Last month we featured an ’83 K100-based R80GS tribute project from the UK’s November Customs, and while I was a fan of their Bavarian build, it’s got nothing on their more recent 1991 Kawasaki Zephyr custom. Inspired by endurance racers, the Japanese four-banger features modern top-shelf components including inverted (Showa) Ducati 848 forks and triples, and Triumph Thruxton 1200 wheels with custom-machined hubs to accommodate the Brembo discs from a Daytona 675 and the calipers off an unspecified Aprilia.
The front-end also sports Ducati 748 clip-ons, Brembo RCS radial master cylinders and levers, Biltwell grips, custom-machined bar-ends, digital Koso instrumentation, and a trick custom-made anti-dive system. The main highlight on the Zephyr is undoubtedly its handmade bodywork. The husband and wife team whipped up a new steel tail section and half-fairing that were fused to the ’91 donor’s stock tank. The monocoque bodywork has also been given a one-off endurance style cap, custom fairing stay, and top-shelf LED lighting in custom CNC’d housing.
Hidden beneath the new tail is a bespoke subframe and electronics tray housing a new lightweight lithium-ion battery. The air-cooled, 739cc, DOHC, inline-four was torn down, rebuilt, and powder-coated in black. The 72hp mill was outfitted with FCR35 flat side carbs, a hydraulic clutch conversion, quick-action throttle, and a custom exhaust pieced together using custom headers running into the pipe and slip-on SC Project muffler off of a BMW S1000RR. The engine’s also been given upgraded hoses and lines and was dyno-tuned to optimize the new respiratory bits.
To better match the Zephyr’s tubular frame, the November team have replaced the stock swing-arm with the unit off of a Honda CB900 that’s been reinforced and paired with a set of YSS shocks. The rear-sets are aftermarket pieces (made for the Aprilia RSV4) hung from custom brackets. Inspired by old-school Kawasaki endurance racer liveries is a custom white and Kawasaki green paint job with black outlining, competition numbers on the tail, and the marque’s logo on the fairing.
The November duo has managed to turn a pretty unremarkable model into something special. The slightly upgraded powertrain and up-specced componentry definitely make for a markedly better-performing bike, and, at least in my opinion, the Zephyr’s single-piece steel tank/tail/fairing combo is some of the best-looking custom bodywork I’ve seen all year. For more info on the build, you can check out the full writeup it received on BikeExif.
You can find this custom 1991 Kawasaki Zephyr from November Customs for sale here on TheBikeShed in Cramlington, England with a price of £9,500 ($11,860).