2019 · Mark's collection
Zero Two Itasha motorcycle project
A personal build diaryHow my Kawasaki Z750 became an Itasha
- CATEGORY
- Motorcycles
- STORY
- 17 chapters
- STATUS
- Personal project
A story built
one chapter at a time.
Oldest first. Every dated update can hold its own photographs and notes, so changes remain connected to the moment they happened.
Quality Check
My classmates at vocational school gave the bike their seal of approval. 😄 By this point, I had already installed a wider handlebar and bar-end mirrors. Unfortunately, I no longer have any photos of the installation process.
First Ride With Another Biker
This was the first time I went riding with another biker. His name was Robert. We eventually lost touch, but I still remember his full-sleeve tattoo ending perfectly at his wristwatch. That small detail would become surprisingly important later in my life.
Doing Dumb Stuff
Like pretty much everyone at the beginning of their motorcycle journey, I did some dumb shit too.
Filling the Empty Space
I got a belly pan so the lower part of the bike wouldn’t look so empty.
The Itasha Idea
I honestly don't remember exactly how the idea came about, but I decided I wanted to turn my bike into an Itasha. I immediately commissioned ontakeriput, and he got started on the design right away.
Finding the Right Wrapper
Once the design was finished, I started looking for someone who could actually wrap the bike. A lot of people turned it down because it was too difficult, but luckily I found alex_wrapyourstuff on Instagram. He not only agreed to do it, but also reworked parts of the design so it would fit the bike better and match the colors and overall look of Darling in the FRANXX.
Before the Wrap
One last photoshoot before we started wrapping the bike and the Zero Two design finally went on.
The Wrapping Begins
Once the final design was ready, the wrapping process finally began.
Finally Finished
The design was finally complete, and I couldn’t have been happier with how it turned out. The only thing that still bothered me was the exhaust.
The Exhaust Upgrade
Luckily, my ex and I went 50/50 on an SC-Project exhaust for my birthday.
Project Complete
After installing the exhaust, I was finally happy with everything. The project was basically complete from that point on — everything that came after was just small details.
More Than Just a Bike
Thanks to this project, I also learned how to use a camera and got into Photoshop.
Showing the Bike at DoKomi
I was invited to exhibit my bike at DoKomi. I have to admit, it was also my first and last time there since I’m not great with huge crowds and generally prefer quieter places. Still, I’m really grateful I got to experience it.
Entering the Competition
What comes after DoKomi? Right — Kawasaki Days in Speyer. I don’t remember the exact timing anymore, but I do remember my ex telling me I should enter because I had nothing to lose. A jury selected five bikes, and after mine made the cut, the competition moved on to an online vote where everyone could cast their vote.
Kawasaki Days in Speyer
And then it was finally time for Kawasaki Days in Speyer. I still remember how insanely hot it was — I felt like I was running in limp mode all day. Even so, it was an amazing day. I didn’t quite take the win, but I finished in second place.
What Comes Next?
At this point, I’ll probably keep the bike forever. Even if I leave the country again, it’ll stay in the garage. That being said, I’m definitely starting to feel like taking on a new project. Maybe next year?