Revival Build Bio

When Harry bought Alan’s fiance’s Honda Civic, a relationship was formed based on the love of vintage motorcycles. Harry had recently been bitten by the vintage motorcycle bug with his Honda CL360 and wanted to experience more two-wheeled toys. Luckily / Unluckily, Alan introduced him to Revival Cycles and the potential to build anything he wanted.

After a few meetings with the team, a Kawasaki W650 was chosen to be the ideal candidate for a cafe racer style build that could still be ridden regularly. The bevel drive engine, the affordable platform, and the classic UJM style were perfect for a cafe racer inspired custom build.

The near new motorcycle was stripped down to the frame, and a custom rear frame hoop was built, and all of the electronics were relocated and hidden as tightly as possible to give the modern bike a very classic stripped-down aesthetic. With the packaging out of the way, a Gilera inspired fuel tank was hand-formed out of aluminum to give the motorcycle a unique vintage look. After the fuel tank was shaped, a hand-formed solo seat was built from scratch to complement the fuel tank seat and continue the minimal aesthetic. A bespoke aluminum nacelle was created inspired by a Velocette Venom to hide the headlight, cables, and other unsightly requirements of a real motorcycle to complete the bodywork.

Since the bike was intended to be ridden often, a pair of Yamaha R6s forks were fitted with a couple of custom CNC machined triple clamps, and a Yamaha TZ 4LS front drum brake was fitted to the forks w/ bespoke brake stays and axle spacers. Out back, a pair of Progressive shocks completed the suspension updates, and a pair of Borrani inspired Excel deep-dish aluminum rims wrapped in Avon tires finished the rolling stock.

The final step was to finish out this cafe inspired custom with a full custom wiring harness and a compliment of modern electronics. A MotoGadget M-Unit Basic was installed to control the M-Blaze disc turn signals, LED headlight, and a pair of custom-made LED rear turn signals/tail lights by Revival Cycles. A MotoScope tiny gauge was fitted into the custom triple clamps, and a set of custom cables with splitter were hidden under the nacelle for the TZ front drum. The last step in the workshop was a full stainless steel exhaust with a custom silencer built into the tubing to give the look of a straight pipe exhaust. The wrap-around, sectioned, high-mounted exhaust completed the brief of a stripped-down, vintage-looking modern cafe custom.

The aluminum bodywork was then bodyworked and covered in blue and gray for another juxtaposition in modern and classic colors to compliment the hand-formed polished fenders to complete the bike’s look.

Starting Platform

• Manufacturer: Kawasaki
• Year: 2001
• Model: W650
• Condition: Very nice, low mileage bike
• Weight (wet): 429 lbs

Frame Modifications

• Material: Mild steel
• Modifications: Custom built from steel tubing from the fuel tank to the back of the motorcycle. Custom gas tank mounts and tail section mounts using a single securing fastener. De-tabbed frame, custom electrical mounting brackets for coils, ECU, Reg/Rec, MotoGadget M-unit, Anti-Gravity 8-cell battery, horn, main fuse all to hide electrical system under bodywork. Powdercoated frame, swignarm Mini-Tex Black by Crosslink Powdercoating

Body Work

• Hand formed alloy fuel tank, tail section, headlight surround, front and rear fenders and mounting brackets.
• Polished fenders
• Custom painted fuel tank and tail section. PPG royal blue and off white.
• A single hand formed fastener is used to secure the tail section and fuel tank.
• Pingel petcock
• LED TruckLite
• LED SuperNova taillight

Revival Cycles Designed Parts

• Revival Cycles custom built top triple tree clamp w/ integrated MotoGadget Tiny Gauge, custom built lower triple tree
• Hand formed alloy fuel tank
• Hand formed alloy tail section and seat pan
• Hand formed alloy brake locating brackets
• Hand formed alloy front fender and fender mounts
• Hand formed alloy rear fender and fender mounts
• Revival Cycles built rear taillight/brake light/turn signals

Suspension

• Front: Yamaha R6s front forks, polished and rebuilt fork lowers, set for rider
• Revival Cycles custom built triple tree clamps w/ integrated
  MotoGadget Tiny Gauge, hand polished
• Custom hand formed brake locating rods
• Custom hand formed alloy front fender and fender brackets
• Rear: Progressive Suspension 444 rear shocks and springs, matched to rider weight

Wheels

• Front: Custom built by Buchanan
• Hub: TZ250 4LS front drum (replica)
• Rim: 19” Excel deep lip polished aluminum
• Spokes: Stainless steel spokes/spoke nipples
• Axle: Custom built for hub/fork conversion
• Tire: Avon Speedmaster 19” x 3.00”
• Rear: Custom built by Buchanan
• Hub: Polished W650 rear hub
• Sprocket Carrier:
• Rim: 19” Excel deep lip polished aluminum
• Spokes: Stainless steel spokes/spoke nipples
• Axle: Stock
• Tire: Avon Speedmaster 19” x 3.00”

Electrical

• Full Revival Cycles built custom wiring harness
• MotoGadget M-Blaze disc bar end turn signals, polished
• Revival Cycles built frame integrated turn signal/tail light/brake lights
• Anti-Gravity 8-cell battery
• MotoGadget M-unit
• MotoGadget push button switches, polished.
• Ignition System: Stock W650
• Charging System: Stock W650

Engine/Exhaust

• Revival Cycles built stainless steel, equal length, high mount exhaust, high polished stainless steel exhaust heat shield
• Hand formed stainless steel silencer built to look like a straight pipe
• Polished engine covers and cam cover
• Emgo pancake air filters w/ modified mounting plate

Controls

• Grips: Posh Waffle style grips, Gum finish, ⅞”
• Rear-sets: Custom built rearsets w/ folding footpegs, hand built shifter and foot brake. Foot brake rotates back and foot peg folds
  up to allow the kickstarter to still be functional. CNC machined foot peg feet.
• Handlebars: GSXR clip-ons, de-tabbed and hand sanded for a nicer finish
• Throttle: Factory throttle, polished housing
• Front Brake Perch: BikeMaster Universal Lever/Perch, shortened and polished lever. Custom built brake cables and cable splitter
• Clutch Perch: BikeMaster Universal Lever/Perch, shortened and polished lever.
• Custom built cable
• Turn Signals: MotoGadget M-Blaze disc bar end turn signals, polished

Brakes

• Front: 1970 Yamaha TZ250 4 leading shoe front drum, replica from J&L Exhaust, polished finish
• Rear: Factory drum, polished hub and backing plate, custom built brake cable
• Brake Cables: Custom built brake cables built in house at Revival Cycles, front brake cable splitter mounted to headlight shell. Custom built rear brake cable with flip up brake lever for kickstarter clearance.