Check out my awesome gusset

Sorry for the self-indulgent title...

After a comprehensive 3 minute online search of measures to brace a bendy old z750 frame my local welderist, Emmerson, came up with the following:




I like them a lot although I doubt that they'll make anything more than a cosmetic difference. Frame now at the powdercoaters for a nice layer of black.

mark

[timwilky]

As modern frames are designed to incorporate an element of flex. Was the Z so bad that you felt the need to brace these sections?

Worse case scenario is that now you have strengthen that section you leave yourself open to some form of fatigue failure over time.

Looks nice though.

Originally Posted by timwilky

As modern frames are designed to incorporate an element of flex. Was the Z so bad that you felt the need to brace these sections?

Worse case scenario is that now you have strengthen that section you leave yourself open to some form of fatigue failure over time.

Looks nice though.

Well it's a 1981 z750E frame so it's from the bendy era. Blimey! It's 32 years old, does that even count as modern?

The extra strength, such as it is, is based on a few different articles and pictures of old z race bikes I found and the wisdom of the welding guy.

And, thanks to Rosie's artistic input, they're pretty.

At the end of the day it'll only be handling about 65BHP on a good day so I'm not too worried.

Mark

Originally Posted by MarkB852

Well it's a 1981 z750E frame. <snip> Blimey! It's 32 years old, does that even count as modern?

Way to make a guy feel old! 1981 was a good year I'll have you know
Sadly nothing to contribute to the thread and apologies for the derail, I'm just suffering Monday with a headache this afternoon so I'm easily distracted.

Originally Posted by Brettus

Way to make a guy feel old! 1981 was a good year I'll have you know
Sadly nothing to contribute to the thread and apologies for the derail, I'm just suffering Monday with a headache this afternoon so I'm easily distracted.

I was 15 years old back then and dreaming of an FS1-E...

Mark

[Sid Squid]

Start looking at bracing for the front of the frame, around the headstock, this is an area where useful differences can be made. Also add an 'X' brace between the front frame downtubes below the header pipes, and if possible a brace/plate where the upper frame tubes curve under the rear of the tank, if it can be done without making the tank or carbs difficult to fit that is. Bracing the rear is always a good thing, but unless you're considering putting a big wodge of power in it, the front is where the biggest improvements are to be had. Kawasaki knew the deficiencies their frames had, hence the sheet braces around the headstock - beef that up.

If you look at modern frames you'll notice the headstock is much lower down and the forks are shorter, that means the leverage, (particularly side to side), the front wheel has over the headstock is reduced, stiffer front end gives much better steering and less frame spring - put your effort into the front end.

[mikerj]

The gussets might have helped more if you left a bit more metal in them! Why is there a half moon shape cut from the top one?

Originally Posted by mikerj

The gussets might have helped more if you left a bit more metal in them! Why is there a half moon shape cut from the top one?

Seat release lock...

Mark

Originally Posted by Sid Squid

Start looking at bracing for the front of the frame, around the headstock, this is an area where useful differences can be made. Also add an 'X' brace between the front frame downtubes below the header pipes, and if possible a brace/plate where the upper frame tubes curve under the rear of the tank, if it can be done without making the tank or carbs difficult to fit that is. Bracing the rear is always a good thing, but unless you're considering putting a big wodge of power in it, the front is where the biggest improvements are to be had. Kawasaki knew the deficiencies their frames had, hence the sheet braces around the headstock - beef that up.

If you look at modern frames you'll notice the headstock is much lower down and the forks are shorter, that means the leverage, (particularly side to side), the front wheel has over the headstock is reduced, stiffer front end gives much better steering and less frame spring - put your effort into the front end.

You are Tony Foale and I claim my five pounds...

Yes, you're right but I'm not going racing, I'm just playing about with an old frame. I did see an article on fitting the cross braces you describe but I could see the faff of getting around the exhaust headers etc and kind of gave up. If I had a lovely braced headstock I might have to replace the weedy forks and the caveman wheels and, and , and. Get a new Z750 instead.

This bike is a bit of a game to me really. It's never going to work as well as my pointy so I'm just rolling it in glitter!



Thanks,

Mark

[Sid Squid]

Originally Posted by MarkB852

You are Tony Foale and I claim my five pounds...

I wish .