It’s too much a long time ago AC Sanctuary has graced our pages, so this week’s headliner is an impeccable Kawasaki KZ1000 from the masters of Japanese excess. We followed that up with a very capable Simson S51, a fresh club-styled Harley-Davidson Sportster 833 and a perfectly restored BMW R80 G/S Paris Dakar.
AC Sanctuary’s Kawasaki KZ1000 In the world of supercharged classic Japanese superbikes, few can match the excellence of the AC Sanctuary. Their machines are highly efficient, embodying the concept of leaving no stone unturned.
As you might imagine, the legendary Japanese workshop has something of a cult following. This wild Kawasaki KZ1000 The MkII, designated the RCM-600, was the fifth bike they built for the same customer (with a sixth in production). Although it takes a lot of concepts from AC Sanctuary Motorcycle Racingit is designed for use on the road.
Visually, this KZ1000 has more in common with AC Sanctuary Z1000 racer which we introduced two years ago compared to the company’s usual revised UJMS. A classic bikini-style fairing sits up front, followed by a deeply sculpted, handcrafted fuel tank. The rear end has a similar design to AC Sanctuary’s race bikes, but it has been modified to accommodate a large, blocky, OEM-style taillight.
Take a second look and you’ll notice that the side flaps are part of the tail section. Coupled with a paint job that would make a hot rod blush, it adds to the car’s uncompromising performance feel.
Dig deeper and you’ll discover Kawasaki’s equally impressive running gear. A burly Sculpture aluminum swingarm sits at the rear, connected to a pair of fully adjustable Öhlins shocks, via special lower eccentrics that allow for easy geometry adjustment.
The right Öhlins fork is on the opposite end of the bike, held in place by custom yokes. The KZ1000 rolls on a set of beautiful OZ Racing wheels, wrapped in sturdy Pirelli Diablo Rosso 4 tires. Brembo and Sunstar components make up the braking system.
The engine has been upgraded to 1,135 cc with a series of internal upgrades — including forged pistons and new CNC-machined cranks. The AC Sanctuary also adds a Yoshimura carburetor, separate oil cooler, and a noisy Nitro 4-into-1 titanium exhaust system. The cockpit is also luxurious, equipped with a unique control panel with Stack instruments.
Finished with looks so good we’ve already mentioned it twice, the RCM-600 is solid proof that AC Sanctuary is at the top of their game—and likely will be for some time to come . [Source]
Simson S51 by Tony Möckel What’s small, orange, and produces 9 times more electricity than it did from the factory? This exotic custom Simson S51 is just that.
Small enough to qualify as a motorbike, the Simson S51 is German-made two phases produced a paltry 3.7 horsepower when it left the production line in 1984. But despite its stature, Tony Möckel had wanted an S51 since he was a child. So when he finally got his hands on one, he went crazy.
Tony bumped the little Simson up to 130cc, producing a final output of 32bhp. He then reinforced and braced the frame, replaced the wheels with 16-inchers, and added CNC-machined swingarms and Öhlins suspension. The two-stroke exhales through a gorgeous custom exhaust that wraps around the front of the bike, exiting through two lowered mufflers on the left side.
Weighs only 80 kg [176 pounds], the Simson’s power-to-weight ratio is as crazy as the bike looks. Ask Tony, and he’ll tell you that riding it feels like “riding a cannonball.” Where can we register? [Source]
Emma Fry’s Harley-Davidson Sportster As the child of the owner of Yellowstone Harley-Davidson in Montana, USA, Emma Fry grew up with motorcycles. It’s no surprise that her first motorcycle was a 2007 Harley-Davidson. Sportster 883 Transacted at dealer.
Emma has tried bigger cars since then, but the 883 luckily still has a place in the garage. And when Emma was invited to bring a custom bike to show at the one-of-a-kind Mama Tried show in Milwaukee, it was a prime candidate for a makeover. Working with her father, Yellowstone Harley master mechanic Travis Overstreet, fabricator and artist Brett McGinley, and drawing heavily on the feel of club-style FXR Harleys, she transformed it into the sassy machine you’re seeing here.
The Sport now boasts a 1,200 cc engine, equipped with an EMD box and power transmission via a chain drive system. A classic S&S Cycle intake supplies air to the engine, while a Cone Engineering two-into-one exhaust handles the sound.
Emma’s Sporty also uses a Saddlemen upper fairing, with an aluminum lower section fabricated for the bike by Brett. A burly underbody fairing, also made by Brett, sits between the two sides of the roomy fairing. The bike has ducktail rear fenders, high flex bars on even higher risers, and small Kellermann LED lights that handle turn signal and taillight duties.
Brett helped Emma with a new paint job on the Sportster – but it was all Emma. The bird on the side cover is reminiscent of her nickname, ‘Birdie’, and the bike is named ‘Maxine’, after Emma’s grandmother.
The humble Sportster 883 is often overlooked and underrated — but we’d take this one any day of the week. [Source]
BMW R80 G/S Paris Dakar by Motorrad Stenger A nut and bolt rehabilitation it can be hard to get excited—unless, of course, you have a particular fondness for the make and model of the motorcycle being restored. They often involve excessive amounts of work, always cost more than expected, and leave no room for personal interpretation.
This gorgeous 1981 BMW R80 However, the G/S Paris Dakar is no ordinary restoration job. Not only is the R80 G/S PD one of the most iconic motorcycles ever produced by the German brand, but the restoration of this exceptional bike was also carried out by one of the best in the business.
It’s the work of Norman Senger—the man behind Motorrad Senger in Frankfurt. Herr Senger is a second generation BMW mechanic and one of the few to hold a BMW Motorrad ‘classic’ certificate. That gives him access to the excellent BMW Group Classic archive and it gives him the right to issue the official “BMW Classics” certificate.
Normen spent 250 hours working on this BMW R80 G/S PD, documenting the process through 450 photos. Showing 23,840 km [14,813 miles] On the clock, the bike not only looks the part on the outside but also has a cracked and balanced engine.
Looking fresher than when it left the factory, the R80 G/S PD is now available through our friends at Moto Borgotaro in New York. The lucky collector who owns it will also receive a second (and smaller) G/S fuel tank, additional twin seats, a vintage BMW helmet, a tool kit and a BMW Classic certificate.
Tempted? You better dig deep; an icon restored to this standard does not come cheap. [More]
