Turning Troubles into Triumph: SUZUKI HAYABUSA Custom by K-2 PROJECT

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K-2 PROJECT's HAYABUSA

"The owner was referred to our shop by a friend. The bike had two previous owners and the first one neglected it so much that the injectors and fuel pump were clogged. The next owner worked on them, but they were still not in very good condition. The current owner came to the shop just after getting the bike, and we started working on it after looking it over," explains Mr. Kitamura of K-2 PROJECT regarding how he came to work on this early model HAYABUSA. K-2 PROJECT is well known for working on Kawasaki flagships such as the ZZR series and ZX-14/R, but they also deal with other models like this HAYABUSA.

"For the first part of the project we wanted to make an exhaust system so we were doing settings with a chassis dynamometer, but we ran into some trouble. After talking with the owner, we decided to rebuild the engine completely. The displacement was kept as the initial 1299cc, but we used JE forged pistons to change it to high compression, as well as DLC treatment on the piston rings and pins, and WPC treatment on other parts. A high camshaft was installed, valve guides were replaced, and the crankshaft was balanced. We went all out on the details," said Kitamura. His honesty, or rather, his ability to take the customer's requests and make them reality while considering what will come next, is evident in his work. And it is clear that this is true regardless of the model of the bike.

"The exhaust system is a one-off by Nojima Engineering to take advantage of the engine's efficiency, and the FI system was set up by Dynoman, a tuning shop based in the Kansai region, with a Power Commander sub-computer. The front forks were reassembled by Sacred Ground, the bottom piece was also made so that the calipers can be attached without supports, and the rear shocks were overhauled and tuned. The exterior and frame were also fully painted along the way," says Kitamura. The shop's approach of facing troubles and creating something positive from them is what kept the owner coming back to get more and more work done. The degree of perfection increases each time, for a custom package that makes it fun to keep on riding, and we look forward to what the shop has in store next.

Handle

The top bridge is a one-off, and the bar handlebar is bent low to suit the owner's preference. The left and right master cylinders are Brembo Racing.

Bodyworks

The base is from an early model with a clear Zero Gravity Double Bubble Windshield equipped. The exterior has been fully painted by YF Design.

Engine

The engine is equipped with JE forged pistons for higher compression while maintaining the original displacement of 1299cc. Weight matching, crankshaft balancing, high cam integration, and surface treatments such as DLC/WPC were also performed, and the engine was set up by Dynoman, a tuning shop in Osaka, using a Power Commander.

Intake & Exhaust

The dual titanium exhaust is a one-off product by Nojima Engineering. The emblem also bears the Nojima and K-2 PROJECT names.

Chassis

The steps are modified STRIKER ARATAs. The frame is powder coated white to enhance the sense of unity with the body color.

The front forks are Ohlins inverted with a one-off bottom piece and radial-mount Brembo Racing CNC 4P calipers directly mounted. The discs are also Brembo.

For the rear, a disc mount was created so that the disc diameter could be enlarged while using the stock caliper. The rear shocks are Ohlins, and were overhauled at the same time the engine was being rebuilt.

The 3.50-17/6.00-17 size MAGTAN JB2 wheels were painted white at the same time the rest of the bike was being painted, and together with the gold stripes added to the rims, made to match the overall color scheme.

Gallery

Specifications

Part	Details
Exhaust	K-2 PROJECT x NOJIMA ENGINEERING Original One-Off Exhaust
Brake	brembo Racing Radial Brake Master Cylinder (19 x 18) brembo Racing CNC 4P Caliper brembo Front Brake Discs K-2 PROJECT Raizon Disc Pins K-2 PROJECT One-Off Disc Bracket K-2 PROJECT One-Off Rear Caliper Support
Wheels	JB POWER (BITO R&D) MAGTAN JB2 Magnesium Forged Wheels
Suspension	OHLINS Inverted Forks Φ43 R&T USD with One-Off Bottom Piece OHLINS S46PR1C1LS
Steps	STRIKER "ARATA" STEP KIT
Drive System	XAM CLASSIC Series Rear Sprocket
Handle / Steering	brembo Racing Radial Clutch Master Cylinder K-2 PROJECT One-Off Top Bridge
Bodyworks	ZEROGRAVITY Windshield [Double Bubble]

Original Source of this Article

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