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Classics Faster and Faster Kawasaki Motorcycle News

Remembering a Classic: Nelson Hallgren's Kawasaki KZ1000


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"This KZ1000 was built to be a combination of retro styling and modern upgrades. I built it over several years. Adding modern parts, better suspension, brakes, and a little more power make for a great ride," says Nelson

Nelson Hallgren, who's based in Northern California, is a KZ1000 owner-enthusiast and has owned Kawasaki KZs and GPZs since 1985. A lifelong motorcycle enthusiast, mechanic and occasional racer, he has rebuilt and modified countless Japanese and European motorcycles since he started riding at age 10! Nelson has owned the same 1978 Kawasaki KZ1000 for almost two decades and has written an ebook about how to restore and customize a KZ1000, which is available on his website. In this story, which he's written exclusively for Faster and Faster, he talks about his beloved KZ1000.

The 1978 Kawasaki KZ1000; a classic superbike to be sure. Honda's 1969 CB750 was a game changer but a lot of us older guys are stuck on the Kawasakis. The 900 Z1 started it all and eventually Kawasaki pumped it up to a 1000. These bikes have a long history in roadracing and drag racing. The motors are strong and they respond well to modifications. It's an air-cooled inline-four with dual overhead cams. The cam lobes push on shims and buckets to open the valves; much like many modern bikes do today.

What's it like to ride this thing? Well not quite like an old bike and certainly not like a new one either. I've owned modern sport bikes, and it would be silly to try to compare the performance of a 38 year old bike with the latest corner carvers. But even so, this bike is quick! Every time I gas it hard through the gears I still think to myself , "holy crap this thing is fast!"

The sound is incredible. The Vance and Hines 'Sidewinder' drag racing pipe is a 4-into-1 with no muffling and a wide-open megaphone. You might expect it to be really loud, but it's not. The two big valves in each cylinder make a throaty rumble you don't hear from the modern four valve machines. It's sounds a bit like a cross between a muscle car and an Indy racer.
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British Customs Carl Bjorklund Cruising interview Other Motorcycle Blogs Super Rat the One Moto Show

From Storage Bike to Record Setter: An Interview with Carl Bjorklund of Super Rat

Carl Bjorklund of Super Rat

British Customs

Carl Bjorklund of Super Rat doing some work on a custom motorcycle

Carl Bjorklund is the co-founder of the custom motorcycle garage Super Rat, where he builds unique custom motorcycles and land speed record bikes that he races on the Bonneville Salt Flats. The documentary Out of Nothing is about the bikes he has built to pursue his passion for speed on the Salt Flats. He was invited by Thor Drake of See See Motorcycles to put his latest custom motorcycle on display at the 2016 One Moto Show in Portland, OR.


British Customs: How did Super Rat get started?

Carl Bjorklund: My brother and I became motorheads in the 70s when we started getting into hot rods. All through high school we were huge air-cooled VW fanatics, and at one point we had more than twenty VWs we were hot rodding. We were both in wood shop and auto shop, and loved working with our hands. Our parents strictly forbade us from riding motorcycles, but my brother bought a Harley anyway and convinced me to get one too. We started out as Harley and Triumph guys out of high school, and got into wrenching on bikes. We always wanted to run a shop, and always did a nice job fabricating things, and when a friend of ours saw a bike we made he said, “That’s not a rat, that’s a super rat!” So that’s what we started calling the shop from then on. Since then, we’ve grown from making custom street motorcycles to building bikes to chase world land speed records on at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

BC: What does it mean to you to be able to do things by hand?

CB: I like challenging myself. I like to see if I can take a bike out of storage and make something polished out of it. Built instead of bought. The ultimate goal is to see if I can set a world record at the Bonneville Salt Flats with a bike I pulled out of storage. I’m working on such a build right now actually.

Carl Bjorklund at Bonneville Salt Flats

British Customs

Carl Bjorklund of Super Rat at the Bonneville Salt Flats on his land speed bike

BC: How did you get into land speed racing and building land speed bikes?

CB: I’ve always been a horsepower fiend and loved building turbos, and Bonneville has always been this sacred place to us as gearheads. Seeing all these big names and race cars competing there made us believe that it wasn’t accessible until we saw a land speed bike at a show once and got to talk to its owner. He ended up inviting us out to Bonneville, and after we went to watch once we were addicted. There isn’t any promotional anything at the Salt, just people who are dedicated and committed to racing. It’s a tough place to go to, and just to get to. The landscape is brutal. But it’s 100% racing there.

BC: Do you have any preferences about what kind of platform you like to use when you’re building a bike?

CB: I’m really into Ducatis for their horsepower. I tried to hit 200 mph on a cafe racer built with a Ducati Desmosedici engine once, but it gave me some trouble when I got it up to 170. I like singles and V-twins for their torque too. But I have a passion for antique motorcycles, and have been working back by the decades. I’ve been working on bikes that were made in the 60s, and am looking forward to working on bikes from the 50s, and then the 40s, and so on.

Related: Indian Motorcycles Black Bullet Scout

Carl Bjorklund of Super Rat at Bonneville

British Customs

Carl Bjorklund of Super Rat racing at the bonneville Salt Flats

BC: Where do you think the custom motorcycle scene is going?

CB: I think that many of the common genres of bikes like speedway bikes, speed bikes, street trackers, and cafe racers are getting tired. I think builds are going to get more and more complex because there are so many talented builders out there and it’s getting harder to set yourself apart.

BC: What kind of bike are you bringing with you to this year’s One Moto Show?

CB: It’s a Harley Shovelhead crossed between a few genres. It’s pretty unique, and I’m pretty excited about it.

For more awesome interviews and great info from British Customs, visit their website British-Customs.com

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Accessories cruiser parts and gear Cruising Leatherman multitool Other Motorcycle Blogs tools

Leatherman Tread: Multitool Bracelet

Carrying a Leatherman Tool is a hard thing to shake. Once you start, there’s no going back from the convenience of having so many tools right there on your belt with you. You learn that you can get yourself out of most situations with this one tool, and learn to rely on it pretty heavily.

Now imagine having the functionality of that multitool, but in a piece that’s so easy to carry and stylish that you can forget it’s even there. The Leatherman Tread Bracelet is just that. All the function, stylish form, built to last. Check out the crazy list of things this bad boy can do down below and check Leatherman.com for more information!

Tread Tools
#1-2 Phillips Created originally by Henry F. Phillips, this screwdriver is for use on #1-2 Phillips head screws.
1/4″ Box Wrench A wrench used over the head of a 1/4″” hexagonal nut or bolt. The application of torque is used to tighten or loosen an object.
3/16″ Screwdriver A 3/16″ flat-bladed screwdriver intended for use on slotted screws.
6mm Hex Drive A hex key used to drive bolts and screws that have a 6mm hexagonal socket in the head.
10mm Box Wrench A wrench used over the head of a 10mm hexagonal nut or bolt. The application of torque is used to tighten or loosen an object.
5mm Hex Drive A hex key used to drive bolts and screws that have a 5mm hexagonal socket in the head.
1/4″ Hex Drive This slot allows for use of conventional 1/4″ hex bits to expand the functionality of the tool.
Oxygen Tank Wrench A rectangular cutout used to slot over an oxygen tanks to open. ideal for EMS, fire department or first responder use.
3/16″ Hex Drive A hex key used to drive bolts and screws that have a 3/16″ hexagonal socket in the head.
1/8″ Hex Drive This slot allows for use of conventional 1/8″ hex bits to expand the functionality of the tool.
3/16″ Box Wrench A wrench used over the head of a 3/16″ hexagonal nut or bolt. The application of torque is used to tighten or loosen an object.
3/32″ Hex Drive A hex key used to drive bolts and screws that have a 3/32″ hexagonal socket in the head.
3/32″ Screwdriver A 3/32″ flat-bladed screwdriver intended for use on slotted screws.
1/8″ Flat Screwdriver A 1/8″ flat-bladed screwdriver tooled from 420HC stainless steel, intended for use on slotted screws.
4mm Hex Drive A hex key used to drive bolts and screws that have a 4mm hexagonal socket in the head.
8mm Box Wrench A wrench used over the head of a 8mm hexagonal nut or bolt. The application of torque is used to tighten or loosen an object.
3mm Hex Drive A hex key used to drive bolts and screws that have a 3mm hexagonal socket in the head.
5/16″ Screwdriver A 5/16″ flat-bladed screwdriver tooled from 420HC stainless steel, intended for use on slotted screws.
3/8″ Box Wrench A wrench used over the head of a 3/8″ hexagonal nut or bolt. The application of torque is used to tighten or loosen an object.
1/4” Flat Screwdriver A 1/4″ flat-bladed screwdriver tooled from 420HC stainless steel, intended for use on slotted screws.
#1 Phillips Created originally by Henry F. Phillips, this screwdriver is for use on #1 Phillips head screws.
6mm Box Wrench A wrench used over the head of a 6mm hexagonal nut or bolt. The application of torque is used to tighten or loosen an object.
#2 Phillips Created originally by Henry F. Phillips, this screwdriver is for use on #2 Phillips head screws.
Carbide Glass Breaker A small, pointed tip made of carbide, a very hard material, which is ideal for shattering auto glass.
Pick/Sim Card Tool A small pick meant for removing sim cards or other small pieces from tight spaces.
Cutting Hook An all purpose cutting tool for safely cutting tape, cord, tape, seatbelts and other materials.
1/4″ Socket Drive A driver used to tighten or loosen 1/4″ nuts and bolts.
Bottle Opener A tool that allows the user to pop the top on a favorite beverage.
#2 Square Drive A driver meant for #1 square head screws.

Leatherman.com

Leatherman Tread Multitool Bracelet

Leatherman Tools

Leatherman Tread Multitool Bracelet

Leatherman Tread Multitool Bracelet

Leatherman Tools

Leatherman Tread Multitool Bracelet

Categories
Moto Where Motorcycle Travel Other Motorcycle Blogs

Texas Independence Day Dual Sport Ride to Granbury TX

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This route passes through: RaceTrac – Start, Joshua, Godley, Del Norte Tacos, Acton, Granbury, Glen Rose, Walnut Springs, Walnut Springs RCS, Morgan, Rio Vista, Grandview, Maypearl, Venus, RaceTrac – end

Tagged with: On Road, Offroad, Scenic, Twisty, Low traffic, Urban

Length: 354.92km / 221.82mi

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Builders Custom Motorcycles Customs Editorial Other Motorcycle Blogs

The Gang Star Chopper

Those who have attended the 75th Sturgis rally and who visited the Michael Lichter’s “Naked Truth” exhibition got a chance to see up close this chopper beauty stripped down to its mechanical essence. Modeled after the 70’s choppers, it features some new…

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Cruising custom yamaha Other Motorcycle Blogs xjr1300 XSR900 Yamaha Motor Europe Yamaha Yard Built

2016 Yamaha Yard Built Challenge

Yamaha Europe's Yard Built Challenge

Yamaha Yard Built

The 2016 Yamaha Yard Built Challenge is in full swing. Vote on your favorite custom by March 31!

Yamaha’s Dealers are back at it for round two of the successful Yard Built Challenge, which gets the dealers in Europe to build their own flavor of custom bike out of a stock Yamaha of their choosing.

A hugely successful competition in 2015 saw Yamaha’s European Dealers mix it with the best custom builders in the world to create their own Yard Built projects from Yamaha’s Sport Heritage Range. Now 2016 is kicking off with round two as Yamaha dealers begin again.

Further recent collaborations with iconic builders such as Portugal’s it roCkS!bikes and Yard Built newcomers, Switzerland’s GS Mashin have added fuel to the fire and motivated the Dealers to really pull out all the stops. The results show that the only limits are the imagination. The builds prove everyone can take a brand new bike from the Sport Heritage range and personalize it their liking, opening up a world of possibilities for bike owners who have considered their own custom but were afraid of the technical knowledge required.

The Dealers have been busy over the last few months with some very simple rules; the bike needed to be from the current Sport Heritage range, and a number of genuine aftermarket accessories had to be used.

The results have been even more impressive than 2015! It’s clear that with a little imagination and a Sport heritage bike as a base, a unique custom machine is within the grasp of any bike owner that is motivated to add the personal touch.

Now, the Dealers need your help again. Yamaha Motor Europe is awarding special prizes to the best custom build in the following three engine categories; single-cylinder and parallel-twin, V-twin and V-four and finally inline-four. It wouldn’t be fair if Yamaha chose the winners on their own so they need your vote too!

You can find the Dealer Built entries online at www.yamaha-yardbuilt.com Take a moment to check out the entries in all their glory and read up on the modifications made then like to vote and share your favourites. Voting closes on the 31st March and the winning bikes will be shown at European Custom Motorcycle event later in the year.

If you feel inspired having seen what the Yamaha Dealers are up to, Yamaha will be opening up the competition to the public later in the year so there’s time to build your own Yamaha custom and who knows what prizes might be in store for you. Maybe now’s the time to get out buy your own XJR1300 or something else, and get to customizing.

So what are you waiting for?

Visit www.yamaha-yardbuilt.com and get voting!

Check out some of the other Yamaha Yard Build Entries from 2015 HERE!

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Moto Where Motorcycle Travel Other Motorcycle Blogs

Lake Worth Route

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Tagged with: On Road, Scenic, Twisty, Easy, Low traffic, Safe, Good visibility, Low-enforcement, Good surface

Length: 101.22km / 63.26mi

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Texas »
Fort Worth

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Moto Where Motorcycle Travel Other Motorcycle Blogs

Dorrigo to Ebor, my favorite road

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This route passes through: Dorrigo, Ebor Fusspots

Tagged with: On Road, Scenic, Twisty, Smooth, Intermediate, Safe, Good visibility, Low-enforcement, Good surface, Excellent surface

Length: 46.39km / 28.99mi

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New South Wales »
Coffs Harbour

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Moto Where Motorcycle Travel Other Motorcycle Blogs

Coffs Harbour Learner Coffs Loop

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Tagged with: On Road, Scenic, Easy, High traffic, Good visibility, High-enforcement, Good surface

Length: 15.91km / 9.94mi

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Coffs Harbour

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Moto Where Motorcycle Travel Other Motorcycle Blogs

Toronto To Charlotte

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Length: 1,176.18km / 735.11mi

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Ontario »
Toronto

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