Barn Built Bikes’ Modified Kawasaki ZR7 Is One Handsome Machine

I’ll start by pointing out the obvious and say that Barn Built Bikes aren’t exactly rookies when it comes to incredible two-wheeled creations. A gifted moto-loving petrolhead, by the name of Sven Decoux founded BBB back in 2014, and things just went from there. They are based in the beautiful town of Tremelo, Belgium and specialize in customizing motorcycles of all shapes and sizes.

Their portfolio hosts a plethora of spectacular projects, including a scrambler-style BMW R100RT and one rad Yamaha FJ600, to name a couple. In the past, we’ve examined the Belgian workshop’s awe-inspiring Ducati Monster S4-based venture – a stunning piece of machinery with cafe racer vibes.

Needless to say, these folks mean business! BBB’s countless exploits earned them the respect of many a rider, and no wonder. Should you be looking to delight your eyesight with some of these majestic builds, they can be admired on the firm’s social media profiles – after we take a minute to drool over their praise-worthy Kawasaki ZR7, that is.

Let’s set things straight; the 2001 model in Kawasaki’s ZR7 range is no toy. It is powered by a feral four-stroke DOHC inline-four colossus, with a total of eight valves and four 32 mm (1.26 inches) carburetors. The twin-cooled leviathan has a compression ratio of 9.5:1 and a monstrous displacement of 738cc.

At 9,500 rpm, this nasty animal is perfectly capable of generating up to 76 hp, joined by a solid torque output of 46 pound-feet (63 Nm) at around 7,500 revs. A five-speed gearbox channels the engine’s power to the rear wheel by means of a chain final drive. This whole ordeal leads to a top speed of 131 mph (211 kph), while ZR7’s quarter mile time is rated at a mere 12.2 seconds.

Suspension duties are taken care of by fully-adjustable 41 mm (1.61 inches) Kayaba forks at the front, coupled with a high-performance Uni-Trak setup on the opposite end. A pair of 300 mm (11.81 inches) brake discs and two-piston calipers are tasked with handling stopping power up front, accompanied by a single 240 mm (9.45 inches) rotor and a two-piston caliper at the rear. Lastly, the entire structure has a dry weight of 452 lbs (210 kg).

As to Barn Built’s one-off goodness, its story begins with a swingarm transplant. The moto magicians disposed of the stock item to make room for a Honda CBR1100XX Blackbird’s unit. You will also notice the latter’s three-spoke rear wheel and a healthy dose of suspension tuning. Speaking of wheels, those are hugged by top-grade Michelin Pilot Power tires.

The following step consisted of tweaking the bike’s subframe to accommodate a new tail section, which incorporates the taillight kit. Additionally, a gorgeous suede leather saddle was upholstered by the pros over at JVS, while Decoux’s team crafted a unique front fender and installed a set of Tomaselli clip-on handlebars.

Next, BBB’s aftermarket surgeons went about browsing Motogadget’s inventory for an array of fresh electrical components, such as an M-unit control module, M-blaze bar-end turn signals and a Motoscope digital gauge. Now, that’s what I call an electrifying makeover!

Finally, the exhaust system was chopped up and treated to a carbon fiber muffler. To top it all off, they enveloped ZR7’s body panels in a splendid white and Porsche meteor grey metallic finish. On the other hand, its frame and powertrain received a sinister black paintwork.

And that, ladies and gents, concludes this entity’s meticulous building process. I’d firmly encourage that you head over to their Instagram or Facebook pages for a glimpse of delicious mechanical art.