Nick O’Kane eats, sleeps, and breathes motorcycles. By day, the California-based, UK-native serves as Powersports Sales Manager at K&N Filters, but the lion’s share of O’Kane’s nights and weekends are spent building (and riding) some pretty stellar customs. O’Kane’s typical MO consists of using vintage donor machines that are then laced up with modern suspension and electrical components. If you regularly attend motorcycle shows, you’ve probably seen O’Kane’s work, such as this gorgeous carbon-fiber-clad Honda CBX build, or this 2002 Suzuki TL1000R cafe racer which was featured on the Roland Sands Blog, as well as on Pipeburn back in 2015. Abhi also did a video last year featuring Nick and a custom ’82 Suzuki Katana he built:
This project — which claimed first place in the 2015/2016 J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show in the modified custom class – started when O’Kane scooped up a wrecked 2002 TL1000R in Riverside, California for just $800. The crashed Suzuki was stripped down to the frame, which had its subframe hacked off before being powder-coated in black, along with the swing-arm and wheels. Next O’Kane looked to bolster the Suzuki’s cornering — a feat achieved through the addition of K6 GSX-R1000 forks (slotted in the stock triple) in front, while the stock rear rotary damper — cited as a common complaint with the TL — was jettisoned for a fully-adjustable Hyper-Pro Suspension monoshock unit. The new front end was also given calipers off an R6 paired with EBC pads, and linked via stainless Goodridge lines.
The unsightly stock wiring loom was dissected, shortened, and tucked away out of sight, running along the airbox. O’Kane opted to retain the Suzuki’s stock fuel-cell, though the rest of the stock bodywork is no longer. A bespoke sub-frame was crafted and added to the mix in order to support the Zook’s new minimalist, one-off, cafe tail. The cross-stitched leather seat is from Saddlemen, while the build’s headlight—which rests in a bespoke bracket—was borrowed off a Ducati 900 Monster. The Wes Cooley-inspired livery was laid down by Chris Redpath of MotoGP Werks in Southern California. The wheels also sport subtle matching highlights.
The 996cc V-Twin was reportedly torn down and resealed, and then given a Power Commander ECU prior to being dyno tuned to a claimed 120 horses. The TL now exhales via dual Roland Sands Design pipes with carbon tips. Other odds and ends on this cafe’d TL include RSD handlebars, PSR grips, gad cap, and levers, K&N (oil and air) filters, and VooDoo rear-sets. There are currently around 15K miles on the odo, though this example is said to be in strong running condition.
Interestingly, this example has existed in two different versions: one that wears a front cafe fairing; and one with the Monster 900 headlight. You can find this Nick O’Kane-built, 2002 Suzuki TL1000R cafe racer (VIN: JS1VT52AX22101046) for sale here on CafeRacerForSale.com in Las Vegas, Nevada with a price of $11,000. (There is also a Craigslist ad in Las Vegas that has the bike listed at $7,500, but after speaking to the owner it’s clear the CL ad is a scam).