The 2010 Kawasaki Z1000 is already one of the best Japanese nakeds around, but ways to make it better are always found either by riders individually or by tuners. These lasts have the habit of developing entire upgrade kits that set the bike miles away from its original state of new product that has just come out the factory gates.
Take the 2010 Roaring Toyz Kawasaki Z1000 case for example. The bike gets a set of Performance Machine wheels (17-inch front, 18-inch rear), 240-section rear tire, a custom-built braced swingarm and Brocks 4-2-1 exhaust, just to mention some of its most impressive new features.
The gold/silver paintjob does help at setting the bike apart from its standard siblings, but what we like the most about this project is the fact that it looks like that’s just the way Kawi did it in the first place. This is really one of those bikes that people see and ask “what is stock and what is aftermarket about it?” Click past the break to find out.
Take a look at this gorgeous Ducati Streetfighter S! It was modified by performance parts distributor Motovation Accessories using mostly Rizoma parts and accessories found in their 2010 catalog. The bike showcases the quality products from rear sets to engine covers and features a custom paintjob applied by Southern Metal Customs in Austin, Texas.
Although this is not a radical project, we happen to like it a lot for looking a hell lot more aggressive than the stock Streetfighter S and much more expensive as well. Hit the jump to see the whole list of parts thrown at it.
German BMW tuner AC Schnitzer finally got its hands on the S1000RR and turned it into a much better daily use superbike. That’s right. It may be hard to believe, but their approach aims towards comfort and practicability simply because the bike doesn’t need any upgrades on the performance side.
So, what’s new on it? Take the adjustable handlebars and yoke for instance. They’re straight and feature an adjustable clamp, definitely not an everyday fitment on a bike like this. Other new features on the AC Schnitzer S1000RR are the brake and clutch levers, a carbon fiber exhaust silencer, crash bungs, performance air-filter and a numberplate hanger, all leaving a distinct mark on the already kind of unique bike.
Honda barely introduced their latest big four model, the CB1100 and Japanese tuner Mugen has already released a package of bits and pieces for future owners to easily turn their nakeds into café racers worthy of the 1970s.
The café racer kit is mainly composed from a silver headlamp cowl and a racy looking seat, while the matt black fenders and sports exhausts are just the right touches to help set this bike further apart from the naked crowd and closer to the café racer one. Hit the jump for the Mugen CB1100 café racer action video.
We’ve recently been introduced to what we’ve come to consider one of the coolest café racers to lately arrive on the custom motorcycle scene. Originally a Moto Guzzi 1000 SP powered by a 60 hp air-cooled 948cc v-twin motor, this bike is now a veritable café racer, but still reminiscent of the late ‘70s, early ‘80s period.
Built in four months by Filippo Barbacane of Officine RossoPuro, this 1000 SP is now a better bike from all points of view: its aggressive new stance with the Tarozzi bars and foot controls make it an eye-catcher wherever you ride and the engine gets Le Mans 1000 cylinder heads and custom Officine RossoPuro exhaust system for a sportier sound and more power. Also, the suspension have been redone and the when it comes to the braking system, it all comes down to the custom Officine RossoPuro brake rotors and Brembo calipers.
The sad part about this Moto Guzzi 1000 SP café racer is the fact that only one has been built so far and it found itself a good home at Mario Natale in Belgium, but two other such machines are in the works, so go to Officine RossoPuro for yours.
BMW tuner Van Harten Performance from Holand recently got its hands on a brand new BMW S1000RR superbike and, apart from turning it into what appears to be a carbon fiber edition, it can also brag about being the first to take the S1000RR beyond the 200bhp barrier. And I’m not so sure you’ll believe us when saying they managed to squeeze 210bhp out of German inline-four by only adding a four-in-one Akrapovic exhaust system. But it is the truth and it really shows this bike’s tuning potential.
French motorcycle accessories producer S2 Concept has created an aftermarket GT kit for the Suzuki Gladius. This addresses to those willing to enhance the touring capabilities of the Japanese naked bike by significantly improving wind protection.
Characterized by aggressive design blending perfectly in with that of the Gladius, the kit is composed mainly from a half-fairing and windscreen, which are mounted using a 3-piece aluminum mount, but you also get a cooler aluminum dash to fit the sport-touring scenario.
S2 also produces other aftermarket Gladius parts such as engine spoiler, undertail, plate holder, screens of various sizes, LED stoplights and integrated signal lights as well as rear fender and many others.
They say you need to be a certain kind of biker in order to ride a trike and it is not hard to recognize the type as the biking crowd passes along, so hearing about a guy having turned a 2001 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R into a trike raises a few question marks regarding to what kind of rider would do that and why. A very special kind of rider let me tell you and also one who wants to have fun and feel a little safer on two wheels.
Simeon Hill is a brit who’s 155mph Kawi trike featuring a custom-built frame, a push-button gearshift system, Akrapovic exhaust, modified axle and differential from a Ford Sierra made it to Trike magazine. Sure, the 17-inch rear wheels with 235 x 50 tires also had much to do with the achievement, but mostly with what our man built it for. So let’s see what Hill has to say: ‘I built this trike to handle. I have turned a few heads and surprised many sportsbike riders on twisty Yorkshire and Lincolnshire roads. It’s taken me on local jaunts, weekend trips and longer trips around Europe, not only keeping up with my friends’ sportsbikes but also giving them a good run for their money.’
The Moto Guzzi V11 was originally built as a veritable naked with café racer styling cues, but GHEZZI – BRIAN has recently presented the streetfighter version of the Italian bike and we totally dig it. This is actually a demo bike for the Furia Replica kit that stands behind the striking transformation, but the upgrades go way further than what meets the eye as the kit includes new pistons, rods, camshaft and exhaust pipes, all bringing the Italian V-twin to a more than decent 100bhp.
The Furia Replica kit is easy to fit on any Moto Guzzi V11, but at $5,442 (€4,000), you really have to like it in order to buy it and for those expecting more details, check out the list of parts that compose the kit after the jump.
You can’t entirely say what’s not perfect with a bike until it ends up in the hands of tuning specialists and they strengthen its weak points in the very often successful attempt of making the best better. This is exactly the case of the Storz XR1200 based on Harley’s flat-track style road bike.
Steve Storz, founder and boss of Storz Performance, who worked at this project, told MCN: “The XR1200 is decent bike in its stock form, but in my opinion it needs help in two areas: suspension and overall weight."
So the H-D specialist concentrated on upgrading the bike using lighter parts mainly on the chassis and bodywork sides. The suspension, wheels, brakes, exhaust, handlebars and seat unit are anything but standard parts as the bike gets Storz/Ceriani Inverted fork, YSS piggyback shocks, wire spoke wheels with alloy rims and billet hubs, chain drive conversion kit and solo seat tail section, just to mention some of its most important tuning features. The bike also features lowered clip-ons handlebars and a billet alloy footrest and gearlever kit. Overall weight was reduced by approximately 33 lbs (14.9kg), so I guess this is a truly accomplished mission.
What we like most about the Storz Performance XR1200 is the fact that without any engine upgrade or mod, it really turns into a much greater overall performer.
