Paal 650XXV cafe racer: Best looking Kawasaki Z650 ever made?

PAAL began in 2013, in Malmö, Sweden, when former chef Fredrik Pål Persson hung up his apron to pursue his life-long passion of building custom motorcycles. What began in a small basement as a one man's mission has evolved into a world-famous design studio. After remortgaging his house to pursue his passion for building motorcycles, Fredrik’s latest creation is certainly a looker. And it comes in the form of a cafe racer styled 1978 Kawasaki Z650 - which he designates the Paal 650XXV. 

The Z650 was stripped down to bare before being built back up with a completely new electrical loom and ignition system, bringing modern reliability to the classic machine. Other useful additions include a lightweight lithium battery, LED taillight and Motogadget indicators. 

For that super clean uncluttered look, the rear subframe has been cut away and replaced with hoops, with the chassis being blasted and then powder coated. And atop of the minimalistic subframe sits a padded leather single-seat saddle. 

The motor has been completely rebuilt, with the engine cases being vapor-blasted. The carbs have been rebuilt, tuned, and polished to a sheen then finished off with custom velocity stacks.

Mounted to the stripped-down and refurbished front forks is a dual ISR brake set up and KustomTech controls - giving the XXV some serious and modern stopping power. 

Believe it or not, this 1978 Z650 is a barn find, which thanks to Paal will once more see the light of day. However, this bike isn’t a customer commission instead it was built “straight from the heart” Fredrik reveals, saying that there was “no compromise on our vision here, in regards to time, money or aesthetics.” 

It’s certainly a stunner, but what’s next on the horizon for Paal? Well, Fredrik says his next project will be based on a prototype CB750, with a fully-custom high-performance frame and swingarm to bring the old classic into the 21st century. 

Now, I’ve never watched ‘Oil in the Blood’ but that build sounds insanely cool. 

Images by Yannick Wolff