While they lasted, internet forums were both a wealth of knowledge and also home to many resident keyboard warriors, so as blogs took over, you could be a bit more discerning with whose advice you were taking. And that is what brought me to seek out and find custom motorcycle blogs, a place not only to see the best of what was being built but also to draw inspiration for my own projects. It’s fair to say a large number of people are in the same boat, so, today we present a bike from one of the world’s best builders, and it’s a master class for all on how to transform a cheap commuter bike into a show-stopping custom, without blowing loads of cash. From the legend that is Kengo Kimura, comes this stunning street tracker, built at Heiwa HQ from a 2000 Honda FTR223.
We feature many exceptions to the rule, but most of us would look back at our first custom build with some degree of horror. No planning, slapping on parts willy-nilly and an end result that never quite worked. So, one of the key takeaways from today’s lesson by Heiwa Motorcycles legend Kimura-san is to keep things simple and cohesive. And you don’t need a mega-dollar bike to start your project, the Japanese domestic market FTR223, which has been grey imported into many a country, sells as a used bike for between US$1000-US$4000 depending on year model, mileage and condition.
But FTR I hear you say, isn’t that an Indian thing? Well, it is today, but long before the Americans used the name, Honda was badging bikes as Flat Track Racers and probably should have trademarked the name in the big markets around the globe. This was all part of that late ’90s and early ’00s race replica boom, although the Honda FT has origins dating back to the early ’80s. So, with such a bike in his possession, Kimura-san began the process of planning and executing his twelfth build using the little FTR platform, a motorcycle based on an XR200 chassis.
Starting with that frame, Kimura-san has kept the cutting to a minimum, simply slicing off the rear of the seat rails. This is a wise step for inexperienced builders too, as it can be reversed by an experienced fabricator if you make an error. Having cut the rails back, a simple upswept hoop has been welded in to visually shorten the length of the bike. The next step was to sand down the rest of the frame, smooth it out and hit it with a fresh coat of chassis black for an instantly stunning appearance. To get the roller giving off vintage vibes, 18×4.5 rims are fitted with Adlert rubber.
Now to transform the bodywork, all of the plastic panels and the odd-shaped gas tank are gone creating a nice blank canvas. The big change is the fitment of a classically styled gas tank which will always look good, the ‘Mustang’ shape lowered over the backbone, with rubber mounts to soak up vibrations. Next, the rear fender is another from the classic age of motorcycles, this time hand-crafted by Kimura-san himself, to perfectly match the lines of the tyre. There is a front fender should the owner wish to bolt it up and avoid the wrath of the comments section.
The faux oil tank is another excellent upgrade, and while this is a hand-built Heiwa item which is picture-perfect, you can find prefabricated examples online. These create a great place to hide your battery and other electronic components and give this relatively modern motorcycle some true vintage appeal. Time for paint, and if there is one area where it is worth splashing out and employing a professional, this is it! Kimura-san does exactly that, and having chosen his own version of dark green, he has his friends at ACN wield the spray gun and also apply the neat Heiwa graphics in white.
Time to pick a seat, and Kimura-san has his own signature style, with the black leather unit beautifully stitched and given the pipe treatment to help break up its lines. To further add to the bike’s vintage appeal, a small 4.5in Bates headlight sits on a custom bracket and the taillight is straight from the Heiwa catalogue, with the hot rod inspired piece available to the general public. To keep things street-legal, simple bullet indicators are bolted on, a speedo is added and a single mirror is fitted to the in-house 60SBAR handlebars which wear vintage Jackhammer grips.
To keep the budget under control but get the stance just right, Kimura-san lowered the forks internally by 50mm. He’s taken his time to clean up the lower legs for a clean finish, but the stanchions are simply lightly sanded to ensure no issues with sealing. The rear gets similar treatment, the shock is stripped down and lowered 50mm and the spring has been painted black to give it an as new appearance. The little 223cc single-cylinder engine remains stock internally, they produce 20hp and are near unbreakable. But the sound is improved with a cone style muffler and pod filter. The result is stunning, perfect for Sunday cruising to your favourite cafe. And if you follow the lead of this legend, there’s nothing stopping you from building something similar for less than 8k… bargain.
