
Two cylinders. If you look at the vast array of modern-retro motorcycles available from just about any brand, and examine the classic motorcycles that inspired them, it all seems pretty clear. Two cylinders is all you need to create a fun and thrilling machine, it simplifies the styling, provides more than enough power, and there is simply just less to go wrong. And when it comes to classically inspired motorcycles, that balance modern technology with the tried and true parallel twin arrangement, few have ever gotten it better than Kawasaki with their W series of motorcycles. And who better to customise the Japanese bike with British inspiration, than the legend that is Takashi Nihira of Wedge Motorcycle, who has produced this timeless beauty, based on a 1999 Kawasaki W650.

A few years ago, a group of respected motoring journalists grabbed three modern classics from the last twenty years and set out to put them through their paces. All were two-bangers, a Triumph Bonneville, a Moto Guzzi V7 and the Kawasaki W650. And while the stats suggested the Kwaka should be the slowest of the bunch, it held its own with the best of them – has arguably proved the most reliable – and all voting that day gave it the nod in the looks department too. So, it’s a shame we don’t see more of these brilliant bikes turned into stunning customs, but Nihira-san always knows how to make the wait more than worth it.

At the Tokyo-based workshop, the donor bike arrived as a 1999 example, the first year of the modern W650, so you can imagine it wasn’t in the best of condition. But this is of little concern to the Wedge Motorcycle team, as absolutely every part of a bike they build is gone over with a fine toothcomb. It all starts with the frame, and while many builders will of course give this crucial area plenty of attention, being a professional paint and panel shop by trade, they go the extra mile at Wedge to prepare a picture-perfect canvas.

The front half of the frame is relatively stock, with only some minor removals made and tidying up work carried out. But it’s the back end that gets the big overhaul, with the majority of the subframe and all of the ugly tabs, brackets and passenger peg holders completely removed. Even the seat supports are cut out, which allows for an all-new subframe to be fabricated in its place for an uber clean appearance. The upkicked tail has that very ’60s British vibe, while the seat rails and support structure are all designed to be hidden from view once the seat itself is bolted on.

The paint and panel is all one-off custom stuff, and the signature styling of a handbuilt Nihira-san tank truly is something to behold. The long flowing lines that stretch rearward are the perfect complement to the traditional appearance of the parallel-twin engine. While the high, tucked underside of the tank, with its arrow straight bottom, means that no part of that engine is left obscured. To keep that theme flowing, the rear fender is a beautiful hand-rolled piece, designed to match the radius of the tyre and the faux oil tank allows for all of the modern electronics to be neatly hidden away.

The preparation for the paintwork is second to none, the endless hours of grinding, sanding and finishing each surface, never really gets the praise it deserves. But it is all of this work that makes the top coat shine, with the frame hit with a glossy deep maroon, and the tins a soft grey with subtle pinstriping and beautiful turned silver logos. The seat too is another classic example of elegance and restraint, with the generous padding upholstered in a darker grey to add some depth and then stitched together in the most simple of patterns.

To get the W rolling, the stock hubs are completely refurbished, and new aluminium rims are laced up with stainless spokes. The Firestone ANS rubber measures 19 inches at the pointy end and a fatter 18 inches for the rear, with a generous front fork support to provide a little bit of fender-like protection. There are new shocks and the forks are beautifully restored, looking better than new, with the risers in the top triple holding a set of classic flat bars. The vintage grips and high-end master cylinder improve the riding experience, and it’s all kept very minimal. The same philosophy is applied to the lighting too, with a small Bates-style headlight, vintage taillight and offset number plate holder to keep things clean.

All of which leaves the engine till last, and it’s a beauty, with Kawasaki adding a bevel drive to run the cam, and the long stroke good for plenty of torque from even the lowest of RPM. But it wouldn’t be a Wedge build without making even the engine look elegant, and a mix of paint, polish and a wrinkle finish do it oh so well. To extract some extra power and deliver a super snappy throttle response, a set of FCR carbs from Keihin are fitted up with hand-turned velocity stacks.

While the full stainless steel exhaust system is all built in-house, and the 4-inch SuperTrapp mufflers get their own custom supports. It might be a modern retro, but it is simply oozing classic charm, and being built by the Wizards at Wedge Motorcycle, it will look and run this good for decades to come.

[ Wedge Motorcycle ]