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Kawasaki KZ400 Scrambler from Bueno Co…
Within the early 70s, Kawasaki stepped up their sport in opposition to Honda’s four-stroke dominance. First got here the 900cc Kawasaki Z1 in 1972, aimed squarely on the CB750. Whereas these four-cylinder supers have been getting the lion’s share of the limelight, a battle unfolded within the middleweight commuter market as nicely. For the ’74 mannequin 12 months, Kawasaki unveiled the KZ400 to rival Honda’s best-selling CB350 twin.
The KZ upped the middleweight ante with extra displacement and twin cams, and it couldn’t have come at a greater time, arriving simply because the 1973 oil embargo and ensuing gasoline disaster went into impact. Abruptly, individuals have been ditching their muscle automobiles, two-stroke triples, and high-powered fours for middleweight commuters.
“Experience the KZ400, even when solely across the block, and also you’ll comprehend it was designed to do issues the way in which the CB350 did — solely a little bit higher.” -Cycle
Right now, the well-built KZ400 stays an important classic Japanese twin, if a bit utilitarian in type. That makes it the proper donor for {custom} builds just like the one you see right here — the work of Nick Ghobashi of Virginia’s Bueno Co. Nick, an expert photographer and skateboard photojournalist, started flipping bikes to assist make ends meet.
With the images trade altering and fewer pay regardless of fixed publications, Nick lastly determined to go full-time into constructing bikes…per week earlier than covid struck.
“It was a tough couple years. However I caught with it, and by chance an increasing number of shoppers trusted me to design and construct them bikes. With some strong ‘funds’ builds just like the KZ and some all-out builds underneath my belt, the long run is trying brighter.”
The bike you see here’s a ’76 KZ400, constructed for a consumer who needed a midsize road scrambler with a manufacturing look — maybe an equal to the CL350 scrambler version of the CB350,
“The thought was to take the KZ400 and make it grime highway pleasant, with a modernist resto-mod look. A type of manufacturing facility KZ scrambler.”
Nick particulars all of the modifications beneath. Highlights embrace a three-inch shortened body, repositioned ducktail fender with hand-painted polished aluminum badge, smaller and sleeker tank, new fiberglass seat pan with a dual-foam seat, handmade high-mount entrance fender, trimmed and relocated wiring loom, chrome flat tracker bars, one-inch longer Hagon shocks, new fork springs, and a rebuilt and painted / polished engine with Mikunis carbs and UNI filters.
Nick and his consumer, Tyler, eschewed the type of a high-mount scrambler exhaust for a extra sensible set of pipes:
“The exhaust initially was going to be handmade and of the high-pipe selection, however we opted to retain the wonderful situation authentic headers and match some 70s-style mufflers for utilitarian functions. (Burnt girlfriend legs and rider burns aren’t any enjoyable.)”
Minimalist LED alerts and Nardo Gray paint spherical out the construct. The result’s a properly custom-made, extremely purposeful machine that appears like one thing Kawasaki might need provided in an alternate actuality — a “KZ400S” Scrambler, if you’ll.
“It’s not the quickest bike but it surely’s acquired loads of low-end energy on grime roads and up hills and is simply as easy as will be… It handles and feels extra like a modern-day midsize scrambler principally due to the adjusted seat top, bars, carb improve, and suspension upgrades.”
Beneath, we speak to Nick for the total particulars on this KZ400. Keep tuned for Nick’s Virago road tracker construct coming quickly.
Kawasaki KZ400 Scrambler: Builder Interview
• Please inform us a bit about your self, your historical past with bikes, and your workshop.
My identify is Nick Ghobashi, from Virginia, born and raised right here. My dad’s all the time ridden bikes and I began using mopeds then bikes earlier than I might drive. I labored for years as a skateboard photojournalist and trend / promoting photographer. Regardless of recurrently being revealed, I used to be having hassle making ends meet because the photograph trade was altering and began flipping classic bikes to assist with lease in DC and journey prices to NYC. Actually a month earlier than covid hit, I made a decision to give up images and go for constructing bikes.
My girlfriend and I moved to Fredericksburg, VA for affordable store lease and cheaper housing than DC. I had regularly acquired the talents to construct via working by myself (thanks Youtube/Instagram) and dealing for a store for a 12 months, and figured why the hell not, go for it!
However covid immediately misplaced me my first couple shoppers underneath my official store and it was a tough couple years. However I caught with it, and by chance an increasing number of shoppers trusted me to design and construct them bikes. With some strong “funds” builds just like the KZ and some all-out builds underneath my belt, the long run is trying brighter. I’m hoping so as to add an worker or two as I increase into attire and elements and transfer to Richmond, VA. I’ve all types of concepts able to be introduced into actuality within the coming 12 months and am fairly happy with the path of Bueno Co.
• What’s the make, mannequin, and 12 months of the donor bike?
It’s a 1976 Kawasaki KZ400.
• Why was this bike constructed?
It was a construct commissioned by a buyer who needed a mid-size cc {custom} scrambler.
• What was the design idea and what influenced the construct?
The thought was to take the KZ400 and make it grime highway pleasant, with a modernist resto-mod look. A type of manufacturing facility KZ scrambler.
• What {custom} work was completed to the bike?
I began off by modifying the body to appear like the inventory body however sleeker and three inches shorter. To do that I took the inventory body ends and modified them, lower out a piece of body, reattached them, after which moved the body brace / fender mount ahead whereas additionally trimming it down.
The ducktail rear fender was moved ahead and up, fitted with a {custom} tail gentle bracket and Goal Constructed Moto taillight and the outdated holes for the inventory tail gentle capped off with a elegant aluminum handmade badge that was then hand-painted with Bueno Co. script.
A smaller and slimmer tank was fitted on {custom} mounts and a fiberglass seat pan laid to suit all the brand new work. As an alternative of only a flat board of a seat I gave it a little bit form and two totally different layers of froth for some consolation.
The entrance fender is a hand-crafted aluminum piece that was polished and connected to the bike through a custom-made mixture bracket. This bracket bolted to a inventory KZ400 place and allowed the bottom-mount headlight to be mounted together with the high-sitting fender.
The gauges and controls have been left inventory to retain some 70s seems to be however all of the wiring that was within the headlight needed to be trimmed, modified, and relocated underneath the tank. I put in chrome flat tracker bars that have been trimmed an inch on every finish and capped off with Vans grips. The bike additionally has hidden LED mini flip alerts back and front.
One inch longer Hagon {custom} shocks have been thrown on the again, whereas new springs run up entrance.
The exhaust initially was going to be handmade and of the high-pipe selection, however we opted to retain the wonderful situation authentic headers and match some 70s-style mufflers for utilitarian functions. (Burnt girlfriend legs and rider burns aren’t any enjoyable.)
The engine is absolutely rebuilt with a brand new prime finish, clutch, gaskets, and a chrome steel bolt set. The unique carbs have been then swapped out for Mikunis and up jetted to deal with the free flowing mufflers and UNI foam filters. The engine was painted brilliant aluminum and polished too, whereas the bodywork was completed in Nardo Gray for a full modernist look. General the modifications have been combined with authentic elements to present it a contemporary however patina 70s look.
• Does the bike have a nickname?
Not this one, I simply kinda name it the KZ400s for scrambler.
• Any thought of horsepower, weight, and/or efficiency numbers?
I’m unsure, however I’m sure the exactly tuned Mikunis, barely lighter chassis, seat, and so on. add a little bit of pace to the inventory bike. It feels a bit peppier to me.
• Are you able to inform us what it’s prefer to journey this bike?
It’s not the quickest bike but it surely’s acquired loads of low-end energy on grime roads and up hills and is simply as easy as will be via all 5 gears, simply screaming alongside at 65-70 miles per hour on the little bike. It handles and feels extra like a modern-day midsize scrambler principally due to the adjusted seat top, bars, carb improve, and suspension upgrades.
• Was there something completed throughout this construct that you’re notably pleased with?
I actually appreciated making an attempt to meld authentic, unrestored tools and appears with handmade and new stuff. My favourite factor is the little handmade polished aluminum badge I made to cowl the unique tail gentle mount holes.
• Is there anybody you’d prefer to thank?
Thanks to my buyer, Tyler, for giving me a funds and a clean slate trusting me to place out one thing cool!
Comply with the Builder
Internet: www.buenomoto.com
Instagram: @bueno_co
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