Hazan Motorworks' supercharged KTM is a hand-built custom motorcycle by Max Hazan, one of the world's most celebrated bespoke builders, powered by a KTM racing four-stroke engine paired with an Aisin AMR350 supercharger and a fully fabricated chromoly chassis. Commissioned for the Haas Motorcycle Gallery in Dallas, it represents Hazan's philosophy of building from the engine outward, letting raw performance dictate every design decision.
Who Is Max Hazan and What Is Hazan Motorworks?
Max Hazan is a New York-based motorcycle builder whose work sits at the intersection of mechanical engineering and fine metalwork. He is among the rare builders worldwide who starts every project with the engine and constructs the entire machine around it, rather than adapting a donor frame. His shop, Hazan Motorworks, has produced a small number of singular motorcycles that have been displayed in galleries and collected internationally. The guiding principle is simple: something fast, light and cheap in concept, extraordinary in execution.
The Engine: KTM Four-Stroke with an Aisin Supercharger
Hazan selected a KTM 520 RFS (Racing Four Stroke) engine for its combination of reliable power output and light weight. A KTM 520 donor bike was sourced, complete with a full Ohlins suspension setup. To push the concept further, Hazan added an Aisin AMR350 supercharger, a Roots-type blower similar to those used on small Japanese-market subcompact cars. A single Keihin FCR41 carburettor feeds the blower, and the finished engine produces approximately 85 hp in a motorcycle weighing just 245 pounds (111 kg) wet.
Aluminium Bodywork and Hand-Fabricated Tank
In typical Hazan fashion, every body panel is handcrafted from aluminium. The fuel tank is shaped from 6061-series aluminium, which provides the right balance of rigidity and workability. A separate coolant tank sits up front and is finished in black nickel. All panels were polished, plated by traditional methods, chemically tinted, and then clear-coated to protect the surface while preserving its hand-worked character.
Frame, Wheels and Bespoke Suspension
The chassis uses 1/8-inch wall, 1.25-inch chromoly tubing throughout, with a neck milled from a solid block rather than welded. Despite its slender profile it is among the strongest frames Hazan has built. Front forks and rear suspension components are machined from solid 2-inch chromoly bar stock. The rear hub was the most labour-intensive single component on the build: it uses an asymmetrical lacing pattern, radial 10-spoke on the non-drive side and crossed 20-spoke on the drive side, with spokes lacing directly through the sprocket. Both wheels use traditional flanges that lock onto the tyre beads.
A Motorcycle Built From Its Heart
The supercharged KTM distils what makes Hazan Motorworks distinctive: complete mastery of material from engine to skin, no purchased bodywork, no compromises. If you appreciate custom motorcycle building at this level, explore the The Musket by Hazan Motorworks and the Ducati 860 GT Turbo by Hazan available at TheArsenale. For the full breadth of world-class custom builds, browse the motorcycles collection.
Photo: Bike EXIF. Sources: Bike EXIF, Designboom
