FEATURE - Moto Martin Kawasaki
Words: Mike Ryan
Photos: Chris Knox
It’s a rarity now, but fixing the flaws in factory motorcycles was something of a cottage industry a few decades ago, particularly in the area of frames. The factory chassis for selected British, and later Japanese, motorcycles back then were known weak points, leading to several specialist frame builders becoming household names – and a few that didn’t.
For fans of motorcycles from the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s, names like Egli, Harris, Spondon, Rickman and Seeley are very well known. You can add Bakker and Bimota into that group, too, even though the latter is regarded more as its own brand rather than a framemaker.
Among the lesser-known names from this vibrant period in the aftermarket frame industry is Moto Martin.
French Bred
Information on the history and products of Moto Martin is scarce, so many of the dates and figures that follow are speculative. What is known is that Moto Martin was founded by Georges Martin in France in the early 1970s and his initial frame offerings were said to be very similar to those created by Fritz Egli in the 1960s.
Offered as kits, Moto Martin frames could be matched with fibreglass bodykits in a partially faired café racer or fully faired racebike style. Moto Martin also produced their own wheels, but frames were the company’s bread and butter, designed to suit most of what was the current crop of Japanese four- and six-cylinder motorcycles back then, as well as twins and triples from European makes like Laverda and BMW.
In the late 1970s, Georges Martin added a spaceframe design to his backbone chassis offerings, with both types built up until around 1987, when the business moved into kit car design and manufacture. In this space, Moto Martin created Shelby Cobra, Lotus Seven and GT40 replicas, as well as the ‘Tilbury,’ a unique, retro-look roadster using Renault 4 running gear.
Georges Martin got out of the kit car game in approximately 1996, but some reports suggest he’s since returned to bikes and even started making frames again under the Moto Martin name, but this is unconfirmed.
In nearly two decades of operation, Moto Martin is believed to have produced 5,800 frames, the majority of these being the spaceframe design, like what’s on the bike featured. And while most Moto Martin creations were sold as kits, a handful of complete bikes are believed to have been offered, too.
How many Moto Martin frames and related body kits, wheels and other parts made their way to Australia in period is unknown, but they’re not unicorns, because in addition to the bike featured, two other Moto Martins were listed for sale with JUST BIKES at time of writing.
This one is something very special, though, and comes from a talented creator whose name will be familiar to long-time JUST BIKES readers.
Brett’s Best
The bike shown here is the third from Brett Brown to be featured in JUST BIKES, but it’s far from his third creation, with a long list of other builds in his back catalogue.
Brett’s first feature in JUST BIKES was a Rau-framed Kawasaki Z1 custom that we covered back in 2015, while his amazing ‘Stone’ tribute 1974 Kawasaki Z1A was the subject of a feature in 2019. Prior to and inbetween these builds, Brett has also completed several factory-authentic restorations of early Kawasaki Z models and Honda CB fours from the 1970s and ’80s.
For the creation featured here, its bones were purchased back before the two previous feature builds were even started, as Brett explains.
“I bought it in 2012, but it sat around, waiting its turn while I worked on other builds.”
That wait stretched out for eight years, but come COVID and all the related lockdowns and travel restrictions (which admittedly didn’t impact NSW-based Brett as much as those in other states), the Moto Martin was dusted off.
What attracted Brett back when he bought it in 2012 remained in 2020 – primarily its rarity, but also the unlimited possibilities that a rebuild offered.
“I remember seeing photos of Moto Martins back in the day, but never saw one in the flesh. As soon as I saw this one on the ‘net, I wanted it!”
It was something of a lucky find back then, as the seller only advertised it as a ‘Motorbike for Sale’, with nothing in the title describing its rare frame or Kawasaki Z1-R engine, so other enthusiasts never saw it.
“I was the only bidder,” Brett recalled. “When I bought it, it was just a rolling chassis with a motor in it and the bodywork separate.”
Being a Kawasaki Z buff, and with some knowledge of Moto Martins, Brett knew he had stumbled onto something special. Picking the bike up for a steal made it even sweeter.
Surprisingly Simple
An initial inspection of what was a non-running engine proved it could be revived relatively simply – at least by someone with Brett’s experience, having built, repaired and restored classic Zs for decades.
“It had no coils and the wiring had been butchered. Electrically, NOTHING worked,” Brett said. “I think that’s why it was never finished, the original owner couldn’t work out the electrics.”
Despite all his experience in this area, it still took Brett a solid week’s work to sort out all the wiring, with even the switchgear needing a complete stripdown and clean to be made functional.
After this was done, replacement coils were fitted and the engine was ready to be turned over for the first time in decades. Fortunately, it fired up immediately and ran well.
“Compression was good, with no sign that the motor had ever been apart,” Brett recalled.
The engine’s number points to it coming from a 1980 Z1-R MkII and Brett suspects it was a low mileage example, salvaged from a wreck when the MkII was still a new model. As the heyday of Moto Martin’s frame operations was the early 1980s, this lines up, and while it could be from an earlier or later period, it’s more likely the initial attempt to combine Kawasaki with Moto Martin for this creation was attempted sometime around 1982 or 1983.
Removing the engine covers and checking the valve clearances confirmed Brett’s suspicion that the 1,015cc inline four was a relatively fresh, low mileage unit, so a full tear down was unnecessary.
The engine was left stock for the rebuild, with standard Z1-R 28mm Mikuni carbs drawing the fuel in and air ingress via aftermarket pod filters, while a slimline Moto Martin 4-into-1 exhaust expels the gasses.
Like the engine, the Z1-R five-speed transmission was completely stock as purchased and left untouched for the rebuild.
The Frame’s the Star
As purchased, the Moto Martin frame was in good condition and only needed a clean and polish, even after almost a decade without use in Brett’s possession and decades of storage before that.
Like those produced by Egli, most Moto Martin frames were chromed and this one was no exception. While Brett has no aversion to cutting and modifying frames for custom builds, he decided this one was just too good to mess with.
“I was determined not to weld or modify the frame at all. Everything was done to avoid welding on tabs or cutting off anything. I want to keep it as it should be.”
That determination even extended to having a chainguard attached with clamps, rather than welded in position.
At the front end, the stock Kawasaki Z1-R 36mm forks are fitted, while the Moto Martin frame design allows for a monoshock rear. As purchased, a period De Carbon unit was fitted, but this was faulty, so Brett replaced it with an Ikon coilover shock of similar spec.
“I was always struck by the Moto Martin’s perimeter frame and how different it was at the time. Now, perimeter frames and monoshocks aren`t special, but back in the ’80s, they were very special.”
A New Body
As bought, this bike also came with Moto Martin bodywork, which included a fibreglass seat base, fuel tank and headlight fairing. While all these pieces were in good shape, they weren't to Brett's taste, so none of them were used for the rebuild.
“I didn`t really like the look of the standard bodywork and I wanted to be a bit creative with the build.”
That creativity started with a trip to Southwest Motorcycle Wreckers in Liverpool (NSW), where Brett found a suitable fuel tank from a Suzuki GS-X1100 and seat/tail from a Kawasaki Ninja 600. However, the nature of the Moto Martin frame meant neither unit was a simple, bolt-on fit.
“The tank had to have the base cut out and remade with a tunnel to allow the throttle cables to run without a kink. Also, the capacity was increased and a new fuel outlet fabricated and positioned," Brett explained.
“For the Ninja seat, I had a classic Z1 tailpiece fibreglassed in where the pillion seat was. I built a storage/tool space in there, while a sliding catch underneath locks the seat on with two large, knurled knobs, so it can be removed without tools.”
If the fairing looks familiar, it’s from an early-1980s Honda CB1100R. Brett had previously made a mould of one of these to create copies for CB restorations. In this instance, a duplicate fairing was made from that mould, then cut up, with a second layer added to create a ‘double skin’ effect. “I would never cut up a genuine CB1100R fairing!” Brett laughed.
The Little Stuff and the Big Red
Along with the engine, transmission and front end, other Z1-R parts retained for this project included the factory Kawasaki 18-inch alloy wheels, the brakes (including the drilled discs, calipers and master cylinders), instrumentation, switchgear and levers.
A voltmeter has been added, neatly incorporated onto the top fork yoke via a bespoke bracket that also covers up the mounts for the factory handlebars, while the clip-on bars are from Magura. The mirrors and grips are aftermarket items, too, as are the Yamaha R1-style rearsets, all of which add to the café racer – with a twist – look of this build.
The seat is a bespoke piece, with the base modified and trimmed in vinyl by Brett, while the lights are a combination of Honda front and Kawasaki rear, with aftermarket indicators.
Brett also did the painting on this project, choosing multiple shades of rich, 2-pac Candy Red, carefully applied to give the bodywork depth and complement the chromed frame.
Finishing touches included stick-on, automotive-style lettering (instead of a decal) for the tank badging, a smoked screen for the fairing and plenty of polishing for the chrome and brightwork.
Ride and Release
Moto Martin frames, like those of their contemporaries, were designed to enhance the handling and performance of factory motorcycles. In this instance, Brett says the frame improves the Z1-R’s handling immensely, but it’s not the only thing he loves about this creation.
“I love the look and the rarity. It is a rare and special motorcycle. At any gathering of bikes, I know there won`t be another like it.”
When he brought this creation to JUST BIKES' attention last year, Brett said he had no intention of selling it, but times change and that creative itch needs to be scratched, meaning old projects need to make way for new ones. As such, this bike is now on the market.
Every Brett Brown project that JUST BIKES has seen trumps the previous one in terms of quality, finish and individuality. With that in mind, we can’t wait to see what Brett builds next.
In bringing this project to fruition, Brett would like to thank:
- Southwest Motorcycle Wreckers
- Wemoto Australia
- Chris Knox
FOR SALE
While it combines elements from the 1970s and 1980s, this unique motorcycle is a product of the new millennium, with the rebuild completed less than a year ago.
While combining elements from Honda, Kawasaki and Suzuki motorcycles, the bespoke touches mean this creation has no obvious resemblance to anything from those brands. It’s also a comprehensive makeover from how it was purchased.
Features of note include the custom storage space in the pillion area and unique fairing, but the original Moto Martin fibreglass pieces, along with the factory pegs, will be included with the sale, should the next owner wish to reinvent it as an authentic C1980s Moto Martin Kawasaki.
This unique bike will appeal to an equally unique person who appreciates the amount of work that has gone into it.
Located in NSW and to be sold with 12 months’ full registration. Asking price is $35,000 ono.
For more details, click HERE.
