Out in the far, far and very wild west in the little hamlet of Klerksdorp lives a retired gentleman with a passion for motorcycles, in particular chopped up street and superbikes. A passion that started as a youngster, when telephones were still bolted to the wall and watching a movie at home was an occasion for Mom to hang a fresh white bed sheet on the wall, and Dad had to be fairly skilled mechanically to figure out the rented movie projectors workings. This is a story of how a rekindled passion turned retirement hobby has become a thriving business. This is Louis Prinsloo’s story in his own words:
My love for motorcycles started in the mid 70’s when I got my first 2nd hand Suzuki AC50cc which I stripped down, cleaned up and resprayed on my mothers kitchen table….. Which, as you can well imagine, resulted in one of the biggest hidings I have had to date – maybe Mom’s kitchen wasn’t the best workshop afterall, even though it was conveniently close to the sink to wash parts and the oven to bake on the engine enamel. Growing up I bought a Yamaha MT50cc, switched to a Honda 250XL then to a Kawasaki Z1R 1000cc and onto a Suzuki GSX 1000 which all got sold when life eventually went on the way of marriage, kids and work leaving me bikeless for a few years but keeping up with all bike trends and media.
2007 I finally had the opportunity to get my own bike again and bought a Hyosung 650 GTR which I stripped and gave it a new “face lift”. Around about the same time I bought a 2000 Honda VTR SP1. The VTR was my first complete rebuild project and I even won some prizes at local bike meets. Eventually changed the Hyosung for a Suzuki GSXR 1000 K2 which also got a complete custom rebuild alongside with the VTR SP1. After that followed a Aprilia RSV 1000 factory edition. Towards the end of 2018 I was no longer satisfied doing normal “rebuilds” so I started my own custom rebuilds…. In my garage.
In 2019 I started my first custom built V-Max inspired by Madmax, as well as a Cafe racer which both got sold. I then bought myself a Suzuki 1200 Bandit for my daily ride which piqued my interest in the Streetfighter scene. Anything can be done to a bike with time, money and imagination. My first streetfighter project started with a Suzuki GSXR 400 and a Honda VFR 400 NC3O mix and match.
Most of my builds were done in the evenings after work and over weekends. I retired at the age of 61, December 2022 and moved from Gauteng to Klerksdorp,which led to starting and building up my own little bike workshop in our yard…. My Mancave so to say.
In 2023 I started a custom build on a Kawasaki ZX1400 Ninja into a Streetfighter which came with a lot of challenges as it has a “Monocoque” frame and is not exactly an ideal bike for this type of build. I finished that in December 2023 and there is now a very happy man on his “BADAZZ” ZX14 riding the highways and byways of South Africa.
February 2024 I started on my Café racer custom built on a 1998 Yamaha XJR 1200 platform which was completed in October 2024. You have to have passion and dedication for this type of project, the time and labour that goes into this can’t be measured in money. A very special ‘Thank You’ has to go to my wife Engela, for all her patience and support through all these years.
KAWASAKI ZX14 “BADAZZ” STREETFIGHTER BUILD
When my friend Rob Davies pulled up in the driveway with a ZX14 on a trailer and asked me to build him something different, I knew I was in for a challenge. Just going plain “naked” would not do the trick. As I started stripping the bike and a whole bunch of ideas began to form in my mind. At this point I had formulated somewhat of a plan and that I was going to do at least the following:
- Change the wheels out for something more bold.
- Remove the “clip ons” and do high handles.
- Shorten the subframe substantially.
- Bring everything in the nose cone area as close to the forks as possible.
This all was easier said than done. I changed the rims to 3 spoke ZX12 rims, which required some engineering work on the front rim to fit the wheel and discs to current forks. I had to change the rear caliper system as well. Then the top triple clamp had to be modified to accommodate high handles which then meant changes to the throttle body cables, brake lines etc.
Shortening the subframe to end in line with the rear axle was creating lots of headaches for me, which I eventually got some help on. The electric harness of the bike is like a mile long, and had to be cut to fit most of the components in the shortened space under the seat, which also contains a big portion of the tank. All of this I did myself as well as change the seat to fit and to make a custom tailpiece. The same problem presented itself when it came to the front piece of the electric harness, everything had to be shortened. The cluster/lamp bracket on the front was redesigned about 4 times to get the bold effect at the end.
Then, it was time to do all the Modifications to the front mudguard, side fairings, seat and tailpiece to match the picture in my imagination. This all took many long hours and late nights over very many months to do the rebuild due to dismantling, rebuilding, all plumbing, all engine upgrades, painting the engine and the calipers. All the polishing work was done myself often with the help of my sometimes very dismayed wife.
The work which I was not equipped to do myself was sent out to the following businesses:
- Torque Tuning KPR – Lance DuPlessis, (Air intakes, subframe shortening, exhaust fit and brackets, cluster/headlight bracket)
- JG Powdercoaters (Frame, swingarm, and small parts)
- Powerkote JHB (Ceramic coating, engine covers)
- T4S Motorcycle Engineering- Kiriel-(Engineering, front wheel and discs)
- FTF Vereeniging(Braided, silicone hoses and fittings)
- GSC Customs –Fanie (spray work, wheels, side fairings, tank and mudguard)
- Hendrik Fouche (Custom made tailpiece)
YAMAHA XJR 1200 “CAFE RACER”
When I bought the bike in October 2023, (while still busy with the ZX14), I knew that this would be my “café racer” project for 2024 which I stuck to my guns and started the project in February 2024.
Some previous owner along the way had already tried his hand at some custom work. The seat had been changed and USD forks installed, albeit quite rudimentary and not to my standard. Being a pensioner, I decided that this build must be as low cost as possible as it is for myself, which meant the budget was going to be 80% hard work and 20% cash layout.
My main goals for this build were:
- Re-do the front end (forks, triple clamps and steering bearings)
- Replace high handles with clip ons.
- Open up the rider triangle.
- Shave the frame and re-do the rear part of the frame.
- Sort out electrics and re-wire where needed
- An aftermarket instrument cluster in. (no gauges on bike)
- As per my norm, dismantle the bike to pieces.
- I decided to keep the build “old school” therefore no LED type headlight, tail light or flickers as well as no aftermarket rearsets or braided hoses.
Opening up the rider triangle was fraught with challenges. The airbox had to be removed, then shaved a bit off the frame and moved the battery and electric components into the space under the seat which. These were shortened – twice , once by a previous owner and again by me to create the “hump” behind the seat for the correct café racer look.
As the front forks were badly scratched (gold anodized) I decided to remove and polish the forks. A job that I will never attempt again! It took me 3 months to complete!
I took care of the modifications to the top triple clamp myself, as well as all the engine spray work and cleaning up. Needless to say, fitting all the electrical components, battery included, into the space under the seat presented its own challenges. Many hours of hard work, but the end result was well worth it!
There are still some things I cannot do in my garage and had to send the following out:
- Torque Tuning KPR – Lance – for exhaust fit and brackets as well as the underplate on the seat.
- Hendrik Fouche – For the custom build of tailpiece and front mudguard and the spray work of the frame, wheels, mudguard, tank and tailpiece
- Pro Welding KPR – Eric Strydom – for shaving and build of the ‘hump’ on the frame
And as always, a huge ‘THANK YOU’ to my wife for her input and patience!
Hey, if you like what you see and want to get some custom work done to your bike, drop us a mail and we will put you in contact with Louis.
