Höly Kawasaki ER-6

Specs

Chassis
2004 ZX-6R forks, 2003 Z1000 yokes, ABM discs, rear master cylinder and rear caliper, Wilbers shock. Emil Schwarz bearings (www.emilschwarz.de), Bridgestone 003 tyres. 182kg with a full tank.

Engine
13.8:1 compression, Höly cams, gas flowed ports, stock valves and pistons, modified ZX-10R injector bodies, stock airbox with big, heat-shrouded intake, Power Commander, SR Racing exhaust, Akrapovic Yamaha R6 silencer, R6 radiator. Claimed 98.5bhp@ 11,500rpm.

Details
ABM levers, Yamaha MT03 headlight, LSL tail light bracket, Rizoma mirrors (”the very best,”) and footrests, €160 KOSO instrument console, TWM filler cap, thumb-sized indicators. Paintwork by Lucas Design.

Want one?
The price for a complete bike is €12000 from Höly Bikes www.hoely.de. Unless your German is up to scratch, fax Dieter on 0049 6203 606122.

This bike was just another ER-6 commuter until a light front end smash left it languishing in a German Kawasaki dealer’s workshop.

• Kawasaki ER-6s for sale

Hundreds of hours later it has morphed into a featherweight 99bhp road-legal special with a blueprinted chassis, stratospheric rev ceiling and a deafening induction noise.

Builder Dieter Briese is a Kawasaki and Aprilia dealer in Schriesheim, central Germany. He’s also a master engineer who spent eight years in Japan working for Yamaha’s world endurance effort.

Remember the 1988 blue Genesis racer at the Bol d’Or, with glowing race numbers on the tail unit at night? That was one of his.

He’s also done two years with Kawasaki in the German Superbike championship.
“In our firm we have a hobby,” he explained.

“We take care of the day job from 8am to 6pm. In the evenings three of us built this bike.” The result is crammed with detail and originality.

“The front end comes from three different bikes but looks totally original. The engine tune is based around Briese’s own cam design, and uses ZX-10R throttle bodies 6mm bigger than the stock items, a vastly increased airbox intake and an oversize radiator to handle the extra heat.

“The chassis has been rebuilt with Emil Schwarz bearings which, Briese insists, are as crucial as the tuning work. “They are very high precision – fantastic for handling,” he said.

Andy Carlile, the unofficial Nürburgring lap record holder, grabbed a few laps on the bike at Höly’s local circuit, Hockenheim – and was astonished at the screaming engine character.

“Kawasaki twins have a trick of sounding like they’re on the limit when they’re just getting going. This one sounds like it’s had enough at 8500, but goes on to 11,300.

“The induction noise is the loudest I’ve ever known. From how it goes against other bikes I’m inclined to believe his claim of nearly 100bhp.” Carlile was even more impressed by the chassis.

“I’m not sure whether new bearings should make a difference, but there’s a level of quality to the ride and steering that suggests they do.

“What’s certain is this guy knows exactly how to set up suspension.”