Here’s a Turbocharged Kawasaki KZ650 With 110 HP on Tap From 830cc Big Bore Kit

Ever since the company’s foundation back in 2014, Wilmington’s aftermarket craftsmen stacked up on a plethora of bespoke undertakings that have the average motorcycle enthusiast weak at the knees. As you browse the workshop’s spectacular range, it’s not hard to see why we choose to speak so highly of their accomplishments.

Not only are their bikes truly sensational in terms of aesthetics, but these rides are also fully functional machines that make absolutely no compromises on the performance side of things. For a clear demonstration of this crew’s abilities, let's have a closer look at one of their most notable ventures, namely a turbocharged Kawasaki KZ650 with plenty of oomph on tap.

At its core, the entity you see here is a 1978 variant from the Japanese manufacturer’s beloved lineup. In stock form, the donor houses an ungodly DOHC inline-four engine within its tubular steel double-cradle frame, boasting two valves per cylinder and a solid displacement of 652cc. The air-cooled leviathan is perfectly capable of supplying up to 64 wild ponies at approximately 8,500 rpm and as much as 42 pound-feet (57 Nm) of twisting force at 7,000 revs.

The mill’s respectable power is handed over to a chain final drive by means of a five-speed constant mesh transmission. Ultimately, this state of affairs enables the KZ650 to run the quarter-mile in no more than 13.8 seconds, while its top speed is rated at a healthy 118 mph (190 kph).

We can probably all agree that Kawasaki’s 1978MY beast was a genuine superstar of its time, but Magnum’s donor bike isn’t exactly your ordinary KZ650. When it arrived on their doorstep, this thing came equipped with an 830cc big bore kit from MTC Engineering, which isn’t a bad starting point for creating a custom showstopper. To kick things off in style, the team went about rewiring the two-wheeled animal with an assortment of modern electrics, while the factory gauges made room for aftermarket alternatives to keep the cockpit free of any clutter.

In their quest to bring this beauty into the 21st century, the specialists also added a new headlight module and LED turn signals. In the bodywork department, you will find a bespoke tail section and a stealthy leather saddle, as well as a one-off front fender and a fresh pair of clip-ons replacing the standard handlebars. Now, that’s cool and all, but the performance aisle is where the real party’s at.

The KZ650’s inline-four received a RayJay F40 turbocharger boosting its horsepower figure to astronomical proportions. To be exact, this nasty piece of machinery will summon a whopping 110 hp at 10,000 rpm; almost twice as much as a regular model. Furthermore, the powerplant was blessed with a Dyna-S ignition setup, a rebuilt clutch, and one menacing exhaust system built in-house.

For a generous dose of extra stopping power, Magnum’s pros proceeded to equip a drilled front brake rotor and a state-of-the-art master cylinder. The forks have been treated to a set of top-shelf springs to handle suspension duties without breaking a sweat, joined by dual aftermarket shocks on the opposite end. Finally, the wheels were enveloped in Lasertec tires from Metzeler’s catalog, ensuring all that extra oomph is complemented by ample grip on the tarmac.

As for that delicious color scheme, the proud owner of this ambitious enterprise, Ezio Covelli, describes this cosmetic affair as follows: “The design of the paintwork and striping was inspired by the bike’s big brother, the Z1. We felt our KZ falls somewhere between the iconic Kawasaki Z1 and the legendary Z1R-TC, so we wanted to reflect that with its livery.”