On paper, the Kawasaki KZ440 LTM made plenty of sense when it hit the scene in 1980. It had a disc brake up entrance, forged wheels, an electrical starter and that all-important Japanese reliability. All in all, it had the makings of a fantastic avenue bike.
However life doesn’t occur ‘on paper.’ In the true world, riders purchase with their hearts greater than their heads, and if you happen to noticed a bone-stock Kawasaki KZ440 LTD within the wild, you’d grimace and switch the opposite method. It’s not particularly handsome.
It takes a particular customized store to see previous ugly first impressions to the sweetness that lies beneath. A particular store like Sabotage Bikes in Marrickville, simply south of Sydney, Australia. When a buyer approached store founders Giles and Andy to show his beat-up, uncared for KZ440 LTD right into a café racer, the boys had different concepts…
“The primary problem was to show the shopper’s preliminary transient from a café racer on a cruiser base, to one thing extra appropriate to the bike’s body geometry,” says Giles. “A bit Japanese Harley-chaser maybe—particularly with the belt drive. Plus, these Kawasaki items had been partly in-built Lincoln, Nebraska, so an American flare isn’t as far-fetched as it could appear.”
With the shopper onboard, the bike was torn down and liberated of its cobwebs, leaves, grime and dirt. With simply the naked bones of the bike remaining, Giles and Andy bought their inventive juices flowing (by imbibing a couple of creativeness liquids, we’re certain).
Like a variety of cruiser-style bikes of the period, the KZ’s subframe was the place many of the concern was centered. Its tall spine and low, swooping subframe don’t lend themselves effectively to customization. However as a substitute of chopping all of it off and ranging from scratch, the Sabotage group selected to subtly lean into these restraints.
The outcomes communicate for themselves. With a correctly formed seat, a loop behind the subframe and a small, square-shaped sissy bar, the blokes have executed an impressive job of managing the bike’s proportions.
The sissy bar itself is a very good retro chopper contact—particularly how Lucas-style tail mild and numberplate bracket are included into it. It was made by hand in stainless-steel, then polished to a mirror shine. The flat bar, sq. form was impressed by bikes from the 80s, somewhat than the extra slender designs of the 70s.
It additionally retains the rear guard away from muddle, with the rear flip indicators hidden additional again, nearer to the shock mounts. It’s additionally a fantastic place to strap baggage to, when there isn’t a passenger again there.
Sabotage completely nailed the handlebar design too. Made in-house from stainless-steel, the rise and sweep are excellent for a motorbike of this type. Mixed with the standard UJM-like place of the foot pegs, it appears to be like like a fantastic place to chew up the miles.
A single Daytona speedo is the one factor between the rider and the view, with a combination of Honda and OEM Kawasaki change blocks to maintain the classic vibes. With recent Vans Cult waffle grips (a private favourite of Giles) and a brand new Bates-style headlight, the remainder of the entrance finish is now higher, and better-looking, than new.
The forged wheels stay, since they lend themselves properly to this street-brat type—particularly with the chunky tire that was spooned onto the 16” rear wheel. A shortened entrance fender tidies up the entrance.
Shifting to the motor, Sabotage handled the mighty 443 cc donk to a full rebuild and recent paint. A pair of Mikuni carbs was subbed in over the manufacturing facility items, and, to get as a lot energy from the outdated beast as doable, a customized stainless-steel exhaust was made. Capped with quiet core reverse cone mufflers, the bike reportedly has a pleasant be aware to it, with out being “obnoxiously loud.”
The beautiful blue paint job, which is a extra vibrant model of the unique 1984 coloration, was laid down by Kyle at Smith Ideas. It’s the one half on the bike with any coloration in it, which is why it pops so laborious. The silver scallops and delicate gray pin strips are notably candy.
“Our goal was for a stand-out construct, however with consolation and practicality in thoughts,” explains Giles. “The extra we bought into the design and the fabrication, we had been shocked at how a lot we began to like what this construct was turning into. We should admit, we weren’t that enthusiastic about this bike when it was first dropped into the store—but it surely’s ended up being one in every of our favorites.”
Sabotage has taken the KZ440 LTD from a two-wheeled id disaster, to a slick, street-ready machine that may be equally at house parked subsequent to a suburban Sydney skate bowl as it could be on the open highway. It’s no surprise that Giles and Andy ended up liking it a lot.
Sabotage Bikes | Fb | Instagram | Photos by Andrew Jones
