In the sprawling landscape of motorcycle manufacturing, few names carry the visceral weight and international reverence of Kawasaki. The company’s journey began not with two wheels, but with heavy industries—shipbuilding and aircraft—a heritage that instilled a profound, non-negotiable dedication to engineering superiority and brute-force performance. From the world-shocking power of the original 1969 H1 Mach III, to the global dominance of the iconic Z-series (the legendary ‘New York Steak’ Z1) and the modern, continent-spanning appeal of the Ninja line, Kawasaki has consistently delivered machines that are fast, fierce, and fundamentally fun.
This potent combination of high-tech engineering and a raw, visceral riding experience has made Kawasaki an enduring obsession for riders and, crucially, for the custom world. Unlike some of their rivals, Team Green’s bikes—whether high-displacement sportbikes or charming small-capacity singles—have achieved a true global ubiquity.
It is this spirit of raw potential and worldwide admiration that the custom builders of Bike EXIF have channeled over the years. We’ve scoured the planet to find the wildest expressions of Kawasaki’s heritage—creations that transcend mere modification and become works of art.
Join us as we dive into eight of our favorite custom Kawasakis that have graced the Bike EXIF.
Icon’s Kawasaki Z125
The mad scientists at ICON Motosports spend their days concocting motorcycle gear that runs the gamut from stealthy to totally outrageous. And when they’re not busy with that, they’re hard at work in their Portland garage building wild custom motorcycles to match.
Meet Quarterflash: an 8-bit dream wrapped in a flurry of neon hues, named after a band that came out of Icon’s hometown in the 80s. A little outlandish and extremely saucy, it’s just the sort of custom build that we’d expect from Portland’s finest.
And if you’re thinking that this machine sits a little low for a full-faired sportbike, you’re not wrong. That’s because Quarterflash didn’t start out as a four-cylinder screamer, but rather as a mild-mannered Kawasaki Z125. If you don’t know the Z125, it’s Kawasaki’s answer to the Honda Grom; pint-sized and ready to play. In stock form, the Z125 cranks out 9.5 hp and weighs just 225 lbs. But Quarterflash has spent an inordinate amount of time in the garage to help unleash its full potential.
Tennessee-based small-bore parts specialist, MNNTHBX, supplied a 155 cc big-bore kit with an upgraded crank, plus their MTake intake for the project. ICON also slapped on a full Yoshimura exhaust system, then installed a Dynojet Power Commander and AutoTune kit. ICON also went to town on the Kawasaki’s running gear, adding a MNNTHBX swingarm extender and lowering link out back, hooked up to a Nitron shock with a remote reservoir. The stock 12” hoops are shod with new Avon rubber, with EBC brake pads adding extra stopping power.
Realizing that Quarterflash needed a body kit to match its ferocity, the team sourced a sportbike fairing from Airtech Streamlining. Modeled on the iconic Yamaha OW-01, the fairing was gently tailored to fit. ICON sculpted a new one-piece tank cover and tail section from fiberglass, finishing things off with a racing foam seat pad and a host of 3D-printed details. Finished in that retina-searing livery, Quarterflash unapologetically pays tribute to 80s arcade game graphics. Just like the music, hairstyles, and tracksuits of the 80s, Quarterflash isn’t for everyone. [MORE]
AC Sanctuary’s Z1000 Racer
Anyone who has raced motorcycles will know that track bikes are a work in progress. They’re mobile test beds, because shaving seconds off lap times is the only way to stay ahead of the competition. The mechanics at the Japanese workshop AC Sanctuary know this intimately, spending years tuning and modifying this incredible Kawasaki racer. The core of the bike is a Z1000 engine, which delivered 85 horsepower at the crank when it left the factory in 1977.
It now measures a staggering 152 hp at the rear wheel. That makes this one of the fastest air-cooled bikes on the Japanese classic racing scene, and it also holds the lap record for its class at the Tsukuba Circuit.
Most of the Z1000’s recent development has centered on the DOHC two-valve four-cylinder engine, which uses a carefully ported GPz1100 cylinder head modified to take ZX-10R injectors. AC Sanctuary has fitted Web Cam .460 cams, uprated APE springs, and designed a custom adapter to allow the ZX-10R throttle bodies to be used.
The chassis is equally bespoke; the frame is AC Sanctuary’s own design, rather than a modified Z1000 original, which would flex too much. The back wheel is secured with a Sculpture aluminum swingarm, and the 17-inch wheels are magnesium alloy units from OZ Racing.
The bike runs Öhlins suspension at both ends, with conventional piggyback shocks supporting the rear, and Brembo brakes clamping onto Sunstar rotors. The aluminum bodywork is completely custom, with the tank and seat reminiscent of the Kawasaki Z from the 1970s. This Z1000 stands as an absolute powerhouse and a beautiful example of air-cooled racing heritage pushed to the absolute limit. [MORE]
Tole Motorworks Kawasaki W175
The Indonesian custom scene is a rich with talent, and this compact chop from Tole Motorworks is close to perfection. The W175 is a bike mostly seen in Asia, a step up from the usual no-frills commuter machines, blending old school styling with a reliable 13 hp air-cooled single. While many W175s get ‘cafe racer’ makeovers, Tole Motorworks, a one-man operation run by Febrian Ramadhan, went the chopper route.
Febrian’s build, assisted by his brother Ghifara, bears little resemblance to the factory W175, looking a good half-century older than it really is. They went for a ‘British chopper’ silhouette, aiming to keep the build compact and slim with the 175 cc engine size. They chopped out 80% of the frame and recreated the rest in a vintage hardtail style. Wheels are critical to the stance, so Febrian chose an F21/R19 setup utilizing slim Akront rims, and a slender 160 section front tire and 195 rear. The front disc brake is gone, and the rear drum brake was relocated to the left side for a cleaner look.
Febrian’s impressive metalworking skills are on display with the peanut tank, garnished with a classic ‘W’ badge. The client requested a gold finish and named the bike Cahaya Ilahi, which means ‘Divine Light’ in Indonesian. The paint, executed by local expert Bronx Kustompaint, gives a soft metallic glow. Febrian also fabricated a new tire-hugging rear fender and an under-seat box to conceal the minimal electrics. This simple, hard-crafted bobber represents a true and endearing character in the custom world. [MORE]
Dirty Dick’s Motos Kawasaki W650 Desert Sled
This Kawasaki W650 desert sled comes from London-based Rick Hannah, who builds under the moniker Dirty Dick’s Motos. Rick, a self-taught builder who works remotely for a Californian tech start-up, decided to take the plunge into full nut-and-bolt builds after being disillusioned with the quality of work he’d received previously. He learned the English Wheel from an ex-Aston Martin bodywork wizard and enrolled in welding classes. Rick picked up a couple of W650s and set out to resurrect the one, aiming to build a reliable and fast desert sled with modern handling, comfort, and performance while maintaining the ’60s style.
The two main things that need sorting on a factory W650 are the brakes and the suspension. Rick developed a Big Brake Kit for the W650/W800, featuring a custom offset, 300mm floating disc, and a custom-built 6-piston billet caliper from Harrison. For the front suspension, he shaved and polished the fork lowers and installed an Andreani cartridge kit, fully adjustable and correctly sprung. The rear received custom Hagon shocks that are 25mm longer than standard. The result is a phenomenal change in both braking and handling.
Cosmetically, Rick’s attention to detail is evident. The original tank seams were removed, and the fuel cap was replaced with a flush-fitting aero cap. The frame was stripped, de-bracketed, and then polished, copper-plated, and finally nickel-plated, giving a nod to the Rickman Metisse scramblers. The swingarm is machined billet with a triangle pattern.
The engine was cleaned, polished, and fitted with Keihin CR Special carbs and straight-through, polished stainless steel shotgun pipes that turn a beautiful gold with heat. This W650 is a masterclass in meticulous, self-taught craftsmanship. [MORE]
Federal Moto’s Kawasaki GPz1100
The team at Federal Moto in Chicago always knew that for their first custom sportbike, they’d need the beefiest bad boy of the ’80s: the GPz1100. They secured a 1984 model, which came bone stock with 120 hp and 73 foot pounds of torque. Nicknamed ‘Danger Zone’, the commission came from an Ohio-based enthusiast who only swears by Kawasakis and KTMs.
Federal Moto, with the help of mechanical engineer Desmond DiGiovanni, decided to strip the bike for a sleeker, more aerodynamic look. The engine was treated to a top-end rebuild, fitted with a rack of four Mikuni carbs from an ’84 KZ1000, and stainless steel velocity stacks. The mighty mill is now Cerakoted, and the headers terminate with Cone Engineering’s ‘Big Mouth’ stainless steel mufflers.
The entire front end is a transplant, featuring Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa forks hooked up via a steering stem and upper triple tree from Cognito Moto. Braking was upgraded with CNC’d front and rear rotors, new Goodridge lines, and a Tokico four-piston setup at the front. The tank is from a modern Honda CB1100, but the rest of the bodywork is custom fabricated, utilizing computer modeling and 3D printing. The sleek tail unit and rear subframe are hand-fabricated, while Desmond also designed the solid rear wheel panels, which were water jet cut. Finished in deep, glossy black with a hint of classic Kawasaki green, ‘Danger Zone’ is an unmistakable and high-tech tribute to ’80s power. [MORE]
Thrive Motorcycle Twin-Engined Kawasaki Drag Bike
There’s something pure and extremely entertaining about drag bikes. The top Indonesian shop, Thrive Motorcycle, took that genre up a notch with this extraordinary machine. Nicknamed ‘T 22 Synthesis’, it features two tiny two-stroke 150RR Ninja motors.
Thrive decided to revive the old glory days of twin-engined racers, like Bud Hare’s ‘Dubble Trubble’ Triumph, but with a modern approach. Ace tuner Yosef Gumilar of Prama Motorworks successfully created the improbable twin-engine setup with heavy mods to the ignition, ported and flowed heads, 270-degree racing crankshafts, a lightened flywheel, and a quick-shifter. They also sourced specific Lectron carburetors for the engine configuration. The lengthy pipes and expansion chambers were crafted by local racebike specialist Kawahara from stainless steel.
A new frame was built with aluminum tubing, following cues from old-school drag bikes, using Thrive’s first custom frame jig. The design philosophy was to create something light for the best power-to-weight ratio. To stay low to reduce wheelies off the line—it sits just 6.5 cm from the ground.
The monocoque bodywork is handmade, brushed aluminum, with a lengthy seat pad and a mesh fairing echoing the shape of the chunky radiator. This twin-engined Ninja takes inventive building to a whole new level and is sure to cause a stir on the Jakarta street racing scene. [MORE]
Duke Motorcycles Kawasaki ER-6n
Every time a sensible daily runner is considered, the Kawasaki ER-6n pops up on the radar. It’s cheap, makes decent power, and handles well. Given the limited pool of ‘acceptable’ custom donors these days, the ER-6n is not a bike you often see, but Lionel at Duke Motorcycles in Nice, France, is a believer. While servicing his 2011-model commuter bike, he spontaneously stripped it down, transforming his mild-mannered naked Ninja into this aggressive street fighter.
The first changes were all hidden tweaks, including removing the airbox, fitting a set of pod filters, and installing a Lithium-ion battery with relocated electrics. Lionel liked the stock tank, side panels, and belly pan, but fabricated a sharper aluminum piece to replace the bulky seat unit. It sits on a custom-built subframe and is capped off with an Alcantara saddle. Up front, he created a new headlight cowl with integrated fork guards and an LED covered by a striking aluminum grill—a nod to the futuristic style of the Bugatti Veyron.
That Bugatti connection also inspired the bike’s new livery: the striking white and blue is a riff on Bugatti’s ‘white gold’ scheme. Lionel executed the paint himself, matching the cylinder heads, crank cases, rear shock spring, and even the wheels. While the suspension and brakes were left stock, they were refreshed with new braided hoses. Up top are CNC Racing handlebars, new grips, and a Koso dial. A new silencer from the Italian company Giannelli rounds out the package, mounted on wrapped stock headers. Lionel’s ER-6n successfully transforms the sensible commuter into a sharp, unique street fighter. [MORE]
Machine 1867’s KZ250 Kawasaki Bobber
Everyone loves a good barn find story, but what about digging an old motorcycle out of the weeds? That’s where Edi Buffon, an engineer and builder at Machine 1867 in Sydney, Australia, found the basket case Kawasaki KZ250 that would eventually become this incredible bobber-style piece of art. Found alongside a pair of Honda CB900s, the 1980 KZ250 wasn’t running but showed under 17,000 miles. Edi found a faulty CDI, fixed the now-running motor, and tossed the rest of the bike.
Most of what you see here was built up from raw materials. Edi started by fabricating a chromoly rigid frame. Next up was the front suspension—a showpiece in itself. “Aesthetically, my favorite type of suspension is the leaf spring,” he tells us. He built the front forks with solid 20 mm and 16 mm round bars, with custom triple trees, and used a cut-down leaf from an old trailer. The front wheel is a 21” spoked number with a custom axle and spacers. The original 16” KZ250 rear wheel remains, but now with a whopping 5.00 tire.
Edi’s craftsmanship is evident in the details. He built a petite sheet metal tank and adorned the seat pan with panels of Jarrah wood (a type of eucalyptus), stained and waxed to almost invisible joints. The seat suspension system is a custom build, starting with a spring lifted from the mechanical seal of a water pump. Other cool details include a heel-operated clutch and a hand shifter, along with a rear (and only) brake converted from a heel lever. Finished with hand-turned brass details and a ceramic-coated, polished frame, this KZ250 is a true ground-up build and a rolling work of art. [MORE]
