Moriwaki 500

Hi,

I talked to a frame builder about building a racing frame for a 500/550 engine.

He adviced to build a Moriwaki frame and sent me these pictures.

I haven’t found any information about these bikes. Does anyone here know anything?

Kr Sixten
 

Why not start with a ZR550 frame and modify and brace it to your requirements.
You will get a machine that handles just as well and the lines will enable a similar look as well as being a lot cheaper.


This is my Z1000 in a ZR750 frame and it handles as well as any race bike.

 

Good looking bike!

That frame looks good but it has to be 1980 or earlier for eligibility.
And the Moriwaki replica frame will be built with Docol R8 pipes 

Sixten wrote:

Good looking bike!

That frame looks good but it has to be 1980 or earlier for eligibility.
And the Moriwaki replica frame will be built with Docol R8 pipes 

So the regs allow you to use a brand new frame as long as it's a replica of a pre 1980 machine ?
You will have difficulty finding any specs and measurements online for the Moriwaki chassis.

 

Yes new manufactured parts are allowed as long as they look the same. Otherwise racing classic bikes would be difficult….
I have tried to contact Moriwaki but no success yet. Thought I’d give it a try here also to see if anyone know something.
 

I grew up in southern California. Back in the '80s there was a Moriwaki "dealer"? "distributor"? down in Costa Mesa called Champion Moriwaki. I wouldn't guess they're still in business, but it might give you another rabbit hole to go looking down. Please keep us posted on this build. Sounds like great fun! 

Thank you. I will check that!

I have found that All Japan Championship started a Formula TT 3 class in 1982 where the Moriwaki Z400FX raced.
Hopefully they also built these bikes in 1980.
Fingers crossed
 

Sounds like it could be hopeful 

I found Japanese magazines on eBay with some info. Moriwaki started building the bike 1979 and 1980 a finished bike was ready for japans GP but unfortunatly the rider was killed in a practice session before the event and the bike never raced. Moriwaki later switched to CB400X engines.
Don’t know how many frames for Kawasaki engines that was made but I know it was used for 4h endurance in the early 80s.

I have put everything together and just took it for a test ride. Now it’s time to take it apart again and paint everything. 

Looks awesome , if they were raced at GP level then "homologation" papers must have been submitted to the governing body with all specs (who knows if they keep archives ??)

Wow that chassis looks awesome, who made it? Do you have any more pics of it? Whats the other Moriwaki rep in the background?

Good point. Should be in FIMs archive. Not so easy to get I guess 🙂

JL Mekaniikka made the frame.

The bike behind is not a real replica it’s a Z650. Only the front fairing is the same as the original Crosby Moriwaki. And Morris wheels but otherwise nothing is the same.