Crazy scientists in ICON Motosports spend their days building motocross devices that run games from stealth to outright outrageous. And when they’re not busy with that, they’re hard at work in their Portland garage, building wild custom motorcycles to match.
Meet Quarterflash: an 8-bit dream wrapped in a bunch of neon colors, named after a band that came out of Icon’s hometown in the ’80s. A little bit weird and downright weird, that’s just is the custom build we’ve come to expect from the best of Portland.
And if you are thinking that this machine is a bit low for a full-faired sportbike, you are not wrong. That’s because the Quarterflash didn’t begin its life as a four-cylinder motorcycle, but as a lightweight Kawasaki Z125.
If you don’t know the Z125, it’s Kawasaki’s answer to the Honda Grom; Pint size and ready to play. In stock form, the Z125 has 9.5 horsepower and weighs just 225 lbs. But Quarterflash spent a negligible amount of time in the gym, helping to reach its full potential.
Small bore parts specialist MNNTHBX based in Tennessee, is involved in the matter. They provided a large 155 cc barrel with an upgraded crank, plus their MTake intake manifold (think of it as a ‘big breath’ for a Grom).
ICON also equipped the entire Yoshimura exhaust system, then installed the Dynojet Power Commander and AutoTune kit. With a bit of trepidation, Quarterflash currently scores well on both barks and bites.
ICON firmly holds the mantra that you must never miss a race day, so they also came to town on Kawasaki running gear. There’s an MNNTHBX swing arm extender and rear lowering link, which is connected to a Nitron shock with a remote reservoir. The 12-inch collar is wrapped in new Avon rubber, with EBC brake pads adding extra stopping power.
But the job is only half done. Realizing that the Quarterflash needed a body kit to match its ferocity, the team sourced a sports car crank from Airtech Stream Stream.
Modeled on the iconic Yamaha OW-01, significantly larger than the Z125, the crank is designed to be lightweight to fit. ICON sculpted the new one-piece flask and fiberglass tailpiece, finishing everything off with racing foam seat cushions and a host of 3D printed details.
The new bodywork has gone a long way in transforming the Quarterflash from a rugged motorcycle into a pocket classic superbike. All that’s missing is a proper accretion.
ICON has added new rear footrest controls at the bottom, with new grips and grips in the cockpit. The Z125 runs with a hydraulic clutch master cylinder and a Magura brake, with the reservoirs attached to a CNC-machined bracket positioned where the handlebars rise normally. The OEM Kawasaki dash sits neatly behind the Quarterflash’s tinted windshield.
And then there’s the dead skin color that wears down the retina. Adorned with ’80s arcade-style graphics, Quarterflash pays tribute to Icon’s latest helmet and jacket designs.
Just like the music, hairstyles, and tracksuits of the ’80s, Quarterflash isn’t for everyone. But if it tells you, we invite you to brush your mullet, roll up the sleeves of your linen jacket, pop a quarter into the machine and hold on tight.
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