Well I have been promising a decent write up about my build so I will give it a shot...paid 500 bucks 6 years ago for an incomplete and very molested 1986 Yamaha TRI-Z. Everything was painted, it had a very poorly done Honda shock on it, no clutch and probably more I have forgotten. I looked past it and saw the 6spd tranny and over all potential the bike had. Well I took it all apart, cleaned some stuff, started making a list of parts and up grades I needed and did what I could when I could. About 2 years in I located a black 85 parts bike...thank god...the 85 was near complete- no motor, axle or carrier, rear rims, headlights or handle bars. A lot of what you see on my bike is 1985. The 86 swinger was broken and shattered beyond repair in numerous locations from someone basically just throwing in that Honda shock so luck was on my side with that parts bike...again I cleaned some stuff up, continued to research and locate parts as I could afford them and finally last year I had the metals blasted and primed and my buddy and I sprayed it black and International Harvester red, I had the plastics wrapped with the skull graphics and started putting it back together. Late winter I finally had the money for the motor and a lot of the other parts I still needed so I sent the motor off to RPJPERFORMANCE and had a total rebuild done including a stage 1 port job along with a new 5spd tranny. Gears 1 and 2 were shot! It was the biggest reason I bought this bike!! It was pretty much my luck with the whole build, if it isn't brand new it probably isn't on my Z. I had the seat covered, new rear rims- banshee 9's with matching hubs, 3 new tires, new carb and jets, DG pipe and silencer, basically a brand new motor, all new bearings, totally rebuilt the brakes along with building the rear caliper back with weld and machining and grinding it to look factory, aftermarket bars off an early YZ250, new grips, stainless bolt kit, lower motor bolt stolen off an IT/YZ something we pulled out of a creek, hand made grab bar by yours truly and I am sure I am forgetting some stuff...the stuff I would do different and will eventually do...powder coat! it is my biggest regret, stage 2 or even maybe a power value upgrade...this thing flies but I feel like it could be faster...maybe because I keep looking for 6th gear!!!! Anyway that's about it, if anyone has questions hit me up! Always glad to help, give advice or just BS!!
Reply With Quote
I know he is a honda guy, but he has build some top ends for Raffa's Z's. Hell of a machinist and really knows his chit! Great looking Z by the way. Let me know if you come up with any other oprtions for the pig tails on the head lights. I have my original ones but wouldnt mind replacing them if there were new ones that could be made to work. Keep up the good work.