Photo: Blitz
The 2001 Kawasaki W650 motorcycle in the gallery above did not use to look like this. In fact, someone bought it a long time ago and kept it in stock form for 17 years, before deciding it’s too ugly and in need of a makeover.
The W650 was introduced by Kawasaki as a retro-looking motorcycle in 1999. People were not that impressed with it, so the model was discontinued in 2007. By that time, a bunch of them had been sold worldwide, but a few of the owners mostly kept them unused for long stretches of time.
This one, for instance, traveled just 2,000 km (1,243 miles) in the 17 years that have passed since it was purchased and until was finally let loose for some customization work about two years ago.
The job fell in the hands of Paris-based shop Blitz, who was tasked with making it look much more like the Honda CR250 that in the U.S. became known over time as the Elsinore.
To do that, the shop performed a lot of work, remaking the frame is such a way as to support a Honda fuel tank up front and a custom seat at the rear, mounted on top of a custom rear loop. The tank, which is the closest thing to an actual Elsinore, is fully chromed and sports some English Racing Green up front.
Also, a battery box was welded under the frame, a chromed headlight added up front, and a Motogadget scope was installed on the handlebar.
We are not being told how much the conversion of the Kawasaki cost, but it must have been worthwhile as the shop says the owner’s reaction when he saw the bike makes them confident “we achieved the perfect motorcycle for him.”
You can check out all the details of this build an some other Blitz projects at this link.
This one, for instance, traveled just 2,000 km (1,243 miles) in the 17 years that have passed since it was purchased and until was finally let loose for some customization work about two years ago.
The job fell in the hands of Paris-based shop Blitz, who was tasked with making it look much more like the Honda CR250 that in the U.S. became known over time as the Elsinore.
To do that, the shop performed a lot of work, remaking the frame is such a way as to support a Honda fuel tank up front and a custom seat at the rear, mounted on top of a custom rear loop. The tank, which is the closest thing to an actual Elsinore, is fully chromed and sports some English Racing Green up front.
Also, a battery box was welded under the frame, a chromed headlight added up front, and a Motogadget scope was installed on the handlebar.
We are not being told how much the conversion of the Kawasaki cost, but it must have been worthwhile as the shop says the owner’s reaction when he saw the bike makes them confident “we achieved the perfect motorcycle for him.”
You can check out all the details of this build an some other Blitz projects at this link.
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