Motorcycle preparations – Kawasaki W650 Tracker Age of Glory by Egerie Moto – Used KAWASAKI

Kawasaki W650 Tracker Age of Glory by Egerie Moto

Motorcycle preparations - Kawasaki W650 Tracker Age of Glory by Egerie Moto - Used KAWASAKI

Egerie Moto, restoration and preparation workshop in Haute-Savoie (74), has carried out a very nice transformation based on Kawasaki W650 at the request of Age of Glory, a French brand of vintage motorcycle equipment.

Finding beautiful motorcycles prepared with taste and originality is not so easy as the offer has become bloated in recent years, driven by the rise of neo-retro. The preparations without real flavor, from bases overexploited by ephemeral workshops, are unfortunately legion…

  • MNC special file :

This is not the case of the "Tracker" manufactured by the Haute-Savoie workshop Égerie Moto in collaboration with Sebastien Gerodias, creator of the 70s-inspired motorcycle clothing brand, Age of Glory..

Motorcycle preparations - Kawasaki W650 Tracker Age of Glory by Egerie Moto - Used KAWASAKI

The two French leaders joined forces to develop a project imagined by Sebastien (sketch below): transforming a placid W650 from 2002 into a Tracker, a variant of the Scrambler genre. And the choice of the motorcycle was not made at random…

"Sebastien already had a number of ideas and knew on what basis he wanted the preparation to be carried out: a Kawasaki W650", Nicolas Masse explains on his. "The W650 is based on an English twin, a tribute to the 650 W1 of the 1960s. The drive is driven by bevel gear, which also gives it a little Italian touch. This engine is visually stunning.".

Motorcycle preparations - Kawasaki W650 Tracker Age of Glory by Egerie Moto - Used KAWASAKI

The guidelines are clearly defined: the manager of Age of Glory wants a clean and classy motorcycle, with a front axle reinforced by an inverted fork, the essential exhausts in the high position and a solo seat with a "small passenger seat". 

His friend gets to work in his workshop located in Lullin (74) and begins by dismantling all the superfluous by working "on the compacting of the electric beam", describes Nicolas who installs a small lithium-ion battery for this purpose..

After some other modifications on the electrical supply, the preparer cuts out the frame "to simplify and embellish the loop", then installs a new gas tank before attacking another complex part: the exhaust.

Motorcycle preparations - Kawasaki W650 Tracker Age of Glory by Egerie Moto - Used KAWASAKI

"After intense research on the possibility of bending a tube myself (study of the different types of benders, suitable tubes, etc.), I finally decided to weld stainless steel elbows", specifies this passionate craftsman … and exciting !

The result is worth a look: the two tubes intertwine lovingly in front of the vertical twin, then run superimposed along the left side. MNC particularly appreciates their perfectly smooth and satin finish, the result of an applied work of grinding the welds then an equally careful brushing..

"To limit the noise, I prepare DB-Killer (baffles that lower the sound volume, Editor’s note) that fit directly into the tube", continues the preparer. Not sure, however, that this is sufficient to meet the increasingly severe noise standards !

Aprilia 550 SXV fork

“The next step is to find and fit an inverted fork,” he then describes. "Seb is very keen on it. For my part, I am still reluctant to touch the security elements"…

Motorcycle preparations - Kawasaki W650 Tracker Age of Glory by Egerie Moto - Used KAWASAKI

After intense reflection on respecting the specifications, Nicolas Masse ended up finding a compromise that seemed promising to him: a 43 mm inverted Marzocchi fork stuck in the, this radical supermotard launched by the crest of Noale in the mid-2000s. ! 

This element has the advantage of having a pivot of adequate dimensions and of being originally designed for a spoke wheel. Nicolas can thus adapt the fork, front brake and hub assembly to the front rim of the W650 "without tampering with the axle or having to make any adaptation to align the brake caliper".

"Two things remain: reduce the travel of the fork, which is just a formality, and change its color (original gray anodized)", lists the craftsman. "Luckily, Haute-Savoie is well supplied in terms of the metallurgical industry (bar turning, surface treatment, etc.)".

Motorcycle preparations - Kawasaki W650 Tracker Age of Glory by Egerie Moto - Used KAWASAKI

Motorcycle preparations - Kawasaki W650 Tracker Age of Glory by Egerie Moto - Used KAWASAKI

Égerie Moto then applies to treat all the parts of the cycle part with mat gray epoxy, while the tank and the new covers receive a metallic blue paint with stenciled "Age of Glory" logo..

"Seb then takes care of making the saddle in leather: it is the only thing with the anodizing of the fork that I would not have done myself", laughs Nicolas Masse who recovered strips of this elegant brown leather to make handles with a beautiful effect. 

The transformation also includes a short fender, tall, wide handlebars, Motogadget instrumentation, stainless steel brackets and Firestone notched tires. His price ? To find out, Age of Glory simply advises those interested to ""…

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