“I made a decision to construct a café racer with knee-down potential.”
Launched in 1999, the Kawasaki ZR-7 (aka ZR750F) hit the market as an inexpensive bare bike that harked again to the inline-four UJM machines of the 70s, albeit with swoopier fashionable styling.
“The ZR-7, from my perspective, is a contemporary interpretation of the UJM. Certain, it retains an air-cooled (and oil cooled), two-valve engine fed by carburetors — identical to the UJMs of previous, however its styling is a contemporary evolution of the usual motorbike, and the machine options some fashionable engineering touches, as properly.” –Motorbike Every day
The bulletproof 738cc engine put out 75 bhp and 47 lb-ft of torque, good for a quarter-mile time of 12.4 seconds. Whereas it wouldn’t win any races or fashion contests, the ZR-7 was extremely versatile, inexpensive, and dependable:
“Whereas the ZR-7 might not have the road cred of the most recent replica-racers, it’ll lead an extended and helpful life for novice riders, re-entry riders, or anybody who needs a sporty, jack-of-all-trades motorbike.” –Cycle World
Enter our pal Roman Juriš grew up beneath communist rule in his native nation of Slovakia, which made it tough to pursue his biking goals. Now he’s making up for misplaced time:
“In center or barely superior age, I’m fulfilling youthful goals that weren’t allowed to me by the communists who dominated our nation for a very long time.”
Roman is a person who likes to take pleasure in spirited driving, however lots of the up to date café racers he started seeing round 2010 betrayed an emphasis on type over operate:
“Nearly all of them had an unsightly large window within the subframe the place the aspect cowl was once. The small suspension strokes and slim tires signaled that these have been bikes extra for standing in entrance of a restaurant reasonably than for driving. So I made a decision to construct a café racer with knee down potential.”
Beginning with a ’00 ZR-7, he ditched the smooth inventory suspension for the forks, subframe, and single-sided swingarm from a Ducati Monster SR2.
“As I jokingly say, Monster in entrance, Monster within the again, Kawasaki within the center…”
At first, the shorter USD fork was a catastrophe within the dealing with division, inflicting the bike to fall in too shortly within the corners, however Roman ended up extending the forks 60mm to realize the right geometry.
The entrance fairing, tank, and tail part have been chosen to offer the bike an English-style look, whereas the paint is the British Racing Inexperienced of the Staff Lotus days, matched with gold traces of Roman’s personal design.
“I admit that I additionally discovered a part of the inspiration on the Tullamore Dew whiskey bottle.”
This ZR-7 is a far cry from the unique, reminding us extra of a Honda GB500 in fashion and silhouette. Extra importantly, it performs properly on the twisty roads that Roman loves:
“It took some persistence to tune the entrance fork, however now it’s an excellent bike for cornering on nation roads and serpentines. That bike pulls via corners effortlessly. Knee down isn’t any drawback. It’s about 15 kg lighter than the unique.”
After his first check journey, Roman dwelling smiling so large that his spouse thought one thing was improper with him…ha! He calls the ZR-7 his “Bike of Pleasure,” whereas she calls it “that inexperienced motorcycle.” We simply like to see a home-built bike carving up the roads prefer it ought to.
Under, we speak to Roman for the total particulars on this ZR-7 café racer.
Kawasaki ZR-7 Café Racer: Builder Interview
• Please inform us a bit about your self, your historical past with bikes, and your workshop.
As an novice creator, in center or barely superior age, I’m fulfilling youthful goals that weren’t allowed to me by the communists who dominated our nation for a very long time.
• What’s the make, mannequin, and 12 months of the donor bike?
Kawaski ZR750F (ZR-7), 12 months 2000.
• Why was this bike constructed?
Round 2010, café racer bikes have been all the trend. Nearly all of them had an unsightly large window within the subframe the place the aspect cowl was once. The small suspension strokes and slim tires signaled that these have been bikes extra for standing in entrance of a restaurant reasonably than for driving. So I made a decision to construct a café racer with a knee down chance.
• What was the design idea and what influenced the construct?
I needed to make an bizarre motorbike into a really English-looking café racer, even when I didn’t use chrome.
• What customized work was performed to the bike?
I didn’t realize it on the time, however I used to be truly already doing one thing alongside the traces of immediately’s resto-nod motorbike. Coincidentally, or maybe not, the remainder of a Ducati Monster SR2 motorbike handed my manner. So a stable entrance USD fork and — what a coincidence — my favourite single-sided swingarm.
Set up of the entrance fork went with out issues, however the dealing with was a catastrophe. The motorbike was falling into the nook. The entrance fork from the SR2 is far shorter than the unique, and solely the extension segments introduced the likelihood to fine-tune the entrance geometry.
Mounting the rear swingarm required the set up of an entire SR2 subframe on which your complete suspension system is mounted.
I attempted to fine-tune all three fundamental components of the design, i.e. the entrance small fairing, the tank, and the everyday seat fairing right into a harmonious complete.
I selected the British Racing Inexperienced colour and the golden traces (my very own design) and golden wheels so as to add a sure class.
• Does the bike have a nickname?
I name the motorbike “Kawa” or “Bike of Pleasure”. However for my spouse, it’s simply “that inexperienced motorcycle.”
• Any thought of horsepower, weight, and/or efficiency numbers?
The engine is commonplace solely with a Okay&N filter. Carburetors needed to be fine-tuned on the dyno.
• Are you able to inform us what it’s prefer to journey this bike?
It took some persistence to tune the entrance fork, however now it’s an excellent bike for cornering on nation roads and serpentines. That bike pulls via corners effortlessly. Knee down isn’t any drawback. It’s about 15 kg lighter than the unique.
• Was there something performed throughout this construct that you’re notably pleased with?
It’s one of many few Café Racer bikes that doesn’t have a window within the subframe.
• Is there anybody you’d prefer to thank?
To my pal who painted the motorbike and to the upholsterer for an ideal job on the seat.
Comply with the Builder
I’m an occasional correspondent for the Slovak web site motoride.sk underneath the identify “Romoto“. Right here you will see my articles about bikes, written with love and keenness for building and customising. In case you have a great translator, you’ll be able to learn extra about this bike right here and right here at motoride.sk.
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