Wanting the Z1 to be the highest performing model of its day, Kawasaki had poured all their efforts into making the Z1 the ultimate superbike. Kondo-san wanted to express that spirit in Moto Corse fashion. He studied dozens of CG illustrations combining various styling, graphics and muffler layout options. He was equally uncompromising when it came to selecting the parts necessary to make it a custom machine, designing numerous one-off pieces and sourcing others from among the world’s top aftermarket brands. Each and every part offered both performance and brand recognition, but combining these all into a balanced package was also extremely important.

“When I first had a chance to see the Z900RS at Akashi (Kawasaki Heavy Industries’ Akashi Factory), I thought the design of the line traced by the tank and side covers was new. I liked that the tank looked big and imposing; the engine was tight and compact in comparison. And while conveying a strong Z1 image, it had modern updates, like its LED lighting. ‘Man, I really want to ride this bike!’ I thought.”

From its functionally beautiful details and perfectly symmetrical graphics to the precisely formed exhaust system, Kondo-san’s creation stands out. Uncompromising on the verge of being aloof, it is a genuine Moto Corse build.

“The Z900RS’ level of completion is very high, but for my own taste there were a couple of changes I wanted to make,” said Kondo-san. For example, the seat. The stock seat is well built, with a crosscut pattern and seamless design. And when you remove the cover material, the cushion underneath is formed from a single detailed piece. Making just a slight change to the cushion’s shape gave the seat a completely different impression. The stock rear inner fender and chain cover are a unitised piece shared with the Z900. It’s stylish, with an elaborate design that includes cut-outs on the sides, but Kondo-san felt that extending the fender portion to wrap farther around the tyre would yield a shape that better matched the Z900RS’ appearance. Shortening the triangular tail end by roughly 3cm helps to give it a more unified feel with the body. Rather than making any large changes to the original design, subtly fine-tuning the balance is the Moto Corse way. The work is a step-by-step search for the golden ratio that makes a machine look its most beautiful.

Glittering highlights within the bike’s black façade are the gold-coloured Öhlins front and rear suspension. “With Öhlins, in addition to superb performance, replacement parts are available everywhere in the world, as is dedicated maintenance service. Their policy to take care of their market is really great,” adds Kondo-san. One caveat, however. An inverted fork that fits the Z900RS does not exist in Öhlins’ current lineup, so the fork on Kondo-san’s custom machine is special version created based on an Italian brand OEM part adjusted for length, with original bottom clamps.

Of course, the brakes are uniformly Italian components: Brembo calipers gripping Alth ventilated discs. The discs are a thing of beauty. Each of the discs is actually comprised of two machined stainless steel discs spot-welded together. In addition to offering excellent heat dissipation and light weight, the design contributes to a mellow brake feel. This combination has been tried and tested on Moto Corse’s numerous Ducati and Bimota custom models. The wheels are original, made from carbon and featuring a 7-spoke design that suits the Z900RS’ image. When it comes to bikes, “light is right” – particularly when it comes to spinning parts. Reducing their moment of inertial can greatly benefit handling. Not only does cornering feel lighter, but acceleration and deceleration performance are also directly affected. In addition, carbon’s elasticity makes it highly shock-resistant – one of its many great merits. To complete the brakes/wheels/tyres package, Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SC1 tyres were fitted. Complementing the voluminous tank design, a 200mm rear tyre was selected, a specification that will also offer enhanced circuit performance. Of course, controllability and ergonomics were considered when setting the rider triangle (handle, seat, footpegs). While retaining the stock machine’s essential goodness, the revised riding position took a sportier direction. The smartphone holder attached to handle post is an original design piece. Even in this small accessory, Moto Corse’s fastidious attention to detail is evident.