Do you bear in mind what first piqued your curiosity in {custom} bikes? Santi deWolf does; it was a Honda CB café racer, constructed by Dustin Kott, that he noticed on-line about seven years in the past. And it set him on the trail to changing into a part-time {custom} builder himself.
“I immediately fell in love with the purity and ease of the bike,” Santi tells us. “That lead me to search out Bike EXIF, and I went by means of completely all of your content material in a few weeks… which is sort of an accomplishment. I grew to become obsessive about this motion that I had no thought existed.”
Santi’s a mechanical engineer by commerce, and works as a product developer for a serious family equipment model. However ever since he bought hooked on the {custom} scene, he’s spent his spare time engaged on bikes from his residence storage in Zaragoza, Spain, below the banner of deWolf Moto Co. This Honda SLR 650 is his fifth venture, and it was constructed utilizing probably the most primary of toolsets.
“All the pieces I do know is self-taught, largely by means of YouTube tutorials and trial and error,” he says. “My bikes have been created with a drill, a grinder, recordsdata, and a primary set of wrenches, actually. These previous two years I’ve purchased and realized the best way to use a TIG welder, and a big format 3D printer, amongst different stuff.”
Santi initially bought the donor bike, a 1998 Honda SLR 650 (the extra street-focused model of the favored Dominator), from his father-in-law, across the similar time he found the {custom} scene. “It was in respectable situation,” he says, “and it was an ideal bike to be taught on—low cost, dependable, snug, nimble and never excessively quick. Simply what I wanted as a rookie.”
“I rode it for a few years, with many journeys in between, and actually preferred the way it dealt with. However as you already know the appears are fairly awkward, so from the day I purchased it I used to be already occupied with customizing it.”
Since this was a private venture, Santi’s purpose was to rework the Honda into a contemporary road tracker—with out breaking the financial institution. So he did nearly every thing himself, wanting specialised jobs like paint and fabric.
“I needed one thing with a road tracker vibe,” he tells us, “however utterly out of the field, with as many handcrafted components as I might. I began with a Procreate sketch on my iPad, and went from there.”
The most important visible hit comes from the Honda’s new geometric bodywork. However lurking between the custom-made components is one salvaged piece: the gas tank from a 1979 Bultaco Metralla GTS 250. Santi modified the decrease part to make it match the Honda, then re-coated the within.
The headlight nacelle, facet covers, tail hump and fenders (sure, at each ends) have been hand-shaped out of fiberglass. Santi shaped the components out of froth blocks first, earlier than laying down the fiberglass.
The subframe was shortened and tweaked, and all of the physique components have been mounted to hand-made metal brackets. Pedro Vilés upholstered the seat in a water-proof suede-like cloth, and the rear cowl may be swapped for a pillion seat. A set of 3D-printed badges adorn the Bultaco tank.
Hidden behind the facet covers is a {custom} metal battery field. Santi rewired the bike too, and handled it to a radical service—proper right down to detailing each final nut and bolt.
Tucked into the entrance plate is a halogen mild liberated from an aftermarket Polisport enduro half. Simply behind it’s a Koso digital speedo and a set of Renthal bars, fitted with new mirrors and lever guards. A set of Micro Dice LED flip indicators are mounted simply off the decrease yoke.
Out again is a {custom} license plate bracket, fitted with a pair of multi-purpose Highsider LEDs. Santi needed to maintain the SLR road authorized, so there’s an LED license plate mild too—however the entire association is simple to take away for off-road shenanigans.
Different upgrades embody braided brake hoses from HEL, Mezeler Tourance tires and a DNA high-flow air filter. Santi stored the inventory suspension, however rebuilt it at each ends to run stiffer. Ending issues off is a pair of aftermarket carbon mufflers, mounted to {custom} stainless-steel headers.
A heat gray livery accentuates the Honda’s modified strains, laid down by Alberto Malpica. Santi completed the remainder of the bike off with a mixture of powder-coated and polished components.
Since Santi solely works on his bikes after hours, it took him a full 5 years to complete the SLR 650. And now that it’s all buttoned up, it’s on the market to fund the subsequent venture—proving simply how addicted he’s to {custom} bikes.
deWolf Moto Co. Instagram | Photos by Tirso Bernad
