Eire’s Jonny Kerins builds a Bros / Africa Twin hybrid!
Produced from 1988-1992, the Honda Bros 400 (NT400) was a 400cc model of the beloved Honda Hawk GT we acquired right here within the States. Whereas the 33-bhp V-twin may not have appeared like a lot on paper, the Bros 400 would earn one thing of a cult following, not not like its Hawk sibling right here within the States. As one proprietor says, to know one is to like one:
“It’s a sturdy little workhorse, extra mini carthorse than Pink Rum [famous British racehorse] however that’s a part of its allure.” –Wemoto
Just lately we heard from Jonny Kerins (@jfk_bikes) of Eire’s County Meath, a woodworking instructor who’s been in love with late 80s / early 90s sport bikes since one fateful Christmas morning:
“My curiosity in motorbikes began as a younger boy once I obtained a e-book about superbikes with a gen 1 Fireblade on the duvet from Santa. I’ve been in love with bikes ever since, and my tastes haven’t advanced as I’m nonetheless largely thinking about Japanese sport bikes from the late 80’s / early 90’s.”
At this time, Jonny builds and restores bikes out of the outdated milking parlor on his Fifties farm, and he’s constructed up fairly a steady of Japanese sporting equipment. This challenge began when he went to his native bike breakers for a easy swap and returned dwelling with a Bros 400 rolling chassis and Africa Twin 750 engine.
“Having restored and owned a 400cc Bros years earlier, I loved engaged on it and driving it, however I all the time needed a bit extra from it.”
The 70-bhp Africa Twin engine would give him simply that, greater than doubling the ability output of the OEM machine. However there’s rather more to this Bros / Africa Twin hybrid than the engine swap.
“My favourite bikes are early 90’s Hondas so I needed to construct a motorbike that might have been a Honda mannequin at the moment. I needed the bike to be unmistakably of this period however have the keenest of eyes nonetheless not be capable to fairly determine what it’s.”
Highlights embody the first-gen Yamaha R1 entrance finish, VFR rear wheel, YSS rear shock, and bodywork from varied Honda fashions (VFR, RVF, RS) modified to suit. Jonny fabricated the subframe, exhaust, and bracketry, re-plated the entire unique bolts, and even painted the bike himself.
The bike is street-legal, with refined but extremely efficient LED lighting, and it’s a blast on the twisty nation roads of his dwelling:
“I constructed this bike for Sunday spins on twisty countryside roads round my home and that’s precisely the place it’s at dwelling. In comparison with a normal bike, it has extra energy, extra torque, improved suspension, and superior brakes.”
Jonny is particularly proud that he did the entire work himself, which stands up even below the keenest of eyes:
The most effective compliments on the bike in my thoughts was when somebody informed me “I wouldn’t realize it wasn’t a manufacturing unit bike until you informed me.”
Beneath, Jonny offers us the complete story on his “Bros / Africa Twin.”
Bros / Africa Twin Hybrid Particular: Builder Interview
• Please inform us a bit about your self, your historical past with bikes, and your workshop.
My title is Jonny Kerins, I’m 37 and I’m from County Meath in Eire. I work as a Woodwork instructor for my day job and construct / restore bikes as a passion.
My curiosity in motorbikes began as a younger boy once I obtained a e-book about superbikes with a gen 1 Fireblade on the duvet from Santa. I’ve been in love with bikes ever since, and my tastes haven’t advanced as I’m nonetheless largely thinking about Japanese sport bikes from the late 80’s / early 90’s.
During the last variety of years, I’ve restored quite a lot of bikes and automobiles (I presently have a ’93 Fireblade, ’89 VFR400 nc30, ’96 Pan European 1100, and an ’88 FZR 750 challenge), however this bike was the primary particular I constructed.
I dwell in a 1950’s farmhouse and my shed was once an outdated milking parlor. It’s about 400 toes squared with one bike raise, parking room for my bikes, a workbench, cabinets, and never an excessive amount of else.
• What’s the make, mannequin, and yr of the donor bike?
The donor bike for this challenge was a 1988 Honda Bros 400cc. It was generally known as the Honda Hawk within the USA the place it had the 650cc engine.
• Why was this bike constructed?
This was a private challenge of mine constructed to my very own tastes. Having restored and owned a 400cc Bros years earlier, I loved engaged on it and driving it, however I all the time needed a bit extra from it.
Years later I got here throughout the beginning of a Bros challenge by probability. I went to my native bike breakers searching for a swap for my Ninja and ended up leaving with a naked rolling chassis of a Bros 400 and a Honda Africa Twin 750cc engine.
This challenge got here on the excellent time because it occurred, as Covid hit the world and Eire was put into lockdown. This challenge gave me a spotlight and escape in a time of nice stress.
• What was the design idea and what influenced the construct?
My favourite bikes are early 90’s Hondas so I needed to construct a motorbike that might have been a Honda mannequin at the moment. I needed the bike to be unmistakably of this period however have the keenest of eyes nonetheless not be capable to fairly determine what it’s.
• What customized work was accomplished to the bike?
It’s a Honda Bros 400 body with a Honda Africa Twin 750 engine.
The entrance finish is from a first-gen R1 and the swingarm is a modified Bros unit to just accept a VFR800 hub and wheel. It has a YSS rear shock.
The tank is from a VFR400 nc30, entrance fairing is a modified RVF400 race fairing, and the tail is from a Honda RS125, which has additionally been modified.
The engine has been saved normal, carbs have been rejetted to swimsuit pod filters and the extra free-flowing exhaust.
I made the subframe, exhaust, and plenty of brackets, re-plated all unique bolts, and painted it with 2k paint in a Rothmans theme.
• Does the bike have a nickname?
I all the time name it my “Bros/Africatwin.”
• Any thought of horsepower, weight, and/or efficiency numbers?
With the engine swap the ability has gone from 33bhp for a 400cc Bros to about 70bhp with the Africa Twin engine in its present setup. Torque has gone from 34.5 nm to about 65nm.
• Are you able to inform us what it’s prefer to experience this bike?
I constructed this bike for Sunday spins on twisty countryside roads round my home and that’s precisely the place it’s at dwelling. In comparison with a normal bike, it has extra energy, extra torque, improved suspension, and superior brakes. Mix all this with the extra aggressive driving place, and it’s a motorbike that wishes to be ridden arduous across the bending roads it was made for. It pulls arduous from idle to redline, and likes to be revved.
The bike was constructed to be ridden, not as a showpiece, so it’s highway authorized with lights and indicators (flip alerts) being refined however totally seen when wanted because of brilliant LED models. It all the time will get loads of appears wherever I’m going.
• Was there something accomplished throughout this construct that you’re notably happy with?
I’m most proud that I accomplished 100% of the work on this bike myself and have achieved a customized bike I’m actually proud of on a modest funds (round 3000 euro).
The most effective compliments on the bike in my thoughts was when somebody informed me “I wouldn’t realize it wasn’t a manufacturing unit bike until you informed me.”
