[chuck1]

I found a 03 ZX9 dirt cheap on ebay so I picked it up and decided to see if I could fit it to my bike and see if it handles any differently. I read about the 10 arm swaps and some of the earlier ZX7 arm swaps also.

Good thing I have aftermarket wheels because there is no way a stock 12 wheel will work. The good thing is if you tried to install the 9 arm you could use the 9 wheels as the 9 front wheel can be made to fit the 12 and the rotors bolt on.

The stock 12 wheel is offset to the brake side when mounted and the hub is too wide/spacer is too short to move over. With the marchesni they use a narrower hub and a big spacer. A new spacer solved the problem.

The arm itself uses the factory pivot, spacers and other parts.

I had to come up with a brake set up so I decided to try one of those tiny 4 pot brembo knock offs you see on ebay. Machine work on it is pretty good although the anodizing is some putrid green/gold that looks like ass. Some black paint fixed that flaw. The pads in it are some oddball size and nobody lists any that are even close. Looks like when they wear out I will have to mod a set from another bike to fit.

I had to machine a caliper carrier so I got a big hunk of aluminum and went at it with a hack saw and file for a few days. :lol:
I still need a new brake line and also need to remove some material off the carrier. I didn't want to waste time whittling it down if the set up wasn't going to work.

With the stock master cylinder the little sucker is really firm with lots of feel. Too bad it has almost no power but then again the pads aren't bedded in plus who know what compound they used for it. There is no way I will lock the rear wheel at speed so that solves the touch rear brake problem some complain about. Oh, I also reduced the diameter of the rotor too for less weight. It is about 1/4 inch smaller now.

Why swap it? Because I can. :crackup: It is 1 inch shorter plus stiffer due to the bracing. I don't have a scale so I have no idea what it weighs vs. the 12 set up. The tiny 4 pot rear brake set up is quite a bit lighter than the stock anchor.

I just got back from a short 30 mile ride. I didn't get to take my full test loop as there was too much traffic (I picked the wrong time to go for a ride with all the soccer moms picking up their rugrats) and some construction so I said screw it and cut the ride short. It did quicken steering a touch but so far it isn't twitchy but then again it could be if you like top speed runs. I have it set up for the canyons and such. Sprockets are -1 in front and +1 in the rear.

Draw backs so far are no flipping rear huggers to be found for it in this country. I bought one from ebay who I think was pit eck or a close cousin. Holy crap, what a heap of shit. I might use it for a basis to make my own. I'm not great with fiberglass but it I have to be better then the one these blind monkeys shit out. :angry:

I don't think this would fit with the stock shock as the brace would hit it.

You have to break the chain to install the arm.

You need different wheels and a machine shop to fit it.

I could have went the route of the 10R arm but there is no way the 12 wheels will fit the 10 arm. Even the marchesnis would require some hard to find and expensive hub parts to fit and even then they may not.

Sorry about the zip tie brake line holder. I need a new line and have to make some way to retain it if I decide to keep this set up.

 

[edge2edge]

Awesome job Chuck1!!! Once you have the bike set up to your liking you should ride it back to back with WarpDrivekid's (unless his has been finished) that should give you a good idea the changes.

I especially notice the shorter swing-arm on track days during turn-in and mid-corner transitions. I will keep an eye out for a nice hugger for you...

Thanks for sharing with us!!!!!:crazyloco:

 

[chuck1]

Awesome job Chuck1!!! Once you have the bike set up to your liking you should ride it back to back with WarpDrivekid's (unless his has been finished) that should give you a good idea the changes.

I especially notice the shorter swing-arm on track days during turn-in and mid-corner transitions. I will keep an eye out for a nice hugger for you...

Thanks for sharing with us!!!!!:crazyloco:

Thanks. I did notice it was easier to turn in.

Warpdrivekids swingarm is on hold. Logistical issues. All ready to bolt on once we can both get a day to do it.

I did find a nice looking carbon fiber hugger on ebay but it was in the UK. After shipping it would run over 300 bucks which was more than I wanted to put into this project.

 

[GO 200]

Nice work, Chuck!! Looks like you're havin' fun!! :thumbup::thumbup:

 

[ZuminaZX]

Very cool! I've been thinking about doing the same thing but I'd like to keep the underslung caliper.

 

[chuck1]

Very cool! I've been thinking about doing the same thing but I'd like to keep the underslung caliper.

Thanks

I was going to keep the underslung caliper also but the bracing is asymmetrical and leaves room for the top mounted caliper. I figured it would look funny with that open area there and nothing filling it.
I wish kawasaki had made the bracing the same on both sides as it looks better. Oh well.

 

[chuck1]

Nice work, Chuck!! Looks like you're havin' fun!! :thumbup::thumbup:

Yep, lots of fun making stuff. Wish i could do it full time.

 

[texlurch]

I thought about doing the same.. but if the 12 wheel doesn't fit that would have killed it for me...

Nice job!

 

[Marcelo]

That swingarm looks like it belongs on the 12. Looks much stiffer too. :thumbup:

 

[WarpDriveKidd]

Thanks. I did notice it was easier to turn in.

Warpdrivekids swingarm is on hold. Logistical issues. All ready to bolt on once we can both get a day to do it.

I did find a nice looking carbon fiber hugger on ebay but it was in the UK. After shipping it would run over 300 bucks which was more than I wanted to put into this project.

Oh I see, no one can keep a secret around here!!!!! :nana: heheheeee

Chuck1 the bike looks sweet! You already know your bike looks sweet Edge2Edge!!

In time I too will be a member of the swingers club! :thumbup:

BTW Chuck1 you should post a full shot, so we can appreciate the entire flow of your master piece!

 

[wylde]

very sharp! what is that a shower mat on the tank cover? Hmm Whittier ,, that reminds me of decades ago when i used to cruize Montebello! thats where the bikes went...

 

[WarpDriveKidd]

very sharp! what is that a shower mat on the tank cover? Hmm Whittier ,, that reminds me of decades ago when i used to cruize Montebello! thats where the bikes went...

Shower mat! :rotflmao:

 

[wylde]

it looks like those suction cup thinggys that stick to the floor of the shower.. LOL

 

[ZuminaZX]

hey chuck, do you know offhand the distance between the stock rear caliper's mounting bolts?

edit: I'm glad you painted your undertail to match!

 

[chuck1]

hey chuck, do you know offhand the distance between the stock rear caliper's mounting bolts?

edit: I'm glad you painted your undertail to match!

I will measure it tomorrow for you.

 

[WarpDriveKidd]

:rotflmao: a mat....whewww.

 

[ZuminaZX]

I will measure it tomorrow for you.

Thanks, I'm curious if one of those 10oz brembo units will fit.

 

[chuck1]

Thanks, I'm curious if one of those 10oz brembo units will fit.

Sorry, haven't left the house these past 2 days. Think I caught the bubonic plague or something just as evil. I did pass by a harley the other day so it might be swine flu. :lol:

But to answer you question, no it is not a direct bolt on. Depending on which brembo caliper the span is 84mm for most of the ducati style 2 piston units and the million dollar itty bitty 2 piston unit has a even smaller span but I don't know the measurement.

The brembos mount differently. On the kawa caliper the bolts thread through the carrier and into the caliper itself. On the brembos it is just a through hole and the caliper is bolted to the carrier.

In my search I found that several places sell mounts for different bikes but of course nothing for the 12. I think one form another bike may fit but the disc diameter will be different as the 12 uses a dinner plate compared to the liter bike rotors. And you would have to compare it to some in stock.

Just found this:

65mm mount Race 64MM

84mm mount HP 84MM

Current Rear 2 Piston Calipers

I think most of there are 84MM The measurement given is the piston size




It may look like a mat but it keep me from slamming my nads into the tank so that's all that matters

 

[ZuminaZX]

But to answer you question, no it is not a direct bolt on. Depending on which brembo caliper the span is 84mm for most of the ducati style 2 piston units and the million dollar itty bitty 2 piston unit has a even smaller span but I don't know the measurement.

The brembos mount differently. On the kawa caliper the bolts thread through the carrier and into the caliper itself. On the brembos it is just a through hole and the caliper is bolted to the carrier.

In my search I found that several places sell mounts for different bikes but of course nothing for the 12. I think one form another bike may fit but the disc diameter will be different as the 12 uses a dinner plate compared to the liter bike rotors. And you would have to compare it to some in stock.

Just found this:

65mm mount Race 64MM

84mm mount HP 84MM

Current Rear 2 Piston Calipers

I think most of there are 84MM The measurement given is the piston size

Understood. I've seen brackets like these floating around

for 10rs ect, but who knows what would be involved to make them fit. I believe the 10r uses a 27mm axle vs our 24mm.
Regarding the caliper, what would stop someone from tapping the brembo itself and enlarging the mounting bracket holes?

 

[chuck1]

Understood. I've seen brackets like these floating around

for 10rs ect, but who knows what would be involved to make them fit. I believe the 10r uses a 27mm axle vs our 24mm.
Regarding the caliper, what would stop someone from tapping the brembo itself and enlarging the mounting bracket holes?

I don't think there is enough metal around the holes to safely tap for a 10mm bolt. Then there is the issue of off set between the mounting surface and the pads.

The bracket would have to have the locating slot in line with the axle. The hole can be bored out or sleeved to go up or down on size. The problem is that I haven't found a list of dimensions for the brackets so that makes it hard to guess what might be usable. Swingarm width and disc diameter wold have to be pretty close also. Without having a bunch in front of you to measure it would be hard to guess which one would be close.

You might check with some of the japanese parts places like Active as they might make one or can get one. ACTIVE

I used to have a list of sites in japan that had all sorts of one off parts but lost it when my computer took a dump. Active is one that pops in my head.