January 9, 2019
Pops – The post-war period in Japan saw a push in engine tuning to wring out any available additional horsepower to not just be faster but the fastest. This would eventually lead to the superbikes of the seventies and eighties and the current flock of hyper sports.
Leading this evolution of power and speed was Hideo ‘Pops’ Yoshimuro (1922-1995). After maintaining aircraft for the Japanese Empire during WW2 he redirected his masterful talents to the British bikes being brought to the land of the rising sun by American servicemen. This photo shows our man astride a fettled BSA preunit drag bike readying for a speed run.
Later he shifted his works and racing team to California where big reliable Japanese superbikes like the Kawasaki KZ and Suzuki GS’s went on to dominate the burgeoning AMA road racing circuit.
Posted in 70's, 80's, BSA, Engineering, Kawasaki, Racing |
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August 24, 2018
Close-Up – finishing off the week with some choice details of several motorbikes from last weekend. From Arial, Honda, Kawasaki, BMW, to Norton and Triumph. Some original, some personalized; from badges to pinstripes; tank, fairing, frame and fender.
Posted in 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, Design, Graphics, Honda, Kawasaki, Norton, Photography, Triumph Motorcycle |
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August 21, 2018
Big Zed – a couple of smashers at the weekend bike show. A 1975 KZ900, which was the Charles Atlas of its day, imbuing pure adrenaline inducing brute power. This one in immaculate condition with a glossy metallic ‘rootbeer’ and orange paint scheme. Also parked up was a new Z900 which takes its styling cues from the old venerable drag strip king. Retro! Retrah!
Posted in 70's, Chicago, Kawasaki, Vintage |
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February 19, 2018
Fritz the Cat – Egli frames are seen to be the perfect chassis for high horsepower powerplants such as this olympian KZ beast. The large diameter backbone and triangular geometry tubing give a stiff mount to impart the engines capabilities to the road. The cat approves in true feline curiosity.
Posted in 70's, Engineering, Kawasaki, Photography |
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November 30, 2017
TBT ’99 – here’s a younger me heading off to work on my green Kawasaki Ninja 600. When we lived in downtown Chicago it was the best way to commute along Lake Shore Drive up to Evanston. The bike was a 1996 ZX6E… solid and quick.
Posted in Chicago, Kawasaki |
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October 12, 2017
Normadie. – an image taken during a weekend cycling trip along the north coast of France in ‘97. I spied this couple zooming across the countryside under crisp April skies as I took a break from pedaling the same landscape. “That’s for me!” I said to myself.
Pentax ME Super 50mm Fujichrome 100
Posted in 90's, Kawasaki, Photography, Travel |
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September 27, 2017
Mach 3 – Redhot firestarter. Three cylinder 500cc two-stroke in immaculate restored condition. This hooligan toy was loud, fast, and dangerous. Kawasaki H1 was the quarter mile king for a short while in the early 70’s
Posted in 70's, Chicago, Kawasaki, Restoration |
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September 16, 2017
When is a Triumph not a Triumph? When it’s a Kawasaki KZ400… some youth punk has blacked-out his little twin; draped an old anorak over the back as a saddle; and daubed the Triumph logo across its tank in red, the modern Hinckley logo mind you! Like some Lisbeth Salander (she with the Dragon Tattoo) heap- it’s both goth and grunge.
Posted in 70's, Gals, Graphics, Kawasaki, Movie, Restoration, Triumph Motorcycle |
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August 22, 2017
Pumping Iron – each of these were forces to be reckoned with in their day. From the ’71 BSA Rocket Three which briefly had its moment in the spotlight before Honda’s CB750 turned up on the scene. Honda’s 450 Black Bomber heralded reliability in mechanics and electrics. The scaremongering H2 Mach IV 750 from Kawasaki to quote a contemporary Moto journalist “scarily fast, good-looking, no holds barred motorcycle”.
Finally the grandsire of all modern superbikes Kawasaki’s Kz900. The example here was sublime in finish, a looked like its engine was straining at the seams for a good thrash along the highway. It was also for sale…
Posted in 60's, 70's, BSA, Engineering, Honda, Kawasaki, Photography, Restoration |
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June 24, 2017
Bikes etc. – the annual gathering of the ‘alternate’ motorcycle scene on Fulton Street was enjoyed with plenty to look at. Here’s a taster in a four panel collage. The Kawasaki KZ was in more-than immaculate condition. A bobbed Triumph in ratty patina had a fun tank badge and leopard motif. A 1912 Indian with oily rag wipe down appearance. And a latter-day Royal Enfield looking the part for twisty secondary roads. More to come!
Posted in Bobber, Chicago, Enfield, Indian, Kawasaki, Motorcycle Art, Photography, Restoration, Triumph Motorcycle |
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February 15, 2017
A Good Viewpoint – there’s nowt better than being in the pilots seat of a fast motorcycle. Low bar angle, poise for streamlining, and a speedo maxing out at the double ton. The Big Green ZX14 from Kawasaki is one such beast. Surely a rocket of the ballistic type. It feels sturdy. Then there’s the cockpit of the Thruxton. Beautiful detailing and exquisite visual balance. I’ll take one of each please!
Posted in Chicago, Design, Kawasaki, Motorcycle Art, Triumph Motorcycle |
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July 15, 2016
Cake – the current season of the baking show which features ordinary folk test their cooking skills under a white tent in an English manor houses garden. Mary Berry the octogenarian judge has a sweet disposition that mirrors the delicious offerings conjured up rack week. No, she doesn’t zoom around on a Ducati superbike! That’s the other judge Paul Hollywoods ride. Keen gear head and rider he’s just taken possession of a ‘silly-fast’ Kawasaki H2. 200hp on the road, track version 300hp.
Gas Mark 7 for 30 minutes and you’ll be well and truly baked!
Posted in Ducati, Film and TV, Kawasaki, Uncategorized |
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June 2, 2016
Throwback Thursday- well this takes me back; ten years ago and the red ‘n’ black Ninja. GTI stays at home on this day whilst I take the express train into work.
Posted in Kawasaki, Uncategorized |
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May 23, 2016
Another bevy of two wheeled beauties to behold from the Hebron show. This time a selection of big Zed Kawasakis from the seventies. Each different to their owners tastes but all rideable as hell!
Posted in 70's, Kawasaki, Photography, Uncategorized, Vintage |
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May 17, 2016
Ninja 900- the fast Kawasaki motorcycle used to race F-14 Tomcats in Top Gun. It’s now 30 years since its release on this day catapulting Tom Cruise into superstardom.
That is a darn good bike!
Posted in 80's, Kawasaki, Movie, Uncategorized |
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