[Zed1100]

Hey guys, this is going to be my summer project build. And you will have to bare with me as this is my first project.
So, i have myself an 83' GPZ1100. Picked her up for around 300 euros. bargain straight away. At the moment she does run, though not very well. But that is understandable seen as its been stored in a shed for the past 5 years.
Anyway...
Here she was as of this morning.

and this is what i ended up with after a few hours playing.
(note to self, do not underestimate how awkward a 30 year old bike can be to take apart, but after a whole can of WD-40 and alot of sweat i got this)

My inspiration for GPZ is this bike. Built by WrenchMonkees in copenhagen i believe.

Now, my main question right now is to do with swapping forks and swinger.
from the research i have done ive found that most people tend to use a GSXR front end with ZX9 wheels.
But with this being my first project i am just wondering how hard it would be to put a new front end and swinger on. It doesnt have to be a USD or anything too fancy. Just something a little more beefy, and i do really want the change the wheels to something alot beefier.

So hopefully the updates will be quite regular, and please guys any help with the forks and swinger would really be appreciated.

Many thanks

Zed (Max)

 

[CraZKenE13]

Good bike to start with, first thing I would do is clean/synch the carbs, oil change, spark plugs etc... Get it running properly 1st, a fighter that looks good but runs bad is no good.
Fork swaps are pretty straight forward- if you can't find conversion bearings (check all balls racing) you can usually press the stem from your old triples and install it in the front end you want to mount.
Rear can be a little trickier, look around at some other GPZs for inspiration/comparison.
Check out the muscle bike thread-lots of Kawi goodness in there. Keep up the pics and questions and you'll get good help here.:kawasaki:

 

[Zed1100]

Ok so after a bit of thinking today, i have decided to stick with the original forks and wheels. As after playing about a bit i think the wheels kind of suit the cafe look quite well.

Long term plan is :
to keep the original tank so i get to keep to cool fuel gage and warning light bit.

clip ons.

8" round headlight

possible keep the original tail

use the original seat pan and chop some foam out to make it a little better looking.

wrap the exhausts.

and i cant think of anything else off the top of my head

Here's a photo of where i got to today.

I think i have reached the limits of my knowledge right now so im calling my dad in to help me drop out the motor tomorrow or maybe sunday.

Hopefully within the next week or so the frame and wheels can go out for powder coating. Whilst the motor is away i will be rebuilding the forks with new seals and having a look at the antidive feature (as i have heard they tend to fuck up quite easily). And cleaning up the motor and spraying it black and then detailing

Having trouble at the moment thinking of colour schemes. Do i go all black body work and a crazy colour frame? for example red or maybe white?
What do you guys think?

Zed

 

[Zed1100]

Ok so i have spent the last hour searching through google, and various repair manual websites trying to find a manual for my bike. And have had no luck. I've foud a few on ebay, but i just cannot bring myself to spend nearly £40 for the manual. From what i have found i need a kz1100 manual with the GPZ1100 supplement. Does anyone on here have a copy? or know of someone who does have a copy? Any help would be great help guys

Zed

 

[Fizzer_Fighter]

Is this model carbureted or fuel injected? I've heard that some of these gpz were f.i.

Interested to see what you end up doing to it..keep going

 

[Zed1100]

This is fuel injected, Alot of people ive seen have done a carb conversion. But if all goes to plan and i'll run a little cleaner through the system i want to keep it injected.
http://s1049.photobucket.com/albums/s383/Zed1100/?action=view&current=MVI_1283.mp4
Loud as Hell and running a little rough. But i think it's all workable.
As of about 15 minutes ago im at the point where the motor is coming out. But my camera is out of battery and im not doing this without some reference photos haha.
Hopefully by tomorrow i'll be left with nothing but a rolling chassis Ready for powder coat.

Zed

 

[ROBBO]

Good vid , yeah'

 

[Mustapha dump]

The Z/GPZ motors are all pretty much the same, the main variation with yours is the 18mm gudgeon pins and different shaped combustion chambers in the head. Carb conversion is easy, oilcooled GSXR carbs fit, the ignition housing needs to be swapped for an earlier model then you can fit a Dyna 'S' ignition system and Dyna green 3ohm coils with the earlier mechanical advance unit, which is much more reliable than the OEM stuff after 30 years of service.
Bandit 1200 swingarms slot in easily, requiring very little other than some sleeves and spacer making up. Any front end you want will slot in with a simple stem swap required.
If you need any info just ask, I have been building these motors for many years, and run an 1170cc version myself with Yoshi cams and Mikuni RS flatslides.
A 530 chain/sprocket conversion is available which will make life much easier for you, especially if you swap running gear over. Offset front sprockets are also available to run a wider rear wheel. I run a GSXR1000K4 6 inch rim in mine, along with a GSXR K series radial front end.

 

[yantosh]

should be getting a gpz1100 soon , swap with Viz

 

[Shifty Rabbid]

I have the books from kawasaki. Owner and tech. Let me know what you need and I'll send you the info.

I believe they are 'specific' to the A2 model, but as far as differences...I don't think there are any so all info should be relevant. Send a PM.

 

[Zed1100]

Thanks for that info Mustapha, Though at the moment i will be sticking to original forks and swinger that info could become very useful. If she turns out good i will be looking at upgrading.

And shifty i may have to take you up on that offer soon.

So the progress for today its looking pretty good. The motor was a serious pain to take out. it was like one of those puzzles where the piece will only fit at some very specific angles and with a whole of of jack repositioning and man power.
I think the photo speaks for itself really

And some random photos now.
A rather sorry looking wiring loom that will need some TLC

A rather sorry looking motor

Anyways enough photo porn.
So all in all quite a bit of progress today. I'll hopefully get the frame ready to be sent off soon. Although you guys might have to wait a few days for an update as im needed on a job thats waiting on parts to arrive. so it could be any day.

I still need some paint suggestions

Zed

 

[Zed1100]

Hey guys. not much today apart from a good clean of the frame. and a little mock up with the tank, seat and tail
My only problem now is im having trouble finding a powder coater in the area.

And also this is on its way (due to a quite severe leak in my tank. its basically rusted to f**k inside)

Zed

 

[Shifty Rabbid]

Looks really good, man. Getting me motivated to work on my bikes again.

 

[Zed1100]

Shifty, Thanks man, its coming along ok. forks and swinger off in the next few days. And new seals and bearing to be ordered soon. Hope to see the ON HOLD part of your sig gone soon then

 

[Shifty Rabbid]

I just need to have some mounts fabbed up and welded so I can put the sv1000 tail and sub on. Problem is I have no way to move the scrap heap to get it done.

 

[Zed1100]

Well guys, today i havent really done alot.
Swinger out and wheels off. I'll be getting the forks off tomorrow. Then it will be time to have a clean up of the frame and give it a good check over for and bad spots.

Anyways photo time

Here is how the bike sits now

Have to love the swinger, it might be old but it looks pretty sweet.
And you wouldn't believe how heavy these rims are!!!!!!! i was rather surprised.

Also if anybody wants to see random disassembly photos you can find them all on here
http://s1049.photobucket.com/albums/s383/Zed1100/

Zed

 

[Zed1100]

damn, looks like im going to be on hold for a bit, im currently having alot of trouble finding a powder coater in the area. So until that's done, im on hold. I have even thought about posting the frame off to the UK on a palette for coating. But that will get expensive.
Hopefully i'll be back on it soon though

Zed

 

[Zed1100]

Ok i have have found a place to get the frame coated
And for some reason that (and the fact i may have found some z1000j carbs to do a conversion) has now made me doubt my choice to keep the tail section original.
So guys.... Chop or not????

This?

Or This?

I have a feeling i already know i should chop it, just due to the fact that it looks sooooooo much more badass.

Zed

 

[Denver]

Hey man you're rockin' so far... get that motor done up nice and proper

I like that wrenchmonkees bike a lot, but you gotta nail the seat or else it'll look fucked

 

[ROBBO]

Damm thats turnin out ta be a envios project!:thumbsup: