At first glance, the green motorcycle in the photos looks like a regular Ninja ZX-14R, sans a side fairing. But this one is a very different beast; a one-of-a-kind custom motorcycle, whose brutish power output will send shivers down your spine. Look closely at the engine, and you will notice several modifications, as well as the lack of a full-sized exhaust. The more mechanically inclined of us might even spot that this ZX-14R has a turbocharger for its already powerful engine. YouTube bikers will certainly be aware there are already some turbocharged ZX-14Rs in the US and Europe. What makes this green monster unique, however, is that all its modifications have been carried out in Mumbai.
Stuart Lima of 7th Gear Customs is a known name in the Indian motorcycle and drag racing circuit. Apart from running a workshop, Stuart partners with Rongom Mukherjee of Elite Octane,’ organising the popular Valley Run drag race held annually at the Aamby Valley airstrip, above Lonavala.
By self admission, Stuart is always on the lookout for more power and more performance. However, the idea of subjecting a ZX-14R to forced induction struck him when he first met Rickey Gadson. Now, Rickey is 11-time world drag racing champion, who sets sub-10 second quarter-mile times on motorcycles for a living. At the 2014 Valley Run, he completed the quarter-mile in 9.843secs on a Ninja ZX-14R, tuned by 7th Gear Customs.
Rickey is used to riding turbocharged motorcycles back home in the US, and pointed out to Stuart that in India everyone runs naturally aspirated motorcycles and there are no turbocharged machines on two-wheels.
That’s when Stuart decided to embark on the project of making a one-of-a-kind motorcycle, the likes of which India hadn’t yet seen. As luck would have it, Sonu, a ZX-14R owner based in Hyderabad approached Stuart as he wanted to improve his quarter-mile times on a dragstrip. Stuart pointed him in the direction of a turbocharged ZX-14R. Most owners would refuse considering this is an expensive proposition, apart from the fact that it had never been achieved in India.
Having worked on a lot of ZX-14Rs and armed with a knowhow of what was required, Stuart and his team of mechanics got to work. A made-to-order turbocharger kit was procured from Garrett.
