MID-KNIGHT: Tokyo Z-1 custom shop

MID KNIGHT's owner, Kaneko-san, and I go back about 15 years. We used to hang out with the the guys from a Tokyo based Harley Club. Neither of us were patched in, though.

The shop is only about 20 miles away from my house as the crow flys, but actually getting there via roads is difficult. Took me three and a half hours to get home last night! All the major roads were choked with traffic, so I got home using side roads so narrow I had to fold my door mirrors in to clear oncoming traffic.

Kaneko-san himself with your humble scribe.


This is a Ninja he was working on. See the robust side brace?


It actually incorporates a ram air system.


Other side of the bike, which features a heavy duty cooling system.


Kaneko-san hand cut the flames on a band saw.


Also hand tooled the ribs on the thermostat housing.


Likewise hand detailed the instrument panel.


The start of a Z-1 based project. The FRP seat/tailpiece is a MID KNIGHT original.


While the short version of Mid Knight's motto is "Built For Speed" this is the longer one.

The proud owner of a MID KNIGHT customized Z-1.


Note the modified intake manifold, upturned to keep the fuel bowls from starving while the owner pops a long distance wheelie.


Modified oil system to ensure the heads receive cooler oil.


Braced swingarm since the owner spends so much time on the back wheel alone. Ignore the sticker on the megaphone, the 4/1 is actually a MAC, although MID KNIGHT does produce its own 4/1 systems.


MID KNIGHT crafted vented sidecovers, the modified emblems are also MID KNIGHT originals.


And his trademark timing covers. This is an early sand cast (!!!) version he had lying around the shop, his current ones use a better manufacturing process. He told me what it was, but I forgot.

Truly a master craftsman! You can see the passion he has for the bikes that he has worked on. Very beautiful.

Once again WP...an excellent post! Similar to other readers, I had heard about Mid-Knight, and it is nice to see the place on an intimate level. I'm sort of diggin' those vented sidecovers...and I've seen those DOHC 1100 emblems on several bikes (photos).

bill thanks for posting!

how long are you going to be back in japan?

leon

WPBill wrote: ... Note the modified intake manifold, upturned to keep the fuel bowls from starving while the owner pops a long distance wheelie.

....

Nice work abounds.

Could be wrong, but thinking fuel bowls would be tilted forward instead of backward to maintain fuel level orientation during extended wheelies.

Perhaps the carbs at hand are from some other bike's engine with a more down-draft carb design where bowls are slanted to remain more level in compensating for the down-draft fitting of the carbs.

Good Fortune!

531blackbanshee wrote: bill thanks for posting!

how long are you going to be back in japan?

leon

At least another two years.

Patton wrote: Could be wrong, but thinking fuel bowls would be tilted forward instead of backward to maintain fuel level orientation during extended wheelies.

Perhaps the carbs at hand are from some other bike's engine with a more down-draft carb design where bowls are slanted to remain more level in compensating for the down-draft fitting of the carbs.

I dunno. Liberal arts major, here.

Thanks Bill
You always post the most interesting stuff