Kawasaki KZ550 Scrambler FULL BUILD in 5 minutes

This is a short build story of my Kawasaki KZ550 1982 that was destined to end up at a scrapyard. It was missing a lot of parts and the electronics were just a mess. Over a period of 2 years I've transformed it into a stylish custom bike, that makes me so much joy to ride !
It was a great honor to present my build at the ALL RIDE SHOW PRAGUE 2018.
Side Panels to Download or buy available here:
www.3dcarparts...
Shock Absorber Caps available here:
www.3dcarparts...
Songs:
Atch - Traveller (Vlog No Copyright Music)
Lullaby by Joakim Karud

[@tamrenbunker2481]

My grandpa has one of these in his garage and it’s going to be my first rebuild and I’m look for ideas and where to start and that thing is gnarly man, good job.

[@frankdvorak]

Thank you very much !

[@jonathenweise6840]

Waiting on my 83 to come back from the shop 🤩

[@michaelredmond8365]

I own two Kawasaki GT550 and I love them

[@dylanharper4324]

Such a good job! I hope to restore mine to this condition as well some day

[@frankdvorak]

Thank you very much! Mine was really super-neglected by the previous owner, yours is hopefully in a way better starting condition !!

[@DavidChip1587]

Incredible job! Very well done. Thank you for sharing.

[@frankdvorak]

Thank you very much!

[@enricosv-logtagebuchaustra7615]

Pretty awesome job!! Watching your video as I found one on fb marketplace and thinking about buying it!

[@oliviarocha5126]

Awesome job man,would definitely buy it if it came across

[@frankdvorak]

Thank you

[@revive_moto]

Great build!

[@garysebenick1588]

Beautiful job

[@frankdvorak]

Thank you very much!

[@garysebenick1588]

@@frankdvorak looking forward to see another build of Yours!🤙✌🙏

[@frankdvorak]

@@garysebenick1588 thanks again ! If you wanted to, you can follow me on instagram @dvorak_design

[@gsmac66]

Great work I am a Kz550 owner as well!

[@jirislavicek9954]

Voňavka 👍 Café racer / brat / bobber / scrambler conversions often look dreadful, but this one is very tasteful. Great job!

[@frankdvorak]

Diky moc !

[@EzPeasZ]

Wow that's badass!!

[@frankdvorak]

Thanks a lot !

[@GunCollector007]

Beautiful

[@JaceMentos]

That damn smile :)

[@frankdvorak]

After the lights started working ? :)

[@JaceMentos]

@@frankdvorak this and at convention, seeing how pround you are of your work. I love cafre racers, few years ago i saw bunch of custom kawasaki and i promised myslef that one day i would create my own. Few days ago that little spart lighten again, and you are one of the guys that are keeping that little fire on. Cheers and i hope i'll come back to this video in a few years being able to tell that i have my own cafe racer. :D

[@phuku2927]

kudos on the side covers

[@jimmyflawless]

Do you think a 1983 Kawasaki Z550F rebuild would be suitable for a beginner?

[@frankdvorak]

Yes! every motorbike is ! just go for it - The F-type has a different shape of the frame, tank, and swingarm - therefore will be a harder to make it look as clean, linear and retro as the KZ550. But it definitely can be done! I might go for a totally scrambler look, it might suit it better, than cafe or brat style. Btw synchronising the carbs is a bit tricky - but you can ask a specialized shop to do it.

[@frankef32]

Hey František, I stumbled acorss your video as I was looking for some inspiration for my KZ550 and I just wanted to say that this is a very clean build and a state of the art of the community! I picked mine up from its own grave as it has been sitting outside for 15 years. Engine is already healthy and running. I love the look of your side covers. I know its already been asked but would you be able to send me the File? Would be much appreciated! PS: Mail is in the profile (think youtube would ban this comment otherwise) Thx, Felix :)

[@frankdvorak]

Dear Felix. Sure thing. I just have to dig up the date from my old computer. Give me time till next week, I'll take care of it.

[@frankdvorak]

Dear Felix I found the STL Data, but I haven't seen your email on the profile, so please contact me privately on instagram @dvorak_design.

[@frankef32]

@@frankdvorak Wow! Thanks for taking the time to dig it up! I just messaged you on your IG!

[@1Mattza]

Well done, lovely finish also. I am bizzy rebuilding kz550 and rebuilding the carbs at the moment, do you have any advise setting the carburettor mixture using the pod filters?

[@frankdvorak]

I have used a sheet plastic to block like 80% of the pod’s inside surface area. From what i have read on-line, pods would provide too much airflow and the engine would run too hot. So I just simulated the airbox by limiting the pods airflow. It worked without rejeting. But - lately the engine has lost its power and compression - so I might have done something wrong 🙈🙈🙈

[@raymondschmidt9425]

BOSS!

[@frankdvorak]

Danke

[@oscaremiilio]

I think that the motorcycle looks more like brat style than scrambler one.

[@frankdvorak]

Thats true - it is a mixture of them 3 styles.

[@HummelHamster]

Hey man. Great looking build, awesome job! In the first ride after partial rebuild clip, what kind of exhaust are you using? And do you by any chance have a link?

[@frankdvorak]

Ahh it is the Classic eBay muffler - i chopped the original headers because my muffler was destroyed anyway. Modified the collecting pipe (welded it a little smaller) and attached the eBay muffler to it. You will definitely find it - reverse cone muffler.

[@RedDragon-fj5fb]

Hey boss man where did you get a wiring harness?

[@frankdvorak]

Hi - what needed repairing I did myself. Otherwise I left the original harness in there.

[@JBRestos]

Wow !! 😍

[@frankdvorak]

THANK YOU :)

[@glenncurtis7224]

Just seen this video, awesome build it looks and sounds great. I have a 550 I’ve been working on for some time , I couldn’t get it to run on pods .Did you have much trouble running pod filters on the carbs , did you reject the carbs if so what size have you put in Glenn

[@frankdvorak]

I've put restrictors in the pods - that way the engine does not suck too much air and doesnt run too hot.

[@mwramirez12]

Where did you get the knobby tires and rear break clipper and mag wheels, I’m almost done building my 78 kz650

[@frankdvorak]

the knobby tires are Mitas ET-01 The wheels and brake caliper were already on the bike when I bought it

[@thatonegamer9547]

Do you know where I can find parts for KZ550s? Or even a salvage one for sale? I've looked all over the internet and couldn't find a thing.

[@frankdvorak]

Hello. Yes you can find a lot of parts for the KZ’s here www.z1enterprises.com/ and on wemoto.com. There’s also a great forum called KZrider.com where you can’t find a lot of help. Good luck👍

[@livefreeridehard7290]

very nice.where did you get the side cover 3d files. nice work

[@frankdvorak]

I have designed them - would you like to have them too ?

[@livefreeridehard7290]

@@frankdvorak i would like that yes,thank you, if you see my videos there's a build there of a gs500 ,now i bought a z500

[@frankdvorak]

@@livefreeridehard7290 i could print it for you, or I can send you the 3D files. Hopefully I can still find them in my PC. :)

[@livefreeridehard7290]

@@frankdvorak hi i have couple printers,im just not to good with design,imalways looking for motorbike parts on the thingverse etc

[@armaxxx]

Wouls you happen to have the 3d model for the side covers? I'd loke to print them as well

[@frankdvorak]

Sure I have them somewhere

[@armaxxx]

@@frankdvorak Oh thanks, I'd love to have this design on my father's KZ.

[@jojomafia214]

Gorgeous. I have an 84 that's sharp just needs a tune up

[@lancekuhpow8489]

What did u use to paint the wheels and other things?

[@frankdvorak]

Regular black gloss spraypait with adhesion promoter before. Therefore it doesn't chip etc. Powder coating was an option - but I didn't want to disassemble the bearings

[@adamsarwar]

Awesome build, I dig the matte black, knobby tires and general shape and look. What’s the clearance like and how is it off-road? Cheers!

[@frankdvorak]

Not too good to be honest - the tires are way too big for the bike, so they do touch the exhaust manifold in the front and the seat in the back when you jump more aggressively. Its mostly for the looks :) Thanks a lot for the compliments tho !

[@adamsarwar]

@@frankdvorak super cool. I’m researching beginner bikes, and yours caught my eye. 🍻

[@mattjames603]

Looks great! Would you be willing to share the CAD file for 3D printing?

[@frankdvorak]

Of course, do you mean the side covers? :)

[@mattjames603]

@@frankdvorak Yes, I'm interested in trying a similar rebuild on my 1980 KZ550

[@kadengolda2373]

@@frankdvorak same here!

[@secondchancegarage]

What size and brand tires did you use?

[@frankdvorak]

hallo, its is MITAS width 4.00/19 front and 4.00/18 back I guess. But I would not recommend them, they aren't really meant for the street - they wobble too much.

[@secondchancegarage]

@@frankdvorak We're building a couple scrambler using Predator 212 engines on some older KZ frames. Got them with no motors and we have built one KZ as a cafe racer already. Top speed is 45mph. We won't worry too much about the wobble. Lol

[@secondchancegarage]

@@frankdvorak I think our KZ here in the states all have 16" rear wheels. About too see us I can find them in that size. Seems that tire makers don't see the need to make enduro tires for 16" wheels.

[@glynatmore1817]

Looks like it has had a visit from the butcher. Personality I prefer bikes as they came out of the factory.

[@dangerm2156]

Nice build

[@frankdvorak]

Thank you very much

[@kalaharimine]

Another survivor bike hacked into a horrible brat bike.

[@frankdvorak]

Come on, it's beautiful. Otherwise it would end up at the scrap yard

[@kalaharimine]

@frantisekdvorak821 why not refurbish it as a classic, a 4 cylinder "scrambler" makes no sense.

[@supersteve3299]

I have a 650 and a 550