In case you’re wanting for an journey bike to customise, the Honda NX650 Dominator makes for a compelling argument. It would go wherever, do something and final ceaselessly, with out breaking the financial institution. Its solely draw back is its seems to be—which is why you received’t really feel responsible tearing into it.
Brothers Diego and Riki Coppiello are out to make the world a extra stunning place, one customized Dominator at a time. They run North East Customized in northern Italy and are nuts about traditional enduro and rally racing. So though they construct all kinds of customized types, they particularly relish engaged on journey bikes.
The brothers have been approached by a few mates that needed to fee a customized construct collectively. Taking inspiration from retro rally raid machines, North East Customized hauled the Dominator into the store and acquired going.
“The bottom was a 1994 Honda NX650 Dominator—the ugly one,” Diego tells us. “So we modified the tank with a 1989 mannequin, and constructed a brand new fairing.”
The older Honda gasoline tank was a straight swap, however the rally-style fairing was constructed from scratch, utilizing fiberglass. The 2 mix flawlessly into one another, giving the construct an nearly manufacturing unit really feel.
A pair of LED headlights sit behind a metallic encompass, their mismatched sizes faintly harking back to BMW’s iconic R1150GS. There’s extra lighting decrease down, within the type of LED strips tucked into the fairing’s forefront. A supermotard fender from UFO finishes off the entrance finish.
Behind the windshield is a customized dashboard, which performs host to a GPS mount, digital instrumentation from Koso, the sunshine switches, and the fuse field. The customized leather-based pouch beneath the sprint is a very good contact. It’s the proper stash spot for sun shades, earplugs and path snacks.
An identical North East Customized bar pad adorns a brand new set of Neken bars, together with Domino grips and foldable mirrors.
Additional again, the inventory seat was reshaped with a contemporary, slimmer profile—with out lowering its peak. Lined in black leather-based with a yellow contrasting sew, it seems to be greater than comfy.
Handmade aluminum facet covers completely envelop twin Virex silencers, defending the rider, passenger and any baggage thrown over the saddle from warmth. A brand new fiberglass fender sits out again, with a neat LED taillight tucked beneath the rear lip. The rear’s completed off with a customized baggage rack, full with a quick-release bracket for a tail bag from the Indonesian attire firm, Orbit.
The remainder of the bike options minimal (and sensible tweaks), beginning with a set of grippy off-road foot pegs. North East Customized refreshed the manufacturing unit 21F/18R wheels with new gold rims and Continental TKC80 tires. The forks look model new too, due to a recent coat of paint and new gaiters.
The Dominator’s retina-searing paint scheme was impressed by Husqvarna’s Norden 901, though it’s not a straight rip. The daring colours and retro graphics look proper at dwelling on this neo-retro journey bike, and will pop as a lot within the woods as they do within the metropolis. Emblazoned on the tank is the quantity 782—a mixture of 1978 and 1982, the brand new house owners’ delivery years.
Most journey bikes are good examples of perform over fork, however we reckon Diego and Ricki have ticked each packing containers right here.
Every part on this Dominator seems to be prefer it belongs, nearly as if it’s some forgotten rally prototype that was by no means launched. We are able to see just one drawback: with two house owners, who will get to trip it first?
North East Customized | Fb | Instagram | Photographs by Filippo Molena
