Butchered Classic: Kawasaki Z1327 Restomod

Kawasaki KZ1327 RestomodNÖHLINS: Dave Solomon’s 1327cc “Winter Hack”… 

Dave Solomon is the mad Englishman who founded Butchered Classics around a decade ago — an online community that “pays homage to all motorcycles registered 1990 or before, with any modifications whatsoever from mild to completely wild!”

Kawasaki KZ1327 RestomodWhile most any bikes are welcome, the Butchered Classics family has a special fondness for builds that burn the eyeballs of purists, like Suzuki Bandit engines shoved into Kawasaki Zed frames or vintage superbikes decked out with modern suspension and forced induction.

Spondon Bandit Turbo by Dave Solomon

Of course, Dave himself is not just the Butchered Classics founder, but one of its most prolific builders. At last count, he’s built 22-23 bikes in the decade since starting Butchered Classics, and we’ve had the pleasure of featuring a good many of them here on BikeBound — 13 in all! Just a few highlights include Dave’s Spondon Bandit turbo, Kawasaki GPz1157, and Bandit-powered Kawasaki Z1000.

Today, we’re happy to feature Dave’s 22nd build since establishing Butchered Classics, and it’s one hell of an all-motor beast. Indeed, the MTC big-block engine came straight from a vintage Kawasaki drag bike aptly named “Wild Thing”:

“The 1327cc Zed motor is about as healthy as they come and grabs at the ozone layer via some RS36’s, once the lumpy cams and larger valves have done their bit the Dyna ‘S’ ignition creates the spark and noise is made…all the waste is pushed out through a modified Delkevic stainless system.”

The donor drag bike

Once Dave had his hands on the engine, he needed a suitable frame, suspension, swingarm, bodywork — everything to put the power of the drag engine to the ground. Fortunately, he has a shed chock-full of parts and the right friends to source just about anything he could need.

Soon, the mighty 1327cc Zed was rising bit by bit from a bare frame, decked out with a trick JMC swingarm, “Nöhlins” front end and wheels from a Yamaha MT-09, alloy bodywork courtesy of Kev Kent, and much more. The result is one hell of a big-bore muscle bike, and a favorite of Dave’s…despite the purist-allaying fact that the frame and engine are both Kawa-made!

Quite possibly the best bike I currently own…even with its original ‘tweaked’ lump fitted.

Dave isn’t only a great builder, but he’s one of the better storytellers we know, so we’ll let you tell him how this Kawasaki Z1327 “Winter Hack” came to be!

In the Builder’s Words…

Kawasaki KZ1327 Restomod

“Do a deal,” he said. “I’ve got just the motor for you,” he claimed. Well, at that point he got my attention and minutes later he wheeled in a very classic-looking Kawasaki drag bike. The engine got my attention with its bevelled lock-up clutch cover, MTC big block (1327cc), Mikuni RS36mm flat-slide carburettors, and Dyna ignition. So yes I just had to have it!

Having no chassis for the motor to fit into, I went on a quest to find a frame. I already had an assortment of parts that I could throw at a build — in fact, everything apart from a frame and front end.

Kawasaki KZ1327 Restomod

I managed to locate a Yamaha MT-09 rear wheel in my collection of…junk, which I’d purchased off a well-known auction site a year previously for a giveaway price. The JMC swingarm has been sat here for nearly five years waiting on just the right project, so my new challenge was to find a matching front end to suit my rear wheel, which proved a challenge.

Kawasaki KZ1327 Restomod

Word was getting about I needed a frame and offers of bargain frames were coming my way thick ‘n fast. However one stood out: “Only fit for scrap” — were the owners words — “but it’s solid and the right price.” This was the one and was ferried off to Wayne Kirby where the very dodgy frame bracing was removed and replaced with more suitable-looking braces as well as some very fine scalloping to ensure a silky smooth chain run. Following its surgery it was then given a lavish powder-coat finish.

Kawasaki KZ1327 Restomod

The bullet was well and truly bitten and a complete MT-09 front end was purchased for an eye-watering amount. The front end is a surprisingly easy swap and the ‘Nöhlins’ sticker is just there for stupid people. Then both wheels were sent off to Chris Davison to apply the gleaming white paint.

Kawasaki KZ1327 Restomod

Bodywork? All alloy bodywork which was taken from my turbo Kawasaki and had been sat around doing nothing for six months was brought back into commission and suited the style I was after.

Kawasaki KZ1327 Restomod

The tank and tail section are Kev Kent creations…the tank originally had a small vapour leak which resulted in damage to the former paint, now all rectified and seems a shame not to utilise it. This in turn was treated to a whole “rattle can” of matte black at a cost of two of your finest English pounds.

Koso gauge from a former donor bike tells me how bad I’m being and the loom was created from old scrap wiring. Chinese headlight and velocity stacks (£12.00 for four…delivered) and various fittings add a little bling…

Kawasaki KZ1327 Restomod

With the addition of the Delkevic full stainless exhaust system and the Chinese-supplied rear sets we’ve achieved a motorcycle that oozes simplicity and gets adorned with admiration wherever it is parked up — way more likes and favourable comments than any other bike I’ve ever created. Not my favourite bike in my stable but possibly the best I currently own…if that makes sense!

Thanks go out to the usual suspects:

  • Chris Davison…luscious wheel paint
  • Kwaker Saki …chassis purchase
  • Wayne Kirby …welding guru
  • Neill Curtis…miserable bastard 😆

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2 Comments

  1. Looks good!
    At least it doesn’t have a rectangular headlite.
    I don’t like the empty space where the air box was . But that’s a nit pick in the case of this bike

  2. Love that it still retains it’s kick starter.

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