The Kawasaki Z800 flew under the radar in most countries. It?s good rather than great: a solid, slightly buzzy streetfighter that?s carrying a few too many pounds. It ended up being overshadowed by Yamaha?s all-conquering MT-09.
But once you strip off the jagged plastics, there?s a very good base for customization. We?re betting the Z800 will soon be a popular bike for remodeling?not least because it?s packing a hefty 113 hp. And this 2015 model from Indonesia?s Smoked Garage is one of the first cabs off the rank.

When Smoked?s client arrived with his Z800, he asked for all the plastic to be removed. ?So we sat down with a coffee and started to look at the heritage,? says shop boss Nicko Eigert. ?Back in the 1980s, this part of the Z family was the king of the race track.” After immersing themselves in the era of classic racing bikes, Nicko and his client decided to marry the new tech with classic lines, adding a hint of flat track style into the mix and a big tank with decals.

?We wanted the vibe that comes from a couple of spare parts lying around the workshop, welded together quickly for the racetrack,? says Nicko. ?But if you look closer, then you realize that it was all built from scratch?because the lines all match up, and all the parts link together nicely.?
There were a lot of hurdles to jump, starting with the gorgeous rims?with the 18? front an inch up in size from the stock wheel. ?Making one-off wheels that resemble classic Morris wheels was a chal...