ive seen a pick of a Z650 with a B12 engine in, so i know they'll fit, go for it :wink:

dixiethedog
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Re: My road back to being a zed owner!

#25 PostAuthor: dixiethedog » Thu Feb 06, 2025 6:56 pm

If the roads where like glass then a hardtail would be great, but that'll never happen :roll:
Ive seen a pick of a Z650 with a B12 engine in, so i know they'll fit, go for it :wink:


At some point in the long and distant past, from my "shed".
Image

Image

I have a memory like a thing. You know, a whatsit. A, oh you know an erm...oh man, you must know, a thingy jig...

I have no idea what happened to these? But oil cooled engines do go easily. For me, a marriage made in heaven.

I'll get me coat.
Every silver lining has a cloud...

Hard Road
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Re: My road back to being a zed owner!

#26 PostAuthor: Hard Road » Thu Feb 06, 2025 8:15 pm

dixiethedog wrote:If the roads where like glass then a hardtail would be great, but that'll never happen :roll:
Ive seen a pick of a Z650 with a B12 engine in, so i know they'll fit, go for it :wink:


At some point in the long and distant past, from my "shed".
Image

Image

I have a memory like a thing. You know, a whatsit. A, oh you know an erm...oh man, you must know, a thingy jig...

I have no idea what happened to these? But oil cooled engines do go easily. For me, a marriage made in heaven.

I'll get me coat.[/quote]

yep, the oil cooled Suzuki engine is small enough to fit a multitude of frames :)

dixiethedog
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Re: My road back to being a zed owner!

#27 PostAuthor: dixiethedog » Sun Feb 09, 2025 12:38 pm

A little while back I became fed up with spray painting bikes in my everyday messy workshop. So, decided to build a spray booth shed. Nice and clean and tidy (sometimes) and a warm fully insulated and heated place to crack open cans of paint and do some spraying. Now (not shown in the pics) with air extraction etc. For me a cool place to be. But, once it was set up it was amazing how many people wanted to be my friend and then once they had gotten they friendly priced paint jobs are never to be seen again. As my Mrs calls them, "Users". So, if you can see yourself in having done this anywhere down the line with other people hold your head in shame. Most bike builders are canny but there are some proper a-holes. :D It only takes buying decent equipment to find out who they are.
Rant over.
Image
Under construction still here, but big enough to get an FJR1300 in safely.
Image
The heating is on, so I have made a start on my pal's Triumph chop project.
The petrol tank and oil tank are new (but dented), so I have keyed the surface with 80grit and then 120g to allow me to spray them with an etch primer. This is purely used to allow the following coats that are sprayed on to stick and stay there!
Image

The etch primer that I have used is just a spray can one. It saves time having to clean out spray guns and works well enough.
Image

Next up, I am off to mix some high build primer which when done I think I will walk away from until tomorrow and then continue do the small dent repairs.
Every silver lining has a cloud...

Hard Road
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Re: My road back to being a zed owner!

#28 PostAuthor: Hard Road » Sun Feb 09, 2025 1:46 pm

I'll be your best friend if you do my paint job !!!!! :D

dixiethedog
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Re: My road back to being a zed owner!

#29 PostAuthor: dixiethedog » Sun Feb 09, 2025 1:51 pm

Hard Road wrote:I'll be your best friend if you do my paint job !!!!! :D


LOL. :D That is what they all say. :D
Every silver lining has a cloud...

dixiethedog
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Re: My road back to being a zed owner!

#30 PostAuthor: dixiethedog » Sun Feb 09, 2025 2:43 pm

I have had to call it a day in my paint shed. It is like a bloomin' oven. I have this year converted over to a camper van style diesel heater and because the shed is insulated and with no drafts it heats up beautifully. Probably too hot.
Anyway, I have applied a couple of light coats of hi build 2k primer followed along with a black guide coat. This will be sanded off to leave low spots still showing which will then be filled and repaired before another coat or two of primer will be applied. It will be as smooth as a baby's behind.
In true Blue Peter style, he is one that I prepared earlier. The prep is the hard bit.
From this;
Image

To this:
Image

It is funny, but the owner of this red paint job vanished into thin air even though I had a lot of contact with him before the paint was done. :shock:
Every silver lining has a cloud...


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