1984 Katana 7/11

[pete]

Well if you know me at all you will know I have dreamed of having my very own Kat for a very long time... finally I'm on the way!

It all started with a too cheap to resist front cowl on eBay that needed repairs, then a Jap import 1984 750 frame came up at just the right price and just the right time.

After some extreme generosity from the guys on the Katana Australia forum I have a bunch of bits and pieces already and should soon have a whole lot more.

I'm hoping for a 12 to 18 month project timeline but I'll just have to wait and see how time and funds go.

I also need to build a shed first which should be starting on Monday (2 week holiday from work, yay!).

Anyway, no truth without pic's right?

Some of what I have so far:



Damage on the cowl, but being fibreglass means I can repair it:



I have a seat and tail piece, indicators, and a bunch of other bits and pieces that I haven't got any pic's of just yet, and in the next week or so I should have most of an 1100 motor as well as wheels and more so in theory I'll almost be at the rolling frame point.

As far as plans go, I like the feel/look of the stock Kat so I'll be maintaining that, however I'll probably go for a non-stock paint scheme and maybe some other subtle mod's along the way. That's one advantage of assembling it in bits like this... I have a blank canvas to start with.

[tatu]

A cool project, the early fibreglass cowl, nice. Kats are very popular down your way. Good luck with the project.


Here's a contact down your way that has parts.....

http://www.mickhone.com.au/partFinder/model/24104#anchor_component

[SVSooke]

If it means we see a bit more of you great stuff Pete!I certainly be following along.

[Charlie G]

Good luck Pete. I got to ride one last June and it would nice to have one of mine own. Maybe if I start looking for bits I can do it. An 84 750 frame. Is it a kat frame?

cg

[Dogma]

Oh, I'm looking forward to this.

[pete]

Cheers guys! To say I'm excited would be the understatement of the century

Tatu, I deal with Mick Hone fairly regularly and I just placed a reasonable sized order with them on Friday for my first round of Kat bits

Greg, yep should see me round a little more... maybe not so much immediately as I need to get the shed done, but for sure once I really get stuck in!

Yep Charlie, it's a Kat frame. They kept building the Kats for the Japanese market up until the late 90's I think, and the 750's continued with the same styling as the 1100's. So while this is a 750 frame, I can quite legally and safely stick an 1100 in it. I keep seeing Kats for sale in the US and man you guys get them so cheaply! Should be no reason you couldn't do the same, just keep your eye out and eventually one will pop up at the right price. They are definitely awesome bikes to own and ride!

Dogma, me too!

[dorkburger]

Cool deal. Good luck with the project.

[pete]

Cheers mate!

I have made a little progress over the last couple of weeks, the rear master cylinder was seized but I used compressed air to get the piston out. The bore looks good so a new piston and cup set should get that sorted.



I also made up a spring compressor out of scrap steel and threaded rod:



And the Koni's are dismantled waiting on a seal kit:



Thursday is an exciting day coming up as I'll be getting a bunch of stuff from a mate, but the focus right now is getting the shed done. The timber was delivered yesterday and we picked the tin up so hopefully we can get a good start on that today.

[pete]

Kat Korner in the garage got a boost yesterday...

[Steve]

Got any drawings for the shed?

.

[BigD_83]

That spring compressor is a handy set-up...

I am very much looking forward to this (re)build

[pete]

I do Steve, but they're in an open source CAD program (LibreCAD).

Here's how it is so far, getting close to getting a roof. It's 4.8m long by 1.4m wide and the centre section where the extended bit of concrete is should hopefully be able to allow the shed to expand to give me room to move to paint etc.:



Cheers BigD, that's a Google special Only thing I would recommend is adding some rubber where it contacts the springs as I have some marks on them from the metal now. I was thinking of having them powder coated anyway so I'm not too concerned about it.

I received my first big order from Mick Hone yesterday so I took 15 minutes last night to reassure myself that I really am building a Kat...

[pete]

I got some more bits the other day, some are on loan to get me going some I'll be buying, but I haven't had a chance to get in and sort everything out yet due to shed building time.

It's getting close to being done on the outside though...

[Charlie G]

Looks great Pete. You've got this "worn out" Carpenter's approval. Will that roof handle the expected snow load?

[pete]

Haha cheers Charlie!!! I can 100% guarantee it will take the load of every single flake of snow this city has to offer

The roof was completed yesterday as well as getting some tin on the front, so a tidy up of the bit above the doorway and then it's door time. I also need to book in the electrician to come and wire it up, then I can do the inside walls and noise insulation.