Top Motorcycle

The King of the Road as the Z1 was known during its days in the 70s was Kawasakis first four cylinder 4 stroke bike introduced in 1972. Built upon the lineage of the earlier 2s 3-cylinders H1 & H2, it was the first real high performance production bike of the world.

It is said that while Kawasaki was planning for a 750cc 4 cylinder 4S motorcycle to be the worlds first, HONDA had already launched the (now legendary) CB 750 in 1968. To beat Honda, Kawasaki honchos ordered for a even bigger bike (thats why the Z1 is 900 cc) which should be more powerful than the CB 750. Not that it only beat the Honda, this was a bike in altogether a different league. Stunning looks, aggressive, the best in performance and a bike not making a hole in the pocket. This bike was for the masses. "The King" had arrived. Such was its popularity, that all the manufacturers went into producing bikes keeping the fact that their bike must outdo the Z1 and thereby there were a lot of me-too clones in the mid 70s. This can be cited as the biggest factor leading to the fall of the British Motorcycle industry.

Yes! it was the Z1 which killed Ariel, BSA, Norton, Italian companies like Laverda, Moto Guzzi and made legends like Triumph and HD lie in their death beds. In the 80s, the Z1 capacity was increased to 1000 cc and then came the Z1000, the motorcycle which along with HD are still active in US police force. The 70s saw the emerging of 2 legends, the CB750 & the Z1. While Honda gave the world a practical, maintenance free good dependable bike, many hardcore bikers really really wanted something notorious, something obnoxiously fast with a devil of a soul and for them the CB 750 was just too sedate. What they wanted was actually the Kawasaki Z1. In fact as mentioned, the Z1 was to be born in 1968, lucky world, Honda came first with the CB 750 in the Tokyo Motor Show and so the hardcore bikers got what they lusted instead of the originally planned 750, a full blown high performance 900cc monster which was recording speeds of 160 km within 13 seconds! When the Kwack was tested in US in 1971, there were issues, the tyres didnt last, drive chains wore out, but there was one thing - the engine was bullet proof. Continious high speed runs in excess of 200 kmph also just couldnt put a dent to the engine. And this was Kawasakis ace!

What added to its success was the fact it was a direct comparision of the CB 750 and anyone who didnt want the CB 750, went for the Z1. The styling of the CB 750 was generous and subtle with no frills, while the Z1 shined with all right curves with some delicious colours and not to mention high grade fit and finish. It was slim and vibrant. But votes for the Greatest Motorcycle just doesnt come from only hardcore bikers, there was the general public too. The handling was something which left a lot to be desired. The brakes haulting this monster were just not enough, the rear dampers were your backs arch enemy. When your bike is capable of 220 kmph constantly at any time, you need more assurance from a 81 bhp monster. And it was probably that factor why the Z1 was not voted as the greatest. Now-a-days, bikers just fit after market branded shocks, branded brakes, branded tyres and with a little bit modification gun the throttle of this magnificent warrior for drags, racing and just showing off.

These are computer generated image of the YAMAHA FZ8 that is going to be launched very soon in Europe. Some time ago, YAMAHA MOTOR EUROPE has posted a picture of a new Yamaha Motorcycle, FZ8 which was supposed to be launched by November or early December, but now, the website says just wait for the updates. Which means the FZ8 is definitely there but just take might take some more time. The website just shows the headlamp of the FZ8 and that is sure that this will carry forward the Fazer/ FZ motto of a street bike. While all the waiting has been done, some moto journalist just couldnt wait any longer has come up with their own versions of what the FZ8 just might look like. Of course it is going to be a in line four, for one and most definitely liquid cooled. The journos have given the bike a mode edate look than the existing series. Where the FZ8 really stands is difficult to say as they have the 600cc and the litre bike. This 800cc bike is probably looking for the crowd who wants a more road bike than a street racer and also that could be used for touring and clearly as the Motarrad website mentions will take on the Aprilia Shiver 750, BMW F 800 R, Triumph Street Triple and the likes. The site also mentions that the FZ6 will be phased out by coming March. The photos here will remind you of the FZ1 for sure. especially the frame, the tail section and tank while the second photo from Motorevue has gone a step further is colouring the bike and giving it a R6 like tail section. They have imagined the bike in purple colour decoration with white superstructure somehwat similar to the R1 which means they expect a more sportier bike.

Well, we have to wait for some time more before we know what actually comes out. Keep updated with the Yamaha Motor Europe website.

And here is the DUCATI Vyper which till now is just a scoop. News has been making the rounds since early March this year of a possible Ducati Cruiser touted as a V-Rod and V-Max killer and Ducati trading into the cruiser category which sources say Ducati boss Claudio Domenicali has revealed the company is looking to branch out into a wider market. Motociclismo were the first to post the scoop pictures and then Motorevue revealed a clay model which matches the scoop pictures. Later the news appeared in Ducati News Today which does give the scoop more weightage. Ducati has neither confirmed nor denied the news. All in all it has been some time and probably Ducati being Ducati wants to give a cruiser which will be worthy of the brand name and not repeat the Ducati Indiana fiasco (of sorts).

Sources say the bike is already in running form and has started preliminary tests at the Bologna factory and the proposed displacement will be 1400cc which will make it the biggest Ducati. The engine is speculated to feature a stroked version of the company’s Testastretta engine in a V-configuration. The liquid-cooled engine is said to put out in the range of 170 hp. It will feature Ducati’s signature steel trellis frame and its tank and tail section will be angular and aggressive, similar to the styling on the Streetfighter. The Vyper has a meaty 240mm tyre on the rear mounted to an aluminum swingarm with dual exhausts running along the lower right side and by the looks of it this power cruiser looks like its got a low slung seat and raked forks, a true cruiser styling. Could this be something similar to the DUCATI D66, the custom chopper from Luca Bar of Italy? Well, 2010 has a few surprises up its sleeve.

I got the link of T.M. Choppers through a link in my friend Sebestians blog. There is no link in the blog itself, but if someone does such wonderful job, its not very difficult to track anything these days, thanks to the net. Looking at the bike, I thought T. M. Choppers must be a group of hardcore HD guys in the U.S. But I was very pleasently surprised.

When I saw .ee in the web address, I really thought hard that what can ee mean? I mean, other then .com, .net and .org, the others usually used are according to the countries, like .in (for India), .jp (for Japan), .za (for South Africa) and like wise. Little did I wonder that .ee meant Estonia. I am sure you have heard about Estonia and the name sounds as one of those countries which fragmented from USSR in the early 90s. Well, it is, and it is near to Finland and Sweden in the Baltic region.

Okay, T. M. Choppers concentrates only in HDs and of course Buell. They are into choppers and drag racers. This was the only Cafe Racer featured in the website and although there was no associated text, it looked good :-) and fit to post. Cmon, its a Cafe Racer! They dont make the accessories like exhausts themselves but has a lot of friends for out sourcing, mainly Europe & U.S. They are also into HD purchase and sales and of course, repairs & servicing too.

With a decade of collective experience under them, every product they make bears a stamp of top class quality product and they have been featured in many shows and mags. According to their website, the current fastest V-twin in Estonia was built and owned by one of their own mechanics. If you would like to contact Toomas Köster or Marek Kose (the owners of T.M Choppers) you will find them here. Visit th T.M Choppers website and one more gallery featuring the bikes in Flickr.

all four of them. Yes, it is only 4 motorcycles, but it is the way that he makes it. “Each of our bikes is a labor of love, and receives 100% of our careful attention to detail from design to assembly. Atom Bomb motorcycles are built using as many original or period parts as possible and the majority of our tins are either scratch built or heavily modified original parts. Atom Bomb engines are all rebuilt in house using decades of racing and high performance mechanical experience.” Is it not evident from the pictures here? Not being a very big firm or to say relatively new, their work really needs to be appreciated. It somehow resembles Japanese customization, but that is probably because both of them believe it in keeping it simple. But the difference is that Clay makes the frames too. He continues “We also pride ourselves on building all of our complete frames and hardtail sections in house. This allows us to configure each frame to our specific requirements, rather than using off the shelf parts with off the shelf dimensions. As far as we are aware, we are the only custom British shop to do this. Every painted surface on each motorcycle features a show quality finish applied by Chris Mizak and/or Clay Rathburn.” Their shop is in Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia. They would also rebuild your engine if you so desire but whether they work on anything other beyond British bikes has not been stated in the website. They usually do not take more than 1 to 2 projects at a time, and they also do commissioned builds using your motorcycle, or if you need they would provide you one from their extensive inventory of donor bikes.

Their products speak of the high quality they maintain in each of the bikes and each new product seems to be better than the previous work. They have just completed ‘Doctor Who’ and it seems to be their best work and this was something which I thought that they couldn’t better their last product, the ‘Nothing Fancy’, but they did! For them, it seems detailing is the key. Clay mentions “We strive to build our best motorcycle every time we build one. We pride ourselves on going the extra mile, be it reshaping a triple clamp with a file or spending two days polishing an exhaust system. No detail is too small, we feel that for a motorcycle to work as a whole, EVERY part deserves the same attention. We perform ALL of our fab, engine rebuild and paint work in house. In fact, the only thing we dont do on premises is bore cylinders and cover seats. While doing it all ourselves is not the best way to get rich, it IS the best way to ensure that were building the best bikes we can, every time.”Mr. Clay Rathburn seems to be fascinated by hot rods/ bobber styling as all of his products are in that vein. He has been in the automotive scene for some time now and also had a good stint as a race car fabricator and engine builder. He initially picked up with the 4 wheelers and he designed a 1934 Ford Pickup which was a multiple award winner at the 2007 Detroit Autorama, winning Best Nostalgic Pickup, and the Overhaulin award. After that, he turned back to his initial love, 2 wheelers and his fascination for bobbers now gives us 4 brilliant looking bikes. He started off with the ‘Black Bike’ based on a black BSA. When he found that his first customized bike was well appreciated, he founded ‘Atom Bomb Motorcycles’ in early 2008. He thanks his wife Erin for all her help and support. Then Chris Mizak, the artist joined him and they haven’t looked back.

The brilliant looking bike in red is the Nothin Fancy which is a 1970 Triumph TR6R. If you think how can something so simple look so good then let me assure you, it is the attention to detail of the small things, you won’t see anything hanging out or anything as an add on. The donor bike arrived as a basket case engine and when ABM first starts their work, they strip down the bike to the bare minimum and then work it up. The Nothing Fancy is a 2009 project and it participated at the 2009 Detroit Autorama, where the bike received the "Inspiration Award" as well as Best Motorcycle. It is also going to be featured in an upcoming issue of Iron Horse Magazine. The front end of the bike is a mix bag of modified motocross parts. The exhaust is typical scrambler styling and somehow gels well with the overall look. The heat shields are also sourced which were manufactured by aftermarket company MCM in the 60s and 70s. The bars were made in house and carry an NOS Doherty 1/4 turn race throttle. The highlight of the bike seems to be the fuel tank which has been of course modified by in house hammering and all. The tunnel was raised into the tank substantially, dropping the tank low on the backbone, and the rib was added to match the rear fender. Also, the oil tank was hand formed from aluminum. The engine was fully rebuilt with new pistons, cylinder and crank. High compression oversize pistons now reside in the cylinders, and the head has been mildly ported. Other fancy items in ‘Nothing Fancy’ include Joe Hunt magneto spark and a Bates headlight. And to give the total package a look worth salivating, it was Chris Mizak who painted the bike and you must admit he has done a darn good job.

The Black Bike was the first official Atom Bomb bike or was it? Actually work started on it before ABM was formed. Clay purchased the 1958 BSA A10 over the net and it was dead. The frame was nowhere near how it has left the factory and the engine literally had salt water. So, in a way, this is a complete new bike. Clay mentions in his website that he had spent over 900 hours building what you see here now. The frame is customized, the engine has been assembled, it has hand built tins and his attention to detail got him fame through this beautiful product. The Black Bike was the cover bike for issue #8 of Greasy Kulture Magazine, and was featured in issue #83 of The Horse. It was purchased by a Ryan B who seems to be very satisfied with the product.
There was nothing to start with the bike except the engine and the transmission cases. Part of the fuel tank was damaged and so it had to be built upon whatever existed. The forks are refurbished and the front was again a mixture of modified motorcross parts largely from Honda motorcycles. The bars and the exhaust are hand fabricated from stainless steel. The original frame was totally damaged so Clay fabricated the frame too. The tank was reshaped and made narrow for the overall hot rod look.
The engine was reworked, with the head being ported. So in came bigger valves, spitfire cam and compression ratio went north to nearly 12.0:1 and so you know this sonofagun is going to pull real hard on the roads. Although Clay hasn’t mentioned it in his website, this is possibly the Golden Flash which was renowned for its power and refinement. To further help the performance figures, Amal carburetor is affixed to fabricated aluminum extension. There is a modern touch too, a modern belt drive from Bob Newby Racing gets the power to the transmission. And to give the extra glow, the bike was painted by Chris Mizak.

Their latest creation ‘Doctor Who’ gets its skeleton from a 1962 Triumph 6T pre unit. A gentleman from Connecticut, Rob, approached them after he got impressed with the Black Bike. Initially the client wanted a running mockup and so ABM rebuild the engine and transmission system kit and painted the frame so that Rob do not have to disengage the engine when he styles up the bike. But later, the client wanted the bike in the typical Atom Bomb styling and told Clay to do the entire bike. It seems ABM ports each bike’s head and fits them with oversize pistons for added performance and this bike was given the same treatment. The oil tank is a hand fabricated aluminum piece and the tank was also fabricated from aluminum and it uses a stock basket filter on the feed. The rocker feed is built into the tank on this bike. The exhaust is stainless steel and the heat shields are made of aluminum. Both of these items were fabricated in house. The stand is from a BSA A10 which has been shortened. A hand hammered aluminum blister is affixed to the primary cover with solid rivets. The blister covers a high output alternator. The final drive is through a Bob Newby belt drive. The forks are from a flat track racer bike and the battle scars are still there which consists of vintage Betor forks, triple clamps and handlebar mounts, with Atom Bomb bars. The seat is mounted on a polished leaf spring. The carbs are Amal 930, newly polished. Other thing includes a Bates 12V unit as the headlight. And then the finish by Mizak. Awesome again! ABM used a single stage paint under clear for extra depth and there is a tiny brown stripe around the accent panel designed by Mizak. I am sure Rob must be a very happy man with his decision because whatever he must have visualized (I am sure), Clay and Mizak has outdone his expectations.ts to the Atom Bomb website; just expect to get bombed by the beauties!