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Classic Bike Dossier on the Kawasaki Z1. Still looks sharp more than 30 years later. For my tastes, very few bikes are coming straight out of the factory looking this good.

About a week ago I posted the pic above and it seems to have excited quite a number of people across the internets, so here’s a few more pics and some info.

I took these photos at the Rhinebeck Grand National Meet where the newly restored bike was unveiled. The bike belongs to Frank Westfall from Syracuse, NY. According to some info I found online, the bike was originally built by O. Ray Courtney in 1936 and is based on a 1930 K.J Henderson. The bike is powered by inline four cylinder (not a scooter as some have said, check the shot of the motor below) and as I’m sure you can gather by now, is a one-off custom. What I can confirm is it does run and while it looked a bit unwieldy, Frank could be seen riding the bike around the Fairgrounds all weekend. But let’s be honest here (and maybe I’m wrong) - you don’t have this bike in your stable to go out for a long Sunday afternoon ride to get some ice cream. That said, it was pretty awesome to see the bike being ridden (even when rain started to come down) instead of being sheltered behind a velvet rope, never to see the rubber touch asphalt again. The bike is a fantastic piece of history, the craftsmanship is absolutely stunning and it’s surely more of a museum piece than a daily rider. Frank has obviously spent an incredible amount of time meticulously restoring and rebuilding the bike to its current gorgeous state. Hats off to Frank for the amazing work he did and for sharing it with all us gawkers. Frank, if you see this and want to send in more info about the bike, I’d love to share it.

Side shot

The rear end

Cockpit and Front Grill

Frank getting ready to go for a ride around the Fairgrounds, beverage in-hand.

The glorious Norton Manx

Like many of you, I’ve got a few longer 2-wheel trips for the summer that will include camping. Peep this article to see how they rolled in 1947. Not super useful in modern times, and not really applicable to lightweight, motorcycle camping, but a fun and informative read (if only from a historical perspective) nonetheless.

1932 Rudge “Special” - a 499CC, 4 Valve beauty.

From an old issue of American Motorcycling

Click for bigger - From Choppers magazine, April 1976

The thirst is never quenched.

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From Choppers Magazine, April 1976

From the April 1976 issue of Choppers Magazine courtesy of Allen Kip.

Courtesy of Allen Kip. From Choppers Magazine, April 1976