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.’
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The Yamaha R1 Rossi Edition is a one-off custom motorcycle that will go up for charity auction right after its customizers “give it wide exposure.” The bike was created by a team led by Don Emde, 1972 Daytona 200 winner and founder of US based fundraiser Friends of Riders for Health, to raise money for the official MotoGP charity.
It was an expensive project achieved using aftermarket parts supplied by different manufacturers such as Rolands Sands (the aluminum wheels), Akrapovic (the Evolution exhaust system) and Ohlins (the FGRT808 front suspension and TTX rear).
Valentino Rossi’s AGV ‘Five Continents’ graphics done by Pole Position Racing Service in Italy make it a “Rossi bike” and all these changes bring it much closer to the race track rather than the street but, just for the record, The Doctor’s R1 is also street legal.
Although the bidding day hasn’t been announced yet, Emde told MCN: “One thing I want to have in place would be the ability for anyone to bid on the machine, via online or some off-site methods. That would be something we would announce on the website, www.friendsofriders.org”
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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.
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This Honda CB750 café racer was created by Japanese custom builder Whitehouse together with Japanese retailer Motorimoda and it is actually called CB750 Café Type Motorimoda. What first meets the eye is the 1970s racing styling achieved with the use of modern materials such as carbon fiber, from which several parts have been made. These, together with the aluminum gas tank lighten this custom CB750 with 33 lbs (15 kg).
Underneath the aerodynamic fairing sits an original carbureted, air-cooled, four-cylinder engine that delivers 20hp more than the original production version after being tuned and getting a new exhaust.
So, with less weight, more power and much better looks, this café racer qualifies for the very special price of $29,290.
While Kawasaki discontinued their 1990s Zephyr 1100, the bike remains popular among those with an affinity for large-displacement nakeds and it even got a 2010 makeover from the Japanese tuner Moriwaki. The bike looks gorgeous with the dark blue/yellow color scheme, but this is one of those cases when the “more than meets the eye” part is what really makes all the difference.
This thing is powered by a big bore 1258cc inline-four engine breathing out through a hand made exhaust system and developing a decent 110bhp. While bringing in a new clutch and suspension, Moriwaki also fitted their latest idea for a Kawi Zephyr with a computer designed, aluminum alloy swingarm in order to stiffen up the rear end as well as make possible the use of a 180 section rear wheel and tire.
Is it just us or this is the best looking Kawasaki Zephyr around?
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