Light Controls, Heavy Fun, the Key to an Enjoyable Ride: Kawasaki Z1000R Custom by BL FACTORY

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BL FACTORY's Z1000R

The Z1000R is a limited model featuring Eddie Lawson's Kawasaki Z1000J1 lime green color and KERKER's 4-1 megaphone exhaust. The owner fell in love with the Z1000R after seeing a large poster of the bike and opened BL Factory in 1995. For 25 years since then, BL Factory has been servicing and customizing Z and Z1000J/R series bikes. And this bike is the owner's Z1000R. Currently, it features 18-inch front and rear specs and rides lightly.

The owner says, "Looking back on my experience, the most impressive thing about this Lawson is the understem I replaced first. It is a reinforced S1 (KZ1000S1) replica, and when I installed it, the front became very stable. At that time, the rest of the chassis was stock, and the front was 19 inches. The fork offset was the stock 50mm, but it was able to turn corners at high speeds. For this reason, I would recommend replacing the understem as a first step. The other parts that were initially replaced were the carburetor and oil cooler. The carburetor is a flat valve TM. It was difficult to set up, but the power is much more powerful than the stock negative pressure type. I later switched to a CR, but I think the same feeling can be experienced when replacing carburetors, including FCR. However, if the throttle wire is not properly routed, the operation will instantly become heavier, so I would like to take that into consideration. Each bike is different, but I would venture to say that it is a matter of finding the best way to run the wires so that there is no stress on them. At that time, the high throttle had a narrow opening angle and could only be opened abruptly, so if your bike is equipped with such a throttle, I would recommend replacing it with the current type that opens gently. As for the controls, there is nothing better than a light throttle, clutch, and brake. If you are getting older and it is getting harder to ride, I recommend that you review the controls. In fact, we are getting more and more requests to lighten the controls. If the controls are lightened, the entire bike will feel lighter, and the bike will feel more familiar to the rider. After the carburetor and understem, I replaced the wheels, brakes, and swingarm. In the past, the procedure was first the swingarm, then the wheels, but nowadays, the wheels are replaced first in many cases. When replacing from the stock 19/18 to 17-inch front and rear, a longer swingarm should be used to give a proper posture to the bike. At that time, I built the 17-inch custom to ride faster, but I think the current 18-inch custom has more elements of enjoyment. Just like the lighter controls I mentioned earlier, a bike that can be ridden lightly has more opportunities to be used, like riding the bike to a place that takes about 5 minutes to walk to. Then you can also maintain the condition of the bike."

Handle

The lower bracket (fork lower bracket) was the first part to be replaced, and this alone greatly increased the stability of the front.

Controls such as the throttle, brake, and clutch play a crucial role. If these operations are light, the bike's handling will be smooth, and it will entice you to ride it immediately. The key to achieving this lightness is to minimize stress on the wires by avoiding bending and ensuring they stay out of the way.

Electrical

If you pay attention to the deterioration of the regulator, burnt coils, and burnt connectors, you can ensure good power generation, charging, and ignition.

Intake & Exhaust

Carburetor replacement with CR, FCR, or TMR will provide a more direct and powerful feeling compared to a stock negative pressure carburetor. Naturally, proper setup is also essential.

Chassis

Even with stock 19-inch tires, there are now more tire options to choose from.

18-inch DYMAG wheels are fitted both at the front and rear. It is recommended to enhance the lightness of the 18-inch wheels by making the controls lighter.

Rear shocks are Ohlins. The steps are Z1000S1 type.

Gallery

Specifications

Part	Details
Engine	BL FACTORY S1 Type Point Cover
Carb / Intake	KEIHIN CR Special Carburetor
Exhaust	BL FACTORY Kawasaki Works Type Machine Bent Exhaust Set
Brake	BREMBO RCS Brake Master Cylinder AP Racing 2-piece Structure 2 Piston Brake Caliper
Wheels	DYMAG H Section 2.75-18 BL FACTORY S1 Type Hollow Front Axle Shaft Set DYMAG H Section 4.50-18 BL FACTORY Hollow Rear Axal Shaft Set
Suspension	OHLINS Full Adjustable Rear Shocks
Steps	BABYFACE Rearsets Kit (One-off Base Plate)
Drive System	RENTHAL 530-48T Rear Sprocket
Oil Cooler	BL FACTORY S1 Type Oil Cooler Bracket Kit
Seat	BL FACTORY S1 Seat
Bodyworks	BL FACTORY Tail Kit

Original Source of this Article

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