From 1967 through 1975, Kawasaki produced the W series based on classic British motorcycles of the time, particularly BSA’s A7. Introduced in 2011, the W800
harkens back to the style of the W series but adds modern technologies
and conveniences. Though the W800 heavily relied on nostalgia and
classic design, the German custom shop Schlachtwerk felt that the form
should be updated to match the function and the Wasabi W800 was born.
Thomas Thoring is no stranger to Kawasakis. Prior to building
the Wasabi drag bike, he specialized in builds based on the W800’s
predecessor, the W650.
Familiarity with Kawasaki’s air-cooled, four-stroke parallel twins came
in handy as Thoring needed to juice up the 2012 W800 donor bike’s 45
horsepower engine to make it a respectable street dragster.
Based
in Frankfurt, Schlachtwerk is centrally-located in Germany. That
geographical advantage would benefit the build as Thoring needed to
outsource numerous parts of the build to friends throughout the country.
Located in Verl, about 160 miles from Frankfurt, frame engineer
Stefan Trautman would need to visit Schlachtwerk’s shop to assist with
fabrication. For engine work, Thoring sent the 2012 W800 mill to Ulf
Penner, his tuning specialist 275 miles away in Bremen.
Lacking
in the power department, Penner increased the 773cc engine’s capacity
to 854cc. No, he didn’t equip the ride with nitrous but a dyno-tune,
re-jetted carburetors, and a titanium
exhaust system bumped the stock 45 ponies up to 75 horsepower. With the
motor putting out maximum power, Thoring knew he also had to reduce the
Kawasaki’s weight if it was going to win any street light races.
To help shed some pounds, Schlachtwerk removed the W800’s metal fenders, gas tank, and side covers. A stripped-down Moto Guzzi
inspired Thoring’s idea to integrate the gas tank into the backbone of
the frame and Trautman helped craft the fuel storage with reinforced
struts. Ditching the dual-shock swingarm, the duo fabricated a new
monoshock setup that greatly improved the handling of the Kawasaki.
For
the rear monoshock, Thoring called on Wilbers Suspension 240 miles away
in Nordhorn. The team also rebuilt the subframe to accept a cafe-style
tail section. The hand-rolled alloy unit received a meager helping of
padding and leather to retained the build’s svelte figure. A set of
custom rear-set pegs also provided a more committed position for the
rider.
“It’s a little mean Japanese-based toy with
some nice German-engineered ingredients,” Thoring said. “The hard thing
was the first test ride, you are giving full-throttle on a complete
self-made bike with a good power to weight ratio, (it’s) a bit scary
(the) first time.”
Aside from all the German-produced parts, Thoring repurposed the forks from a W650 for the front end and appropriated a set of KTM 690 wheels wrapped in Continental tires. Beringer four-piston calipers coupled with 320mm discs completed the unsprung setup.
To
make the rig road-legal, the team outfitted it with minuscule
Kellermann Atto indicators on the bar ends and plate holder. A retro Japanese headlight and a small Motogadget tachometer between the LSL clip-ons brought the build up to code.
The Wasabi build is a product of global influences with British style by way of Japanese design matched with German
engineering. While Kawasaki steeped the W800 in retro styling and
performance, Schlachtwerk’s build proved that it’s a great canvas for
customs, especially if you have a little help from your friends.
