Japanese

Custom Harley-Davidson a Mesh of Parts with Old School Look

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by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com Fancy a modern Harley-Davidson with old-school looks? Look no further than this customized two-wheeler, coming to our screens all the way from Japan. What you’re looking at was initially a 2017 Softail. It somehow got into the hands and workshop of Japanese custom specialist Bad Land, and got turned into this amazing, old school look and feel motorcycle, christened by its maker Shishigaya Style No. 1. 2017 TwinCam Softail Slim BL Shishigaya Style Custom Specs Front & Rear Wheel : OEM 74″ Old Springer Fork STD. Length : W&W Cycles 74″ Old Springer Fork : Rocker arm / Modify by BAD LAND Front Fender : W&W Cycles / Modify by BAD LAND Headlight : OEM Headlight Grill : Rough Crafts Handlebar : W&W Cycles / Modify by BAD LAND Gasolie Tank : OEM / Modify by BAD LAND Front Fender : W&W Cycles / Modify by BAD LAND Rocker Cover : Ken’s Factory Cam Cover : Ken’s Factory T/M Side Cover : Ken’s Factory Exhaust : PAUGHCO / BAD LAND in One-Off Air Cleaner Cover : OEM / Modify by BAD LAND Paint : Naturally Paint And More… Like with pretty much all other builds signed by Bad Land, this one too is a remarkable collection of custom parts coming from a variety of shops, and made to fit together in an amazing and elegant way. Sitting inside the frame to power the beast is a Screamin’ Eagle 110 monster of an engine that breaths through a Paughco exhaust system. The engine spins OEM front and rear wheels, and gets its fuel from an equally OEM tank, massaged into a different form by Bad Land. Also original equipments are the headlight and air cleaner (it too modified), but that’s about it, the rest is aftermarket. […]

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Dream E-Type: Early days of the Honda 4-Stroke

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from https://www.thesundaily.my Mr Honda’s disdain for two-stroke engines fuelled the relentless pursuit of perfection for his little four-strokers. It was March 1951 when Soichiro Honda summoned engineer Kiyoshi Kawashima from Hamamatsu. “‘Kawashima, would you mind coming over for a moment?’ It was the beginning of a two-month stint in the capital as I worked on the design of the E-Type 4-stroke engine in a corner of the Tokyo Plant,” recalls Kawashima. “When the plans were at last ready the Old Man dashed in to see it, bringing Fujisawa, with him.” (Takeo Fujisawa was Honda Motor Co Ltd’s co-founder.) Kawashima can remember clearly that day in May 1951. “As he showed the plans to Fujisawa, Mr. Honda gave us an enthusiastic commentary: ‘Ah, I see. You have this kind of valve and the cam goes like that. This is what I call an engine, it isn’t just a two-stroke machine that looks as though it’s been cut from a bamboo tube with holes drilled. This will sell. Honda will do well with this!’ Mr. Fujisawa didn’t have any understanding of the plans, he didn’t know anything about mechanical things at all, so he just said things like ‘Hm, yes, that’s great,’” said Kawashima, laughing. The now-legendary test crossing of the Hakone Pass took place on July 15. In those days the Hakone Pass was considered the ultimate test for a motor vehicle. Even lorries could only get over it if they stopped for a rest every now and then. So it was certainly a challenge for a small 150cc motorcycle. Kawashima acted as both the engine designer and on that occasion, as test rider. “Actually we’d been using the Hakone Pass as a test track for quite some time by then. I was sure we could climb it, but I was

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Phillips or JIS

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What Works and How… Photos and text by Kyle Smith, Hagerty Media The unsung hero of the automotive world is the threaded fastener. Most people only think about the bolts and screws of their machines when they have to, when the components are stripped, seized, or broken off. That dismissive attitude, however, may cause these components to strip, seize, or break in the first place. For instance, if you are working on a classic motorcycle, you are probably using the wrong screwdriver—and are setting yourself up for disaster. Hear me out. Click Here to Read this Tech Tip on Bikernet. Join the Cantina – Subscribe Today. https://www.bikernet.com/pages/custom/subscription.aspx

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Top-grade Japanese engineering meets outstanding German craftmanship

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by Silvian Secara from https://www.autoevolution.com Daniel Schuh’s Espiat deals with just about anything from logo design and woodwork, to meticulous motorcycle customization. In terms of bespoke two-wheeled goodness, this one-man enterprise stacked up on a plethora of remarkable creations that’ll soothe each and every last corner of your moto-loving gearhead soul. As I was browsing Schuh’s portfolio, I came across a phenomenal street tracker-style creature based on Yamaha’s beloved XJR1200. This fascinating piece of machinery was completed back in 2017, and it just so happens to be my personal favorite out of the whole bunch! I’ll tell you what, let’s dive in for a closer analysis of this graceful masterpiece. For starters, the project’s mastermind went about tweaking XJR’s subframe to accommodate a hand-crafted tail section and a pair of fresh side panels that keep things looking rad. Additionally, the rear end incorporates a custom LED lighting kit to complement the clutter-free aesthetic. On the opposite end, we notice a one-off number plate front fairing, which hugs the bike’s forks and triple clamps. This module was painstakingly built in-house and it hosts an eccentric halogen headlight unit, as well as a new speedometer. You will also find a pair of aftermarket handlebars and rear-mounted foot pegs that round out the updated riding stance. As to XJR1200’s performance, the inline-four powerplant was treated to a four-into-two exhaust system with megaphone mufflers. The craftsman even ventured as far as sculpting a set of inlets that’ll feed the engine with a constant flow of cool air. Furthermore, the suspension received a selection of top-shelf components, such as state-of-the-art progressive springs up front and nitrogen shock absorbers at the back. Last but not least, the bodywork was enveloped in a timeless color scheme, consisting of an intricate blend between gold and metallic black, joined

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Honda Reveals CB-F Concept as the Future of Six Decades Old Series

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by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com In Honda’s lineup, the CB Series is one of the most extensive. Born a little over six decades ago, the line includes everything from road to racing motorcycles. That means the family will still be around for many years to come, and a glimpse of what’s around the corner was just revealed by the Japanese. Two major motorcycle shows were planned in Japan in the coming months, in Osaka and Tokyo, but because they were canceled on account of the coronavirus pandemic, Honda and others were left with finding alternate means of revealing their newest products. Honda planned to show no less than 29 motorcycles at the said events, and decided to slowly unveil them online, starting Friday, March 27. The CB-F concept was the one chosen to spearhead the avalanche of models. Developed as a preview of future CBs, the concept is said to also be a homage to past generations, including the CB900F, one of the oldest of the family. Built on a lightweight chassis with high-tensile steel mono-backbone structure, it comes with an inverted front fork suspension and an aluminum single-sided Pro-Arm at the rear. Both should make the bike ideal for use on both urban and winding roads. Powering the bike along is a 998cc water-cooled inline 4-cylinder DOHC engine, linked to a six-speed transmission. The specs for it were not released, but the Japanese say it “eases through its rev-range and provides ample torque.” “The CB-F Concept is the result of revisiting the CB series’ history, which reached its sixth decade last year, and thoroughly exploring what to preserve, and what to evolve with the company’s flagship sports bike,” the bike maker said in a statement. “The CB-F Concept is an ambitious fusion of cutting edge technology with a design

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Wabi-Sabi & motorcycles

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architect /Tadao Ando/ Pared down to its barest essence, wabi-sabi is the Japanese art of finding beauty in imperfection and profundity in nature, of accepting the natural cycle of growth, decay, and death. It’s simple, slow, and uncluttered-and it reveres authenticity above all. Wabi-sabi is flea markets, not warehouse stores; aged wood, not Pergo; rice paper, not glass. It celebrates cracks and crevices and all the other marks that time, weather, and loving use leave behind. It reminds us that we are all but transient beings on this planet-that our bodies, as well as the material world around us, are in the process of returning to the dust from which we came. Through wabi-sabi, we learn to embrace liver spots, rust, and frayed edges, and the march of time they represent. From Lyndell Dean Wolff at https://ldwolff.com/

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Veloce Publishing new Kawasaki Book

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The story of the air-cooled ‘big’ Kawasaki bikes in definitive detail, researched and written in Japan with the full co-operation of the factory. This series of models put the company on the map during the sixties and seventies, helping it to survive a difficult era that saw hundreds of Japanese motorcycle makers reduced to just four. Successful immediately, these models defended Kawasaki’s honour on the tracks as well as in the showrooms, handing the company numerous world championship titles. The series was recently revived as part of a retro boom, and a new machine has been launched, delivering the same thrill and charm as its predecessors. Book Title: Kawasaki W, H & Z – The Big Air-Cooled Machines Author Name: Brian Long Features • Definitive history of the early air-cooled Kawasakis. • Sales in all major markets covered in detail. • Written by a recognized author and historian. • Racing exploits covered year-by-year. • Written with the full co-operation of the factory. • Handy reference charts throughout. • Detailed production figures, including exports. • Unravels what is indeed a very convoluted story. • Contemporary photography to help owners with authenticity issues. • The author is an owner of vintage motorcycles. Description The definitive history of the big air-cooled Kawasakis, from little known machines hardly seen outside Japan to the early Zs that took on the world. The book covers all major markets and uses stunning contemporary photography gathered from all over the globe to help owners establish authenticity or simply take a trip down memory lane. Synopsis The story of the air-cooled ‘big’ Kawasaki bikes in definitive detail, researched and written in Japan with the full co-operation of the factory. This series of models put the company on the map during the sixties and seventies, helping it to survive a

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