Here is a story about a motorbike called "The Syndicate". It is not for the weak of heart...........
Today's Superbike racing is very much a sport for specialist motorcycles, if you compare it with its counterpart of the early 80's. Early superbikes were based on the principles adhered to by the average streetbike. Take a production model and give it some good old fashioned engine development, upgarde the suspension, and apply lots of coats of high quality paint and TLC.
The Syndicate Kawasaki was one of that special breed, starting life as a standard Z1000MkII and developing into a normally aspirated beast, which from time to time put out
169BHP at the countershaft sprocket. Now that's a lot of grunt in anyone's language. This was not a big-dollar factory-special, it was a hand-crafted rocket from the depths of Ecco Engineering based in Coburg. While Honda and others were spending big bucks on development, lots of late-night fettling by Gyro and his crew were producing results. One of his long-time workmen, Simmo, remarked "Didn't have anything to do with it mate, but I made lots of parts for it......". The Coburg shop is full of heavy lathes, boring, grinding and metal shaping equipment. In fact the principle business is heavy engineering. Motorcycles are a sideline ( sounds like KHI !
).
A close look at the Syndicate Kawasaki reveals just how homespun the whole unit is. Fork brace and exhaust system you would almost expect to be home-grown, but not wheels. When Gyro wants something to be strong, he prefers to build his own.
The Syndicate ran 2.5" front and 3.5" rear rims, to allow for the use of large Michelin slicks ( well, large 'for the era'). A large number of racers used Ecco rims in the early 80's because they were quality products.
The brakes were also Ecco specials, cast-iron undrilled twins discs on the front, and a single rear disc. Lockhead master cylinders and calipers were used, although the calipers from Gregg Hansford's H2R750 were also used from time to time. The brakes rarely let the team down, even on the tight circuits.
Engine development as considered by the observers of the day was 'pretty radical'
, but the details remain locked in Gyro's head....The most information he would give out was "...oh well, the same as every other bugger did in those days.....Big cams, big valves, headwork, compression, you know...."
Gyro had also developed a 1-litre BMW that could out-accelerate Graham Crosby's Phase 4 Yoshimura Kawasaki, so he clearly knew his way around a motor !! Compression and capacity of the Syndicate Kawasaki is unknown, but an educated guess based on the output of the engine would be a comp.ration well in excess of 11:1. Leakdown tests saw the power drop off to around 155 bhp after a few laps. Gyro reckoned the capacity was 1200cc, but news reports from back then would indicate otherwise
. 1300cc would seem closer to the mark according to more than one punter.....
Carbies ? No numbers on them, or throat size. " ...I think they are 38mm or something mate, they certainly have enough size to make her get up and go....." . A racing clutch was also installed, but needed adjustment after every start due to the power being developed.
Weight saving consisted of chucking everything out that was not necessary. Alternator and battery went first, along with brackets, headlight and the dual seat.
The chief rider for the Syndicate was Andrew Johnson, who later became a Team Honda rider of some reknown...Jonno isn't a big fellah, so its amazing he could stay aboard the big Kwakka in full flight. The wide open handlebars would have helped (none of this clip-on shit
). Still, powerslides were all part of the progress of the Syndicate Kawasaki.
A quick glance at the Ecco racebook shows that the bike attended meetings at the end of 1980 and the beginning of 1981. It hardly did a full season and yet it picked up an NGK Superbike Series, and shook the hell out of the Unlimited races from time to time. Gearing started at 16/35, but went to 14/33 when full power was being developed. Lap records were set at Winton and Mallalla. Gyro reckons that Colby, Neale, Crosby and Gardiner didn't know where the beast went some times....."we'd pull out 50 metres on the first lap....".
Its generally acknowledged that we'll never see another Superbike like the Syndicate Kawasaki. To a large extent, Gyro retired the bike because Jonno was snaffled by Honda, and "....no other bugger could (or would) ride it....". The Syndicate now lies idle, although it did have a demonstration run at the 1998 WSB. Jonno fell off the bike and remarked "..Shit - its still got power !!..". Gyro's response...." Of course it fucking has !!!".
So thats it, the story of one of the gnarliest big Kwakka's ever built. I will post up some pics when I can. If I can find the REVS edition with the stories about the NGK Superbike Series from 1980 and 1981, no doubt there will be some more info on The Syndicate Kawasaki to post up.......
I wonder if Gyro would allow someone to ride this bike in the current Forgotten Era series ??
Its period all right, and would probably still hold its own against the quickest bikes out there today (Robbie's GSX1100 and Guesty's Z1R.....).
cheers
90WPM Dave
Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 10:12 pm
only able to get 1 decent photo out of the magazine, time for a new scanner.........