Nojima Engineering: Legendary Mechanic Builds Excellent Exhausts

Story

A legend in the history of Suzuka 8 Hours

What many fans of the Suzuka 8 Hours still can't forget today is the "NJ" machine from the late 1990s. It is still hailed by many seasoned Japanese riders as the pinnacle of ZRX customization.

Originally, Nojima Engineering wanted to participate in the Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Road Race with a naked model, so they chose the ZRX1100 (1997-2001), which had just been introduced at the time, as a base, and sought to enhance its performance.

The result was the ZRX-NJ-1, with a chromoly steel frame and a link-type mono shock rear suspension. This machine raced for several years starting in 1998. Because of its popularity, dozens of ZRX1100/1200 series customs were built with the same motif and delivered to owners around Japan (there were also NJs built using the XJR1300 and ZEPHYR 750 as the base).

Seeking the ultimate in Super Naked

After participating in the Suzuka 8 Hours, Nojima Engineering chose the Z1000 as its next naked racing machine. Unlike the ZRX racer, which had been thoroughly modified, the Z1000 was modified modestly to take advantage of its good qualities, while a carburetor was used to expand the range of settings. Nojima Engineering participated in the "TASTE OF FREELANCE" and other races with this Z1000, achieving good results and making the appeal of the Super Naked known to the world.

Compared to the NJ-1, the Z1000 had less modifications, but according to Nojima, the reason was that the stock bike was well made. The frame was too rigid, so the wall thickness around the pivot was reduced. Also, no matter how much they tried to set up the injection system, they could not get the engine characteristics they wanted, so they decided to go with a carburetor.

The front forks are from the ZX-6R, and the top bridge is stock.

Adapted for the street

In 2002, Nojima Engineering launched the NJ-2 service to bring the technology gained from the development of the NJ-1 to the street. By changing the rear shock to a mono shock, the limits of twin shocks are broken down, and the performance of naked bikes is greatly improved. Many users have taken advantage of this service so far, and orders are still coming in.

The technology and know-how gained from the NJ-1, such as the mounting position of the rear shock and the link lever ratio, has been fully incorporated into the NJ-2, taking the naked bike to a new level.

A Mechanic, a Miracle Maker

Hidetoshi Nojima joined Moriwaki Engineering in 1976 and began his career as a mechanic. During his time at Moriwaki, he worked on the machines of Graeme Crosby and Wayne Michael Gardner at the Suzuka 8 Hours, and achieved good results. After leaving Moriwaki, he established Nojima Engineering. His skills were put to the test not only in Japan but also on the world GP track.

Back in Japan, he mainly raced in the Sunday Road Race where he achieved brilliant results, but it was the Suzuka 8 Hours in 1999 that made the biggest impression. He chose a naked motorcycle, the KAWASAKI ZRX1100 as his base machine rather than a supersport bike. Anyone could see that that was a disadvantage, but he was purposefully challenging himself with the question, "How close can a steel frame machine come to an aluminum frame?"

Exhaust artist

Nojima Engineering is also a well-known motorcycle parts manufacturer, with their signature product being exhaust systems that are used by many seasoned riders in Japan. The technology and experience developed on the race track is applied to the development of their products.

One of their best known exhausts is the TYPE-SC (Spiral Collector) with an ingenious merge collector for multi-cylinder engines. As the name implies, it has a spiral-shaped collector, and while it is a 4-1 merge, it offers the ease of handling of a 4-2-1. In other words, it provides sufficient torque in the low RPM range (a weak point of the 4-1), and in the mid to high RPM range, it provides the kind of power that is typical of a straight merge. The exhaust flow has been redesigned to improve the efficiency of filling the cylinders by keeping the exhaust gas inside the exhaust pipe at low RPMs.

Products

Let's take a look at two of Nojima's most highly rated exhaust series.

FASARM Series

・Penetrating power feel and traditional Nojima sound
・Titanium exhaust with great cost performance made possible by advances in machine bending technology
・Solid machine-bent titanium exhaust pipes and silencer
・Spiral collector used for main 4-1 models
・R TITAN high-mount tail-up type is available for some models

FASARM PRO TITAN / PRO R TITAN

The specs are optimized based on the model's engine characteristics, frame shape, bank angle, and many other aspects. The PRO TITAN and PRO-R TITAN are the pinnacle of Nojima's exhaust systems, combining traditional hand-bent titanium exhaust pipes with ultra-lightweight silencers that are made from titanium down to the smallest internal parts.

FASARM S TITAN / R TITAN

An exhaust with excellent cost performance made possible by Nojima Engineering's exhaust technology and recent advances in machine bending technology. By basing the specifications on those of the PRO TITAN, while it is not as light, it offers very close results in terms of performance. The improved performance achieved with the titanium exhaust pipes, combined with the increased power, will satisfy a wide range of users, from rookies to seasoned riders.

FASARM MIDDLE S2 / R2

"We want to bring Nojima's traditional power feel and sound to 400-class bikes!" The FASARM 400 class series was created with this concept in mind, while also taking into consideration the convenience of changing engine oil and oil filters. It brings with it that power that only Nojima can deliver while meeting strict Japanese noise regulation values.

FASARM M TITAN TYPE S / R

Aftermarket exhausts for mini motos are expected to bring out the maximum of what is a limited amount of power to being with, making this a challenging field, but Nojima Engineering is always up for a challenge. These exhausts can handle not only the stock engine, but also heavy tuning such as big bore, high camshaft, and big carburetor engines.

LOCK-ON Series

・A fusion of Nojima tradition and new generation silencers
・The goal of the LOCK-ON series is to provide the best exhaust for the machine, regardless of category (naked, sport, 400cc and below, etc.)
・LOCK-ON exhausts are available in various specifications such as hand-bent titanium (with heat coloring), machine-bent titanium (without heat coloring), and stainless steel, depending on the characteristics of the compatible model
・Utilizing Nojima's exhaust technology cultivated through the development of their FASARM series, the LOCK-ON series offers high output characteristics while meeting various regulations for Japanese vehicle inspection (excluding universal silencers)
・Features of the LOCK-ON silencer
1. Unique and stylish design that gradually widens toward the rear
2. Slim, atypical cross-sectional shape with sufficient capacity and bank angle for superior aerodynamics and reduced stress when passing
3. The weight of the silencer is comparable to that of the PRO TITAN, which is known for being ultra-lightweight, contributing greatly to the improvement of riding performance
4. Complies with Japan's various noise and exhaust gas regulations using Nojima's accumulated know-how and technology

Below you will find links to Nojima Engineering products for some popular models.

HONDA

KAWASAKI

YAMAHA

SUZUKI