In the event you have been to attract a Venn diagram of “legendary reliability” and “unapologetic 90s plastic,” the Honda NX650 Dominator would sit proper within the middle. Launched in 1988, the Dominator was Honda’s reply to the rising demand for “smooth” dual-sports—bikes that might deal with a gravel fireplace highway on Saturday and a grocery run on Monday. At its coronary heart beats a 644cc SOHC air-cooled single-cylinder engine, a “thumper” within the truest sense. It was identified for its punchy low-end torque and a bulletproof nature that has seen many models clock six-figure distances with little greater than oil modifications.
Whereas the inventory aesthetics, full with built-in fairings and a considerably cumbersome silhouette, haven’t aged fairly as gracefully as a CB750, the Dominator’s bones are pure gold for customizers. Beneath that plastic is a slim body, a flexible 21-inch entrance wheel (normally), and a motor that appears improbable as soon as stripped of its environment. It’s a clean canvas for all the things from desert sleds to city scramblers.
At Bike EXIF, we’ve seen the NX reimagined in each manner possible. Listed here are six of our favourite customized Honda NX650 Dominators that show this outdated warhorse nonetheless has loads of gallop left.
The HRC Tribute by STG Tracker
Primarily based in Buenos Aires, STG Tracker took a 1989 NX650 donor and reworked it into an impossibly slick road tracker. By grafting the upside-down forks and twin Brembo brakes from a Ducati Multistrada 1200, they gave this thumper the front-end prowess it at all times deserved, paired with a customized CNC-machined hub and 17-inch rims.
Visually, the bike is an train within the traditional HRC palette. The body wears Honda’s conventional vibrant purple, whereas the bodywork—a mixture of a Nineteen Seventies filth bike tank and a home made aluminum rear fender—is draped in blue, white, and purple graphics.
The cockpit is refined, that includes ProTaper bars and a digital Motogadget speedo. The exhaust is a customized two-into-one stainless system snaking by means of the body to an Akrapovič muffler. Based on builder Marcelo Obarrio, the load loss has reworked the bike right into a “bicycle” with full energy in each gear—a slender, light-weight, and addictive machine that’s exhausting to step away from. [MORE]
The TET Explorer by HB-Customized
Holger Breuer of HB-Customized constructed this 1989 Dominator with a singular mission: conquering the Trans Euro Path (TET). Impressed by the Husqvarna 701 Enduro, Holger created a bespoke navigation tower utilizing a mixture of KTM elements and a Rade Storage windscreen. It’s a purposeful construct the place kind follows operate, that includes Hella twin headlights, a Koso digital sprint, and a smartphone mount for GPS-heavy journey using.
Mechanically, it was handled to a full overhaul, together with a Mikuni TM40 carb for higher throttle response and a YSS rear shock for improved damping on rugged trails. The wheels have been powder-coated and re-laced with stainless spokes, wrapped in aggressive Michelin filth tires. To deal with the warmth of long-distance trekking, Holger fabricated a two-into-one-into-two exhaust system capped with titanium Leo Vince mufflers from a CRF sequence.
The livery is a refined nod to Honda’s rally heritage, that includes “PRO-LINK” and “Rally Touring” decals that appear to be factory-issue graphics. Regardless of its rugged capabilities, the bike stays extremely clear. Whether or not it’s dragging the bike out of a muddy rut through its rear seize handles or cruising at freeway speeds, this Dominator is the final word instrument for a 50,000-mile journey. [MORE]
The Neo-Basic Rally by North East Customized
Brothers Diego and Riki Coppiello of North East Customized aimed to repair the Dominator’s “ugly” years (particularly a 1994 mannequin) by trying backward for inspiration. They swapped the inventory tank for a 1989 model and hand-built a surprising fiberglass rally fairing. The entrance finish is dominated by mismatched LED headlights that evoke the spirit of the enduring BMW R1150GS, paired with a high-mounted UFO supermotard fender.
The element work on this construct is phenomenal, that includes a customized leather-based pouch built-in into the dashboard—excellent for sun shades or path snacks. The seat was reshaped into a contemporary, slim profile and lined in black leather-based with yellow stitching matching the daring, Husqvarna-inspired paint job. To maintain issues sensible, they added handmade aluminum facet covers to guard the rider from the warmth of the dual Virex silencers.
Beneath the flashy paint, the bike stays a succesful off-roader. It sits on 21F/18R gold rims wrapped in Continental TKC80 rubber. The brothers managed to create a motorbike that appears like a “misplaced” manufacturing facility prototype—a machine that’s as snug carving by means of metropolis site visitors as it’s kicking up mud within the Italian countryside. [MORE]
The Razor-Sharp Scrambler by Earth Bikes
Slovakia’s Earth Bikes took a distinct route, stripping a 1991 Dominator right down to its naked necessities to create a minimalist road scrambler. The engine was vapor-blasted and rebuilt with new internals, whereas the electronics have been simplified round a Bluetooth-enabled Motogadget controller. The stance was leveled out by decreasing the forks and swapping the 21-inch entrance wheel for a extra street-biased 19-inch unit.
The visible spotlight is the “straight line” silhouette achieved by welding new tabs for a traditional aftermarket tank and fabricating a very new subframe. The tail ends in two sharp, slash-cut rails with built-in Highsider LEDs, whereas the seat pan was 3D-designed to observe the body’s distinctive “drop-tail” geometry. It’s a follow in clear strains, the place each wire and bracket has been hidden or eradicated.
Aleš Tomis, the lead builder, centered on making the bike considerably lighter than the unique. The customized exhaust makes use of modified inventory headers and a customized aftermarket muffler, reaching a clear look with out compromising efficiency. The result’s a common bike—equally at residence on a sidewalk cafe or a light-weight off-road path—that feels as svelte as a contemporary mountain bike. [MORE]
The 3D-Printed Futurist by Vagabund Moto
Vagabund Moto is understood for a “modernist” method, and their “V13” mission is arguably essentially the most futuristic Dominator in existence. The standout characteristic is the bodywork, that includes the gasoline tank, tail unit, and air filter cowl, which have been all created utilizing Nylon PA12 3D printing. This allowed the Austrian duo to attain a minimalist, seamless look that may be practically not possible to duplicate with conventional metal-shaping methods.
Regardless of the high-tech bodywork, the bike stays a completely useful off-roader. It encompasses a customized baggage rack designed to carry GKA gasoline canisters for prolonged vary, and a entrance cargo rack that homes a quick-release Black Ember storage bag. The 644cc engine was reconditioned and paired with a high-performance Akrapovič muffler, whereas the braking was upgraded with a large 320mm rotor.
The cockpit is an train in “much less is extra,” with a customized high yoke and built-in Kellermann flip indicators. The bike appears to be like like one thing from a sci-fi movie, but it’s totally street-legal in Austria. It’s a testomony to how Twenty first-century expertise can breathe completely new life right into a 30-year-old Japanese thumper. [MORE]
The City Tracker by HB-Customized
Our second entry from Holger Breuer proves that the Dominator is so good, it might persuade somebody to promote their fashionable bike. On this case, the shopper traded a Husqvarna 701 Vitpilen for this tradition 1992 NX650. Holger’s objective was to construct one thing mild, sturdy, and funky for an city surroundings. He achieved this by ditching the rally plastics in favor of a modified Yamaha XT500 gasoline tank and hand-shaped aluminum facet covers.
The engine was rebuilt for whole reliability and fitted with a Mikuni TM40 carb and a Okay&N filter for a bit extra “snap” off the road. The wheels have been downsized to 17-inch hoops at each ends, shod in Continental TKC80s to take care of that rugged aesthetic whereas bettering highway dealing with. A Magura HC1 radial grasp cylinder ensures stopping energy as much as fashionable requirements.
The livery—a placing mixture of white, inexperienced, and gold—was developed in collaboration with Himora Motors. It’s a classy look that enhances the brown leather-based seat and matching grips. By stripping away the ’90s bulk and specializing in traditional proportions, HB-Customized created a tracker that’s extra partaking and soulful than many brand-new bikes on the showroom flooring. [MORE]
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