Help on RZ500 Upgrade

[philmill]

I'm hoping some of you may be able to help me on this, I am rebuilding my RZ500 and for various reasons I have decided to modify it slightly, I dont want to go too mad, more than anything because I don't have ability so adjust and make things work, I wish I did and I am so jealous of some of the bikes on here. 

I bought some time ago a pair of modified R6 yokes and a YZF750 swing arm also modified to fit to 500, I am not going to use either now (will be in the classified soon) and will keep std arm with a FZR600 18" rear wheel, so I now need to find a front end to go in, 17" wheel to match the FZR rear. I'd like decent brakes so I guess an slightly newer set up than the FZR but it needs to be a easy fitment. I did buy the forks and yokes from a YZF600 Thundercat having read on the 500 forum that they are a straight swap but they may fit straight into the frame but are too wide and hit the old and rad overflow tank, so thats no good.

I have spent ages trolling the forums looking for answers to this, hence the YZF error, so any input would be greatly appreciated.

Phil

[tipfinchy]

have you contacted Nigel at NK for any info, might be worth a try if you haven't already
mart

[richb]

Hi Phil
It really is not that bad. I cannot get to my bike at the moment as it is burried in the garage trapped in by building materials. From memory and what I can see leaning over and lifting the cover.
1. The oil tank top mount i have put a 6mm ish spacer to space away from fixing point and fro memory the bottom mounting put on the outside of the fixing point.
2. Coolant reservoir side I have a 12-15mm spaces at the top and again moved the tank bottom fixing to the outside of the mounting point, I think unfortunately cannot quite see it and did the work a few years ago now and memory faded a bit.
3. The bolts on the bottom yoke I ground the head down so they are thinner but just a enough the clear the tanks. It is tight.
4. Ignition barrel I purchased an after market one as the bolts that fix the barrel to the underside of the yolk are larger diameter than the standard ones. To get the steering lock to work had to do a little grinding if memory serves me right to get enough lock for mechanism to engage (not the off the bike frame)
5. I used an 600 Fazer swingarm which is cheap enough the buy and NK Racing worked his magic installing the brackets he also sets the brackets to maintain the correct rear ride height as the rear wheel being 17 inch is supposedly slight smaller diameter despite being a larger section rear tyre. Just took his advise but i did also fit a Nitron rear shock which has adjustable ride height.

Some people recommend heating up tanks and moulding them to fit but I did not want to chance doing this.
The nuts on the bars clamps do come close to the tank but they do clear okay.
It’s all easy enough to do and is as bolt in as you are likely to get.

My bike I posted Sept 5th 2013. Not sure how to add link but if you search posts by Richb it is the first post I created.
Rich

[philmill]

Thanks for the replies, Rich, I removed the tanks but the bottom yoke still hits the frame they fit in, and I'm guessing if I start bending this the fairing wont fit! unless of course its bent... i will try its without the bolts, maybe thinner bolts will clear.

Phil