Kawasaki W800 Matador Comes With a Compelling Backstory Besides the Great Custom Work

Run by the fraternal duo of Diego and Riccardo Coppiello, the Padua-based firm is among the leading customization outfits on the Italian Peninsula. It’s been in operation since 2014 and has gotten a ton of attention over the years, praised by everyday aficionados and the motorcycling press alike. The project we’re about to look at was dubbed the Matador, and its backstory is just as interesting as the custom work itself.

It all started with a Kawasaki W800, which had been extensively ridden and enjoyed by its owner before things took a bad turn. The man and his Kawi were involved in a pretty nasty crash, leaving the bike utterly wrecked just like one of the rider’s legs. He underwent surgery and a long period of recovery thereafter, with steel rods holding his broken limb together.

Meanwhile, the W800 sat around in his garage waiting for a new chance at life, but it would be a good few years until that happened. When the owner finally felt prepared to embrace life on two wheels once again, the motorcycle was taken to North East Custom’s facility along with the metal bits that had once been inserted into his leg. The idea was to somehow integrate these into the Matador’s design, so as to showcase what they’ve been through together.

With a clear understanding of what their client was after, the Coppiello brothers wasted no time getting started. First, they performed a thorough inspection to see what was still usable, then it came time for them to straighten out the main frame. On the other hand, the stock subframe was deleted altogether, making room for a looped custom unit built from scratch.

Above it lies a bespoke seat pan with an electronics box fitted underneath, all covered by a generously padded seat upholstered in black leather. Most of the original bodywork was damaged beyond repair, so NEC took it upon themselves to craft a new attire from scratch. Its centerpiece is, of course, the handmade fuel tank with a small multi-function dial integrated up top.

The latter fronts a chromed filler cap, and both of them are surrounded by the only bit of paint you’ll find on the Matador. On the flanks, there are stylish tank badges incorporating the surgical steel extracted from the owner’s leg once it was healed. There is more custom goodness to be admired further back, in the form of fresh side covers concealing the under-seat electronics tray.

Bespoke fenders are present fore and aft, with the rear unit carrying a Bates-style taillight, aftermarket LED turn signals, and the license plate bracket. At the front, you’ll notice a new headlight nestled in a tailor-made metal housing, along with a small nose fairing of sorts a bit further back. The front-end blinkers are attached to the frame’s down tubes right in front of the gas tank.

All the bodywork components were treated to a brushed finish we can’t get enough of, and the entire framework was painted black. Diego and his brother also went to town with the motorcycle’s suspension, as there was no way for them to salvage the OEM forks. These were promptly ditched in favor of fresh replacements, while a pair of adjustable aftermarket shocks made their way onto the rear end.

The stock wheel hubs are still in play, but they’ve been laced to new rims via stainless-steel spokes. Moreover, the hoops themselves were wrapped in dual-purpose rubber from Mitas, offering plentiful grip both on and off the tarmac. Rounding out the ergonomics are serrated foot pegs and a wide handlebar with premium controls.

North East Custom gave the parallel-twin mill all the attention it needed, getting it revamped where necessary and then fitting it with some fresh breathing equipment. High-grade pod filters are present on the intake side of things, and they’re complemented by a stainless-steel exhaust system built in-house. The plumbing runs a two-into-one layout toward a SuperTrapp silencer on the right-hand side.

Items like the swingarm, rims, and most of the engine’s exterior were finished in black just like the frame. With everything pieced back together, the Matador was finally complete and ready to be handed back to its owner. The two of them went through a lot together, for sure, so it’s nice to know that they’ll be putting many more miles behind them on hard asphalt and unpaved roads alike.