Posts: 2,590
Threads: 28
Likes Received: 6 in 2 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Mar 2013
So, I pulled into the motorcycle parking lot at work and was surprised to see a new resident.
![[Image: 33e6fd10f6c17f3ae707ed5e8d1bdc1d.jpeg]](https://cb1100forum.net/forum/uploads/imp/201507/33e6fd10f6c17f3ae707ed5e8d1bdc1d.jpeg)
What surprised me was that this bike is period correct. Back in the 70s, the king/queen seat, 3 foot sissy bar and those horrible buckhorn bars were pretty common mods on a UJM. Most of those classics that are still on the road have had those removed.
When i got inside, I noticed that one of my co-workers had a red, metal flake 3/4 helmet with a bubble shield. I knew I'd found the owner
Turns out he's owned this bike since the 70s and it had been stored in his time machine (garage) all these years. Seeing me show up for work everyday on my CBs inspired him to get it fixed up and back on the road. Nice to see another UJM in the parking area to make all those sportbike and V-twin cruiser owners jealous
Posts: 23,403
Threads: 697
Likes Received: 482 in 220 posts
Likes Given: 594
Joined: Apr 2025
Wow and the KZ 650 was such a neat machine at the time, but yea those are period correct alterations many riders made. He didn't happen to save the original bars, cables, forks, seat, sidestand and pipes did he? Would make an awesome restoration.
Posts: 2,590
Threads: 28
Likes Received: 6 in 2 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Mar 2013
I'll have to ask him if he's got the original parts. After 40+ years, I have my doubts.
Those bars have definitely got to go. Kaw started putting slightly smaller versions of those buckhorns on the LTD versions. I hated 'em. Since the handgrips are angled about 90 degrees off from normal bars, it makes counter steering way more difficult than it has to be. First mod i would make on my LTD bikes would be to put normal bars on them.
Posts: 23,403
Threads: 697
Likes Received: 482 in 220 posts
Likes Given: 594
Joined: Apr 2025
Yea I would put K& N superbike bars on my 650 Yamaha Specials
Btw the bars on that Kaw were called 6 bend pull backs
Posts: 2,590
Threads: 28
Likes Received: 6 in 2 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Mar 2013
(07-09-2015, 11:10 AM)The ferret_imp Wrote: Yea I would put K& N superbike bars on my 650 Yamaha Specials
Btw the bars on that Kaw were called 6 bend pull backs
Oh yeah, that's right. Buckhorns had only 4 bends, but the same annoying handgrip orientation.
The six bend was favored by this 80s icon on his CB400 Hondamatic
Posts: 358
Threads: 3
Likes Received: 0 in 0 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Jul 2013
That king/queen seat sure brings back some memories!
Posts: 3,872
Threads: 186
Likes Received: 0 in 0 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Dec 2013
That was the look back then but one I never embraced but to each his own. The KZ650 was a fine bike and this example would look so good if restored to it's original glory.
Posts: 8,025
Threads: 21
Likes Received: 180 in 103 posts
Likes Given: 121
Joined: Apr 2025
Where did the term gunfighter come from as applies to seats?
Posts: 358
Threads: 3
Likes Received: 0 in 0 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Jul 2013
(07-09-2015, 10:51 PM)Lord Popgun_imp Wrote: Where did the term gunfighter come from as applies to seats?
The marketing dept.
Posts: 88
Threads: 15
Likes Received: 0 in 0 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: May 2015
Corbin came up with the gunfighter term I think. It is a solo with the hump in back where the pillion should be. Since the pillion is favored by the lady riders, they then came up with the "gunfighter and lady" seat which is pretty much the standard seat and what is available for the CB1100. I had a gunfighter and lady on an 82 GS1100 and it was super comfy. You could specify stitch color and add a passenger removeable backrest at the time and they actually looked nice as well.
