Within the sprawling panorama of bike manufacturing, few names carry the visceral weight and worldwide reverence of Kawasaki. The corporate’s journey started not with two wheels, however with heavy industries—shipbuilding and plane—a heritage that instilled a profound, non-negotiable dedication to engineering superiority and brute-force efficiency. From the world-shocking energy of the unique 1969 H1 Mach III, to the worldwide dominance of the long-lasting Z-series (the legendary ‘New York Steak’ Z1) and the fashionable, continent-spanning enchantment of the Ninja line, Kawasaki has persistently delivered machines which might be quick, fierce, and essentially enjoyable.
This potent mixture of high-tech engineering and a uncooked, visceral using expertise has made Kawasaki an everlasting obsession for riders and, crucially, for the {custom} world. Not like a few of their rivals, Workforce Inexperienced’s bikes—whether or not high-displacement sportbikes or charming small-capacity singles—have achieved a real international ubiquity.
It’s this spirit of uncooked potential and worldwide admiration that the {custom} builders of Bike EXIF have channeled over time. We’ve scoured the planet to seek out the wildest expressions of Kawasaki’s heritage—creations that transcend mere modification and grow to be artworks.
Be part of us as we dive into eight of our favourite {custom} Kawasakis which have graced the Bike EXIF.
Icon’s Kawasaki Z125
The mad scientists at ICON Motosports spend their days concocting bike gear that runs the gamut from stealthy to completely outrageous. And once they’re not busy with that, they’re onerous at work of their Portland storage constructing wild {custom} bikes to match.
Meet Quarterflash: an 8-bit dream wrapped in a flurry of neon hues, named after a band that got here out of Icon’s hometown within the 80s. Somewhat outlandish and intensely saucy, it is simply the kind of {custom} construct that we would anticipate from Portland’s most interesting.
And if you happen to’re pondering that this machine sits a bit of low for a full-faired sportbike, you are not mistaken. That is as a result of Quarterflash did not begin out as a four-cylinder screamer, however fairly as a mild-mannered Kawasaki Z125. If you do not know the Z125, it is Kawasaki’s reply to the Honda Grom; pint-sized and able to play. In inventory type, the Z125 cranks out 9.5 hp and weighs simply 225 lbs. However Quarterflash has spent an inordinate period of time within the storage to assist unleash its full potential.
Tennessee-based small-bore components specialist, MNNTHBX, provided a 155 cc big-bore package with an upgraded crank, plus their MTake consumption for the venture. ICON additionally slapped on a full Yoshimura exhaust system, then put in a Dynojet Energy Commander and AutoTune package. ICON additionally went to city on the Kawasaki’s operating gear, including a MNNTHBX swingarm extender and decreasing hyperlink out again, hooked as much as a Nitron shock with a distant reservoir. The inventory 12” hoops are shod with new Avon rubber, with EBC brake pads including additional stopping energy.
Realizing that Quarterflash wanted a physique package to match its ferocity, the group sourced a sportbike fairing from Airtech Streamlining. Modeled on the long-lasting Yamaha OW-01, the fairing was gently tailor-made to suit. ICON sculpted a brand new one-piece tank cowl and tail part from fiberglass, ending issues off with a racing foam seat pad and a number of 3D-printed particulars. Completed in that retina-searing livery, Quarterflash unapologetically pays tribute to 80s arcade sport graphics. Identical to the music, hairstyles, and tracksuits of the 80s, Quarterflash is not for everybody. [MORE]
AC Sanctuary’s Z1000 Racer
Anybody who has raced bikes will know that observe bikes are a piece in progress. They’re cell check beds, as a result of shaving seconds off lap occasions is the one technique to keep forward of the competitors. The mechanics on the Japanese workshop AC Sanctuary know this intimately, spending years tuning and modifying this unimaginable Kawasaki racer. The core of the bike is a Z1000 engine, which delivered 85 horsepower on the crank when it left the manufacturing unit in 1977.
It now measures a staggering 152 hp on the rear wheel. That makes this one of many quickest air-cooled bikes on the Japanese basic racing scene, and it additionally holds the lap document for its class on the Tsukuba Circuit.
A lot of the Z1000’s current growth has centered on the DOHC two-valve four-cylinder engine, which makes use of a rigorously ported GPz1100 cylinder head modified to take ZX-10R injectors. AC Sanctuary has fitted Internet Cam .460 cams, uprated APE springs, and designed a {custom} adapter to permit the ZX-10R throttle our bodies for use.
The chassis is equally bespoke; the body is AC Sanctuary’s personal design, fairly than a modified Z1000 unique, which might flex an excessive amount of. The again wheel is secured with a Sculpture aluminum swingarm, and the 17-inch wheels are magnesium alloy items from OZ Racing.
The bike runs Öhlins suspension at each ends, with standard piggyback shocks supporting the rear, and Brembo brakes clamping onto Sunstar rotors. The aluminum bodywork is totally {custom}, with the tank and seat paying homage to the Kawasaki Z from the Nineteen Seventies. This Z1000 stands as an absolute powerhouse and a ravishing instance of air-cooled racing heritage pushed to absolutely the restrict. [MORE]
Tole Motorworks Kawasaki W175
The Indonesian {custom} scene is a wealthy with expertise, and this compact chop from Tole Motorworks is near perfection. The W175 is a motorbike largely seen in Asia, a step up from the same old no-frills commuter machines, mixing old style styling with a dependable 13 hp air-cooled single. Whereas many W175s get ‘cafe racer’ makeovers, Tole Motorworks, a one-man operation run by Febrian Ramadhan, went the chopper route.
Febrian’s construct, assisted by his brother Ghifara, bears little resemblance to the manufacturing unit W175, trying a great half-century older than it truly is. They went for a ‘British chopper’ silhouette, aiming to maintain the construct compact and slim with the 175 cc engine measurement. They chopped out 80% of the body and recreated the remaining in a classic hardtail fashion. Wheels are vital to the stance, so Febrian selected an F21/R19 setup using slim Akront rims, and a slender 160 part entrance tire and 195 rear. The entrance disc brake is gone, and the rear drum brake was relocated to the left aspect for a cleaner look.
Febrian’s spectacular metalworking expertise are on show with the peanut tank, garnished with a basic ‘W’ badge. The consumer requested a gold end and named the bike Cahaya Ilahi, which implies ‘Divine Gentle’ in Indonesian. The paint, executed by native professional Bronx Kustompaint, offers a smooth metallic glow. Febrian additionally fabricated a brand new tire-hugging rear fender and an under-seat field to hide the minimal electrics. This easy, hard-crafted bobber represents a real and endearing character within the {custom} world. [MORE]
Soiled Dick’s Motos Kawasaki W650 Desert Sled
This Kawasaki W650 desert sled comes from London-based Rick Hannah, who builds underneath the moniker Soiled Dick’s Motos. Rick, a self-taught builder who works remotely for a Californian tech start-up, determined to make the leap into full nut-and-bolt builds after being disillusioned with the standard of labor he’d obtained beforehand. He discovered the English Wheel from an ex-Aston Martin bodywork wizard and enrolled in welding lessons. Rick picked up a few W650s and got down to resurrect the one, aiming to construct a dependable and quick desert sled with fashionable dealing with, consolation, and efficiency whereas sustaining the ’60s fashion.
The 2 most important issues that want sorting on a manufacturing unit W650 are the brakes and the suspension. Rick developed a Large Brake Equipment for the W650/W800, that includes a {custom} offset, 300mm floating disc, and a custom-built 6-piston billet caliper from Harrison. For the entrance suspension, he shaved and polished the fork lowers and put in an Andreani cartridge package, totally adjustable and appropriately sprung. The rear obtained {custom} Hagon shocks which might be 25mm longer than normal. The end result is an exceptional change in each braking and dealing with.
Cosmetically, Rick’s consideration to element is obvious. The unique tank seams had been eliminated, and the gasoline cap was changed with a flush-fitting aero cap. The body was stripped, de-bracketed, after which polished, copper-plated, and at last nickel-plated, giving a nod to the Rickman Metisse scramblers. The swingarm is machined billet with a triangle sample.
The engine was cleaned, polished, and fitted with Keihin CR Particular carbs and straight-through, polished stainless-steel shotgun pipes that flip a ravishing gold with warmth. This W650 is a masterclass in meticulous, self-taught craftsmanship. [MORE]
Federal Moto’s Kawasaki GPz1100
The group at Federal Moto in Chicago all the time knew that for his or her first {custom} sportbike, they’d want the beefiest unhealthy boy of the ’80s: the GPz1100. They secured a 1984 mannequin, which got here bone inventory with 120 hp and 73 foot kilos of torque. Nicknamed ‘Hazard Zone’, the fee got here from an Ohio-based fanatic who solely swears by Kawasakis and KTMs.
Federal Moto, with the assistance of mechanical engineer Desmond DiGiovanni, determined to strip the bike for a sleeker, extra aerodynamic look. The engine was handled to a top-end rebuild, fitted with a rack of 4 Mikuni carbs from an ’84 KZ1000, and stainless-steel velocity stacks. The mighty mill is now Cerakoted, and the headers terminate with Cone Engineering’s ‘Large Mouth’ stainless-steel mufflers.
The complete entrance finish is a transplant, that includes Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa forks attached by way of a steering stem and higher triple tree from Cognito Moto. Braking was upgraded with CNC’d entrance and rear rotors, new Goodridge traces, and a Tokico four-piston setup on the entrance. The tank is from a contemporary Honda CB1100, however the remainder of the bodywork is {custom} fabricated, using laptop modeling and 3D printing. The modern tail unit and rear subframe are hand-fabricated, whereas Desmond additionally designed the strong rear wheel panels, which had been water jet reduce. Completed in deep, shiny black with a touch of basic Kawasaki inexperienced, ‘Hazard Zone’ is an unmistakable and high-tech tribute to ’80s energy. [MORE]
Thrive Bike Twin-Engined Kawasaki Drag Bike
There’s one thing pure and intensely entertaining about drag bikes. The highest Indonesian store, Thrive Bike, took that style up a notch with this extraordinary machine. Nicknamed ‘T 22 Synthesis’, it options two tiny two-stroke 150RR Ninja motors.
Thrive determined to revive the outdated glory days of twin-engined racers, like Bud Hare’s ‘Dubble Trubble’ Triumph, however with a contemporary strategy. Ace tuner Yosef Gumilar of Prama Motorworks efficiently created the unbelievable twin-engine setup with heavy mods to the ignition, ported and flowed heads, 270-degree racing crankshafts, a lightened flywheel, and a quick-shifter. Additionally they sourced particular Lectron carburetors for the engine configuration. The prolonged pipes and enlargement chambers had been crafted by native racebike specialist Kawahara from stainless-steel.
A brand new body was constructed with aluminum tubing, following cues from old-school drag bikes, utilizing Thrive’s first {custom} body jig. The design philosophy was to create one thing mild for the most effective power-to-weight ratio. To remain low to scale back wheelies off the road—it sits simply 6.5 cm from the bottom.
The monocoque bodywork is handmade, brushed aluminum, with a prolonged seat pad and a mesh fairing echoing the form of the chunky radiator. This twin-engined Ninja takes creative constructing to a complete new stage and is certain to trigger a stir on the Jakarta road racing scene. [MORE]
Duke Bikes Kawasaki ER-6n
Each time a wise each day runner is taken into account, the Kawasaki ER-6n pops up on the radar. It is low-cost, makes respectable energy, and handles properly. Given the restricted pool of ‘acceptable’ {custom} donors today, the ER-6n is just not a motorbike you usually see, however Lionel at Duke Bikes in Good, France, is a believer. Whereas servicing his 2011-model commuter bike, he spontaneously stripped it down, reworking his mild-mannered bare Ninja into this aggressive road fighter.
The primary adjustments had been all hidden tweaks, together with eradicating the airbox, becoming a set of pod filters, and putting in a Lithium-ion battery with relocated electrics. Lionel appreciated the inventory tank, aspect panels, and stomach pan, however fabricated a sharper aluminum piece to interchange the cumbersome seat unit. It sits on a custom-built subframe and is capped off with an Alcantara saddle. Up entrance, he created a brand new headlight cowl with built-in fork guards and an LED lined by a hanging aluminum grill—a nod to the futuristic fashion of the Bugatti Veyron.
That Bugatti connection additionally impressed the bike’s new livery: the hanging white and blue is a riff on Bugatti’s ‘white gold’ scheme. Lionel executed the paint himself, matching the cylinder heads, crank circumstances, rear shock spring, and even the wheels. Whereas the suspension and brakes had been left inventory, they had been refreshed with new braided hoses. Up high are CNC Racing handlebars, new grips, and a Koso dial. A brand new silencer from the Italian firm Giannelli rounds out the bundle, mounted on wrapped inventory headers. Lionel’s ER-6n efficiently transforms the wise commuter into a pointy, distinctive road fighter. [MORE]
Machine 1867’s KZ250 Kawasaki Bobber
Everybody loves a great barn discover story, however what about digging an outdated bike out of the weeds? That is the place Edi Buffon, an engineer and builder at Machine 1867 in Sydney, Australia, discovered the basket case Kawasaki KZ250 that will finally grow to be this unimaginable bobber-style piece of artwork. Discovered alongside a pair of Honda CB900s, the 1980 KZ250 wasn’t operating however confirmed underneath 17,000 miles. Edi discovered a defective CDI, mounted the now-running motor, and tossed the remainder of the bike.
Most of what you see right here was constructed up from uncooked supplies. Edi began by fabricating a chromoly inflexible body. Subsequent up was the entrance suspension—a showpiece in itself. “Aesthetically, my favourite kind of suspension is the leaf spring,” he tells us. He constructed the entrance forks with strong 20 mm and 16 mm spherical bars, with {custom} triple bushes, and used a cut-down leaf from an outdated trailer. The entrance wheel is a 21” spoked quantity with a {custom} axle and spacers. The unique 16” KZ250 rear wheel stays, however now with a whopping 5.00 tire.
Edi’s craftsmanship is obvious within the particulars. He constructed a petite sheet metallic tank and adorned the seat pan with panels of Jarrah wooden (a sort of eucalyptus), stained and waxed to nearly invisible joints. The seat suspension system is a {custom} construct, beginning with a spring lifted from the mechanical seal of a water pump. Different cool particulars embrace a heel-operated clutch and a hand shifter, together with a rear (and solely) brake transformed from a heel lever. Completed with hand-turned brass particulars and a ceramic-coated, polished body, this KZ250 is a real ground-up construct and a rolling murals. [MORE]
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