RZ350 TZR 3XV Hybrid

[kpke]

1/6/24  EP9

It is time for some reassembly. Julian has a bunch of parts that he has designed and ordered enroute so this little project bike needs to become a roller.











There is no upper shock mount at the moment. So, the swingarm is flopping around. Do you see that custom component jammed between the swingarm and the frame? I designed that. And it is working quite well.

[kpke]

1/7/24 EP10

Back to Julian's shop. Here he is measuring the angle of the swingarm. And as it turns out the piece of 2 x 4 needed a very slight trim to get the attitude of the suspension where it needs to be.



Next up is getting the bike into the shop for a bit of welding.



Forward tank mount parts are fixtured and ready to be tack welded onto the frame.



When I grow up, I want to learn to do this.



And trailer the thing home for a little more paint removal and test fitting of the fuel tank.



This week Julian is going to work on utilizing these cool parts that just arrived to assemble a couple of rear sub frames for this bike and one of his. Your hard work and brainpower are very much appreciated Julian!!!

The parts in the photo below are all designed by Julian. Files are sent to the source and this is the result. Really quite beautiful fabricated components.

[busa1300]

Found a clean fender for sale if you still need one

https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/t1123838097



And one more
https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/n1124538824

[kpke]

Wow. Great finds, much appreciated!!! Looks like I need to sign up and then figure out if they will ship to US.

[85RZwade]

What Julian creates and accomplishes out of what appears to be a two-car garage is just amazing and embarrassing. I feel like I'm barely past angle-grinder engineering by comparison! It must be very humbling to work with him, and I am envious of you Ken.

[kpke]

Thanks Wade. Yep. Humbling indeed. My shop has a bench top drill press, a disc/belt sander, and a band saw. Julian has been doing this for about 4 decades. He knows his stuff.

1/27/24 EP11

Back to Julian's shop for more mods.


I got an update on some of the mods he has done to his bike.







My bike came over looking like this.



And left looking like this. Progress, eh?

[Kawtriplefreak]

Beautiful work Ken  

[skyline]

As always impressive and encouraging work. Good luck!

[kpke]

Appreciate the comments fellas!!!

1/28/24 & 2/2/24  EP12

Stopped by Julian's house to look at some progress on his bike.



Back home reassembled the chassis back to a roller.



And then assembled a dummy engine for fitment of more parts.

[kpke]

2/10/24 EP13

Stopped by Julian's.

He was doing some bending of parts and machining tubing of subframe parts.



More send/cut/send parts arrived. Many thicker gauge "special" parts that he designed and ordered for my bike.

[skyline]

It's gonna be great end result. That swing-arm looks neat.

[kpke]

Thanks skyline

2/11/24 EP14

Frame Maker welding, assembling, and installing a master piece of metal work on Super Sunday. And a "solution" for the upper shock mount is designed.

[kpke]

2/19/24 EP15

Engine disassembly begins.

Taking squish band measurement.



A rare shot of the rookie mechanic in Ken's Garage

[kpke]

2/25/24 EP16

Back to Frame Makers to install upper shock mount brackets.





Things went swimmingly until we tested the rear suspension. It barely moves. Julian has determined that the heavy aluminum lower arm (fabbed and set up buy someone else) is too short. The suspension is unable to work properly and will need further mods. Damn.

[busa1300]

I compared my RZ350 swing arm to my 3XV-SP swing arm, and the 3XV is basically 4 inches longer... wondering how that extra wheel base will change its handling? Although the 3XV bits are basically bomb proof compared to the RZ front and rear, and definitely will give more control.
Bike looks great so far