Humph

Well... I'm sorta listening to The Diamond Sea by Sonic Youth, I say sorta because I'm watching a video I uploaded to youtube a few days ago... its just one of those things I guess.




I have done some work on the KZ1000. I wanted to fit the original Air Box, but have decided against it. Instead I am going to fit 4 pod filters, they work just as well and will be better for working on the bike. The Airbox is big, bulky, missing the top cover, needs a filter which costs 2/3 as much as the pods, and covers the battery - which means when ever you want to get to the battery you have to remove half the airbox and frankly it is just a pain in the ass, especially for a motorcycle built in 1976, you want to be able to get to the electric area. The rear end of the airbox can probably be used for a tool box.


As to the XS400, I have splurged (not much) and got some bits for it. The KZ1000 needed 2 more turn signal stems so I ordered 4 of them as I need 2 more as well, they are $7.50 each.

I also went ahead and got myself a solo seat, its got a steel plate and a foam pad that I have heard excellent things about, I have a couple friends with rigid frame bikes who have ridden several hundred miles using these seats and were able to walk away from their bikes without a hobble. Thats because instead of a little square insert in the pad there is actually a real gel pad over the whole pan. Paul told me if I got one he'd cover it nice - I'd planned to use Gorilla tape.... Also got 3" springs for it, figured there was a better shot of NOT smacking my tail bone on the frame.

Also ordered the 2 valve stems, that will give me time to work on the bike and Maybe, just MAYBE get the carbs right before I go ahead and put it all together, I mean I got electrical to do and the whole deal, I think doing the tire now would break my back. Also gives time for the front tire to show up!

So here's the seat, going to be fun fitting it and will have to coverup the electrics on top of the bike, but in the end everything is worth the effort:


And of course how can you forget the springs, I figure these will be easier to fit than the past springer springs I have used which were vertical and required you to get the nut INTO the damned spring. Boy Cam and I had a hell of a time doing that one night in Phoenix I think he was fitting a springer to the KZ1000 and I was fitting one to the Enfield... and man it SUCKED. So lets try these!




I have discovered that you can buy new sidecovers for certain more awesome motorcycles than mine. So I'm going to dig around and see if anything I know you can get fits in any shape or form, then at some point either pick up a new or used set, for example:



Last but not least the gas tank, this will be much later down the line, and I'm going to have to glue these on, but to cover the former badge spaces which are pretty ugly and I don't want to bother with Bondo and then repaint, THEN add badges, I'd rather just get these and cement them over the brackets. So at some point I'll get a pair of these for the tank:





I'm as excited about this bike as you possibly can be. It may not be my "style" but you know what? It has allowed me to do a lot of little things, and its going to allow me to do a few more things I have always wanted to try - like a sidecar, as well as winter riding. Its ugly, its a rat bike, but you know what? I love it, I absolutely adore the poor old machine.


Now... I'm going to leave for a bit, I am feeling incredibly hammered.