When Harley-Davidson asked 5 Japanese Custom builders to participate to a Street 750 build-off, I am pretty certain that the manufacturer expected mild to wild makeovers, but not one out of this world.
Well, builder Kaichiroh Kurosu went very far beyond all expectations, creating from the Street platform given to him a completely new motorcycle that the pundits will have difficulties to put in any traditional motorcycle classification. And whatever you may think of this futurist Street Fighter contraption, Kurosu’s merit is to have conceived and produced a truly original motorcycle.
The Street 750 is marketed by Harley-Davidson as an “agile, aggressive machine to master the urban jungle.” After contemplating it and riding it in its factory configuration, Kaichiroh Kurosu realized that the bike was way too tame for his taste, both aesthetically and mechanically. Hence the idea of creating a high-velocity Street 750 able to fight the worst traffic of the big congested Japanese cities. And to intimidate car drivers?
Before opening his Cherry’s Company custom building shop 15 years, Kurosu was trained as licensed mechanic working for a Japanese H-D dealer. But first, he got a high degree architectural formation. A background explaining the way his XG750 Turbo Street Fighter was conceived.
To add some rebellion to the 46 cu. in. (749 cc) Revolution X liquid-cooled factory Street motor, the Japanese builder installed a car turbo system, requiring the creation of a one-off oil system, of a one-off intercooler and one-off surge tank. Then a one-off exhaust (with silencer) was fabricated. An unprecedented approach requiring many trials and errors, costing a lot of time and headaches before getting the system to work right.
Regarding chassis, and not surprisingly, the factory Street frame could not be used as is. Only 50% of the original structure remains after fabrication of a sub frame whose design led naturally (for the builder) to the the conception of the new tail section and swingarm. Girder fork is also a one-off with 5 mm thick steel legs. Geometry was calculated taking inspiration and measurements from those of a typical sport bike front end. All bodywork, front and rear cowls, fuel and oil tanks, seat pan, and many pieces, is one-off panel beating aluminum massaged at the shop. Full tech sheet below. Cherry’s Company. (photography @ Hiromitsu Yasui for Cyril Huze)
Bike Name: XG750Turbo “Street Fighter”
Builder’s Name: Kaichiroh Kurosu (Cherry’s Company)
Engine
– Putting on Turbo Charger / for Automobile
– Intercooler : One-off
– Air Surge Tank : One-off
– Boost Controller : Mechanical Type / Run Max
– Oil System for Turbo Charger : One-off
– Exhaust & Silencer : One-off
Chassis
– Frame : Stock Frame modified ( Using stock frame 50%)
– Front Fork : One-off Girder Fork by Cherry’s Company
– Girder Fork Spring : One-off
– Scissor Type Front Fork Dumper : One-off
– Steering Dumper : V-Twin / Modified
– Rear Swing Arm : One-off
– Rear Suspension : Ducati Monster
– Under Engine Mount : One-off / 12mm thin Steel
– Under Stabilizer : One-off / 42mm dia × 2
Brake & Control
– Front Master Cylinder : Nissin
– Front Brake Caliper: Harley Davidson
– Front Brake Disc Rotor: V-twin / Black Chromate
– Rear Master Cylinder: Harley Davidson / FLT
– Rear Brake Caliper: Harley Davidson
– Rear Brake Disc Rotor: V-twin / Black Chromate
– Handle Bar: One-off
– Hand Clutch Lever: Tommaselli
– Foot Control: Tarozzi / Modified
Wheel & Tire
– Front Wheel: One-off
– Front Tire: Dunlop Racing Slick / KR149 120/70-17
– Rear Wheel: One-off
– Rear Tire: Dunlop Racing Slick / KR108 195/65-17
Body
– Inner Fuel Tank: Aluminum One-off (Panel Beating)
– Fuel Tank Cover: Aluminum One-off (Panel Beating)
– Under Cowl: Aluminum One-off (Panel Beating)
– Seat Cowl: Aluminum One-off (Panel Beating)
– Front Cowl: Aluminum One-off (Panel Beating)
– Front Cowl Screen: Bubble Shield / Modified
– Oil Catch Tank: Aluminum One-off (Panel Beating)
– Headlight: Halogen Type
– Rear Stop Light: V-twin
– Speedmeter: Stock
– Tachometer: V-twin
– Handle Switch: Active
– Seat: Leather One-off / Made by Skunk
– Paint: Urethane / Nomad Concept
Hum… what is / was wrong with the notion of Less is More?!…
Very original. A complicated piece of art that deserves to be built on a better bike than the Street.
You love or your hate. But respect for the builder.
Wow, wow!
To use Cyril’s favorite quote “a master of complications”…
Somebody must have paid him some money….anyway hats off…great imagination and craftsmanship.
Crazy Street.
Other than the fork, I really like it.
Not really my style for the riding on the street, but what amazing craftsmanship. It’s like Salvador Dhali built a bike.
名匠!!
Pretty wild imagination and craftsmanship. Not my thing but maybe it will spur the Motor Company to develop better city bikes than the Streets.
Seriously cool!…I like it. Also like the pic of Kurosu in the saddle…shows how it fits a rider.
Good lord those Japanese customizers are rushing to the head of the class embarrassing the majority of our US customizers with each and every new build . As far as this bike . Talk about making a fine designer quality silk purse out of a blatant sows ear .
nice work, but I always like a shot of the bike on the road so I can check the riding position, Biker Build Off style
Tell you what… take a close look at that engine.
There’s your next-gen Sportster when EPA and Euro pressure finally comes down on H-D.
And wicked nice build for the most part.
Wow, a lot of folks throw words like master builder around, but not this time. Very nice build, and I can’t imagine anyone not wanting to grab a ride on it. Easy to mock the bike it was based on, but a shame folks can’t see past that. If somebody hands a custom builder the keys to ’50 Nash, that’s the project, right?
A turbo on a “Street” model ???
Maybe it’ll go fast for awhile & i’m sure
somebody, somewhere will buy it !!!
But it sure is ugly !!! (My opinion only) !!!!
Holy shit! That is very impressive and the level of craftsmanship & creativity is very high level. Nice nice work.
I know this is silly but what does it ride like ??
Ah, the old “what does it ride like comment.”
Let’s see: Ducati Monster rear suspension, sport bike front end geometry, and a pretty damned stiff front end, that while “old school,” is almost certainly not going to flex on the aggressive turns. Would it be harsh to say the only thing holding it back is the HD parts that remain?
It’s a real shame that the Harley haters must hate. They must make some negative remark whenever a Harley is mentioned. Must be some deep seated mental disorder.
richards – Or people just stating their opinions like people tend to do.lol
RE:
“…sport bike front end geometry…”
Well, don’t quite see it that way. Personally a more HRD-ish Girder would have really set it off visually -IMHO-..
But its certainly a way cool looking scooter.
-Yes- smaller displacement cafe bikes look like the new trend.
-nicker-
It’s amazing.
Geez my blood is Orange and Black. I am a Harley rider and bought my first new HD in 83 over here.
It does not matter what motor is in the build up , it is a fair question to know what it rides like.
Being overly sensitive is not a good attribute in the MC world lol
I think it’s great. Nice job.
Masterful!
cool, how the motorcycle helmet terminus finishes the flow of bike. unusual.
I like it. How about the other four entries in the Build Off?
I’m a “laid back cruiser” kind of guy that was pretty much blown away at what he’s done. I would also ask how’s the ride, but I think I would definitely be interested in at least trying this bike out if not buying it.
Great re-purposing of a Bell helmet for the seat back/rear fender.
The time it took to build…was well past what he was paid I am pretty sure. None the less the final result speaks for itself.
Excellent Craftsmanship