Inside AC Sanctuary's Unique Franchise Model: Kawasaki Z1(900 SUPER4) Custom by SANCTUARY

SANCTUARY's Z1(900 SUPER4)

AC Sanctuary has a total of five franchise shops in addition to its main branch. Each of these franchises was established by staff members who previously worked as mechanics at the main branch factory. These franchise locations serve as places to receive maintenance and vehicle inspections for Sanctuary's complete RCMs ordered in each region and as supply points for Sanctuary's original parts lineup. Another purpose of these franchise locations is to serve as stopover points for owners of RCMs and other custom bikes in various regions.

This is a custom Z1 by Sanctuary Ability in Aichi Prefecture. It features clip-on handlebars, a diamond-coated frame reinforced at 12 points, XJR1200's 17-inch front and rear wheels, and front forks. These are the basics of the RCM configuration. However, upon closer inspection, a few differences become apparent. Mr. Sugawara explains, "The swingarm is an original design by Sanctuary, with the shock mount integrated into the end piece. The same applies to the step, which incorporates a heel guard plate to reduce frame damage. Additionally, even the side covers are unique for the Z1-R and Mk. II models, all of which are produced as one-offs. While we typically use one-off components for minor details at our main store for RCMs, you can think of this as an extension on a larger scale." Mr. Sugawara also aimed to achieve the desired functionality by crafting his own original parts using in-house NC milling machines and other techniques. On the other hand, Sanctuary's Nitro Racing parts come in handy for repairing the steps, and he also uses Nitro parts for the exhaust and stem. In other words, the customization was created in a user-friendly manner while making effective use of his own background.

Handle

The clutch has been replaced with a hydraulic one, using NISSIN axial-type (horizontal) master cylinders on both sides. The blue brake lines are made by HEL.

The instrumentation remains stock of the Z1, with the addition of YOSHIMURA's Progress Multimeter. As you can see, the handlebars are of the clip-on type.

Engine

The engine remains in its stock 903cc configuration but has undergone a full overhaul. The external finishing, including neat line routing, has also been meticulously done.

Intake & Exhaust

The carburetor is FCR ø37mm, and the electrical system is an Uotani SP-2 with a PAMS fuse system for improved reliability. An oil cooler was also added.

The exhaust is a Nitro Racing Brand Titanium 4-1 + Straight Titanium V-1 Silencer. The front and rear wheels are XJR1200, 3.50-17/5.50-17 size.

Chassis

The step, originally made by Ability, is equipped with a heel guard (a perforated plate located behind the bar) to reduce damage to the frame and side covers on the Z1-R/Mk. II.

The square-shaped aluminum swingarm is also a one-off creation by Ability, and the end piece and shock mount have been integrated into a one-piece type.

The bottom side of the front fork has a gun-coated finish, while the inner side is titanium-coated. These forks are φ43mm (Z1's stock size is φ36mm) from the XJR1200, and they are mounted using the Nitro Racing Sculpture TYPE2 stem kit (fork offset is [60→]40mm). The front brake caliper choice is a Brembo 4P.

Gallery

Specifications

About SANCTUARY

SANCTUARY is a custom builder that is good at Vintage motorcycles like Z1,Ninja and KATANA. They sell special parts which were born from trial and error that mechanics had repeated mounting and testing

SANCTUARY brand page

Original Source of this Article

Heritage & Legends