Redline Cycle Service, Inc.


 

1976 Kawasaki KZ900A4   ...or A4Redline?
                                Redline Cycle Project bike 2006

At the request of one of our customers, and to his specifications,
Redline took on the process of building a 1976 KZ900A4.....
Restoration is probably not the right word for this job........ Re-creation would be more appropriate....
This given the fact that we decided to start with the frame and engine only from a KZ900.....
The bike itself would be constructed entirely of parts off our shelves ...... A combination of new
Kawasaki OEM parts, new aftermarket reproduction parts, and reconditioned used OEM parts.....
The one thing all this stuff has in common is quality......Nothing but the best for this bike......
All of these parts available for sale in our shop, and in our  Online Catalog
of Kawasaki 900 & 1000 parts.......
In the end, the finished product would probably best be described as a KZ900A5......
An original KZ900 in appearance,  many its flaws corrected, and a few nice upgrades.....
And it will run as good as it looks........And better than it did new...... And now finished, it does!


 
Some of the original KZ900 engine's weak spots improved......High strength bolts hold the crankshaft in place, and they
won't break off in the case like the originals if this engine is ever torn down.....The easily-blown 2nd gear found in the
KZ900 won't be found in this engine; An undercut 2nd/5th gearset is installed......Valve job on this head is done by hand
for better sealing......Not seen are the high-strength camchain and some other good stuff.......

The stock bore engine has been glass-bead blasted for appearance.......Later on, professionally polished covers
will be installed.......

The frame has been powder coated for this bike.......The reproduction shocks have a much nicer chrome finish
than the originals, and a slightly stiffer ride, which the KZ900 could use......The reproductioin satin-finish fork tubes
are assembled with polished lower legs......
As anyone who bought a new KZ900 in 76 or 77 knows, the factory paint work was not great.....
The sidecovers never matched the tail and tank......This paint is a more vibrant version of the original
colors, done with a modern, far superior paint.....Expensive, but nothing but the best here...This is all
hand done, including the striping.........

To achieve the right look for this bike, we took a very nice pair of original KZ900 Takasago rims, and had
them re-plated.......The original hubs have had their centers bead-blasted, and the hub rims polished.....
Stainless spokes join the rims to the hubs......A lot of work and money, but a very nice pair of wheels........
The Bridgestone BT45V tires are about 10 steps and two generations better than the original KZ900 rubber.....

Tapered steering head bearings, will greatly improve the handling of this bike......The bead-blasted engine gives a
great contrast on the powder-coated frame........We have installed a new, NOS Kawasaki KZ900 front fender,
and a pair of repro KZ900 handlebars......Single front disc setup is temporary.....This bike will soon have better
brakes than that.......In the pic below, you can see the reproduction KZ900 rear fender.....Very nice chrome..

Almost a motorcycle.......More to come as the bike progresses.........

The customer's specifications for this KZ900 call for a reproduction of the dual-front brake disc kit which
Kawasaki sold for these bikes in the late 1970's and early 1980's....... It can be done!
Discs have been re-surfaced and the centers re-painted.....Calipers have been rebuilt and refinished.....
This job also calls for a Euro-style KPH speedo......DONE!!

Speedo is a new reproduction item, and the tach has been restored......

The rest of the meter cluster has been painstakingly refurbished......

Of course, the exhaust is a big deal on any stock Z-1 or KZ900 restoration...... These reproduction
pipes are pretty nice, and have been chosen for this job.......

The baffles on a Z-1 have the vertical bar at the back......Not so with the KZ900....A little work makes
them look the way they're supposed to.........

ALMOST DONE......... !  MORE TO COME!!



Once you get everything adjusted, all the bodywork on, and everything double checked for safety,
you take this bike out on the road - And all that work seems well worth it......

Not bad for a bike made out of parts.......

Way too early to be seeing what this bike can do ...... But then again, we pretty much already know that .....
And that's not what it was made for anyway.......Nevertheless, this bike runs with authority for a stock 903cc.....
And it has that unmistakeable sound - That sound that only comes from the stock pipes -
Like 1976 all over again.
 

E-Mail us at > jim@redlinecycle.com

......Check out Redline's   Kaw 900-1000 Online Parts Catalog

For a list of Old Kaws we've sold in the past check our   Cycles Sold   List

For a look inside a KZ engine being rebuilt  Click Here

 Return to Home Page