Project: COOL KAT

[russr33]

Alright, since this has been keeping me awake the last few nights I figured I would go ahead and start a thread. The bike is a 1982 Katana SZ. I have an '83 1166 motor that needs some work that will be dropped in and I have most of the parts to do a GSXR/Bandit conversion. Here's the starting point:

When finished the bike will have a red and white Wes Cooley paint scheme inspired by a bike posted by rapidray as seen here:

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=144522&highlight=cooley+Kat

What's been keeping me up is figuring out the direction I want to go (and how much I want to drop into it). The choices:

1)Use the parts I have (easily the cheapest option)

2) Use most of the parts I have but add a JMC swingarm and Ohlins as well as other upgrades. Would look similar to bike Ray posted. (getting more expensive)

3)Say screw it and go all out and do a monoshock conversion and gold USD forks ala 80GS1000's cooley tribute. (I don't want to know how much). Going this route would give me something aesthetically along the lines of this. I know it would be a little different but you get the idea.

Any thoughts/comments are appreciated.

 

[sachsaca]

If you could somehow update it to look as the pic that would be very sweet. I think the wes cooley paint would look nice. Patience patience, you'll prolly dream it out...

 

[russr33]

First thing right now is getting the '83 motor together. It came with a project I picked up for cheap a few months ago but it's in pieces.:

Clutch basket let loose and took out #4 piston. Pistons on the way (Thanks Terry) and I have a replacement clutch from an '82 that I will most likely be sending off to APE.

The engine currently in the bike is an '82 1100. The PO was gracious enough to leave a shop rag in the head when he put motor together. That was lots of fun getting out but that's another story. Bike currently runs but still has an oil leak coming from somewhere in front of motor. When first got the rag fiasco sorted and put back together it had a leak. Replaced aftermarket head gasket with OEM and still had leak. Replaced oil plug seals and still have leak. Maybe cracked head? I don't know but really not important as the '83 motor will be going in.

 

[russr33]

If you could somehow update it to look as the pic that would be very sweet. I think the wes cooley paint would look nice. Patience patience, you'll prolly dream it out...

Which pic do you mean sachsaca?

 

[sachsaca]

The retro Katana, that would be wicked. It isn't that far off now, you could find some smaller panels from another bike, the pipes look like alot of pipes on some bikes now, Paint a red stripe on your rims, or powder coat one/them, Buell has air scoops on their road bikes similar to those

That is just an idear, but good luck, I'd love to have one of those kats.

 

[jwhelan65]

Do it Russ!! Build a fat tire Cooley Kat !

 

[saffa]

but add a JMC swingarm

dont waste your money .get the bandit one stretched ,polished and braced for less.

loadsa folk here in the UK been having problems with afore mentioned company.they take your cash quick enough and then you dont hear from em ,cant contact em etc etc.you may be lucky and see the product anything from 9 months later. a mate of mine waited 10 months for an arm for his slabby . only when threatened with legal action did the product appear. it still didnt fit the bike ...they offered to redo it but with all the hassle he ended up just flogging it .try metamachex they do similar work ......or better yet ...check out steelheart for one of theirs ...artwork


(youve been warned)

 

[salty_monk]

If you do go Mono shock why go bandit swinger? You'd be better of following the Red GS1100 monoshock that's in another thread, that has a fully braced swinger on it similar to the one in the Suzuki Retro concept pic....

Dan

 

[saffa]

not to detract from the red one but i think the arm on it looks too short and a bit busy. i think a bandit one with a mono or even twin shock looks closer to the original and maintains an uncomplicated look ..


but each to their own

ps.....

dont fancy selling me that headlight off the blue donor machine do ya russ...as i have the same model needing a light

 

[russr33]

If you do go Mono shock why go bandit swinger? You'd be better of following the Red GS1100 monoshock that's in another thread, that has a fully braced swinger on it similar to the one in the Suzuki Retro concept pic....

Dan

If I go monoshock it will be a new '05 GSXR1000 swinger that was a take-off that a fellow member is going to trade me. Like 80GS1000's bike.

I have the bandit swingarm already and if I went that route it would be with Ohlins.

 

[salty_monk]

I think the Kat is maybe the only bike that looks 100% "right" with a monoshock. The twin shock still gives that "period correct" look though....

The mono shock will give you the ultimate performance I guess....

I started with a monoshock (GS750ES) so I don't have to worry about it :lol:

 

[Jethro]

Another nice, nice project!

 

[salty_monk]

By the way... have a cool under brace added on when you get your shock mounts welded if you go with the bandit (like the one in Ray's pics... looks great!)

Can't take that much to fashion one up, especially if you mitre & weld rather than bend the tubes (or fill the tubes with sand & bend them yourself).

Don't stretch it - doesn't look right in my opionion.......

 

[tejasmud]

I'd be watching the "Phat Kat" show too.

Love them machines, I'd say, "Doooooo-it-uhhhppp!"

 

[russr33]

By the way... have a cool under brace added on when you get your shock mounts welded if you go with the bandit (like the one in Ray's pics... looks great!)

Can't take that much to fashion one up, especially if you mitre & weld rather than bend the tubes (or fill the tubes with sand & bend them yourself).

Don't stretch it - doesn't look right in my opionion.......

Well it looks like I'll be going monoshock with an '05 gsxr1000 swingarm. Brand new take-off complete with shock that a fellow board member had. Actually ill be more cost effective b/c if I went with the bandit I was going to get Ohlins and that ain't cheap!

I agree that I'll lose a little period look but that's what the other bikes are for!

 

[salty_monk]

That would have been my choice on that bike too I think

Will be following your progress! Good luck

Dan

 

[saffa]

ho hum ........now ..about that EZ headlight :-\\\

 

[reddirtrider]

Which direction you go depends on how much money you're willing to throw at this project. Ohlins forks (I think you mentioned those) probably cost more than you have in both bikes (just a guess - don't really know how much you spent).

I'd access the money situation and beat that against what you could buy if you spent what you intend. It's always a trade off. Building these bikes is costly and time consuming. On top of that you're not going to get anywhere near the money back if you sell it, particularly if it's not finished.

Good luck. I'm only trying to bring a rational perspective to your project.

 

[russr33]

Which direction you go depends on how much money you're willing to throw at this project. Ohlins forks (I think you mentioned those) probably cost more than you have in both bikes (just a guess - don't really know how much you spent).

I'd access the money situation and beat that against what you could buy if you spent what you intend. It's always a trade off. Building these bikes is costly and time consuming. On top of that you're not going to get anywhere near the money back if you sell it, particularly if it's not finished.

Good luck. I'm only trying to bring a rational perspective to your project.

Oh I hear you. I've done plenty of number crunching and am not naive about the cost at all. BTW Dynoman has Ohlins for $695 for anyone interested. At least that's what they quoted me a couple of months ago. I wish I only had that much in both bikes

 

[russr33]

If anyone comes across a complete '04 GSXR1000 front end in good condition let me know.