There’s a certain magic in the way Kengo Kimura from Hiroshima’s legendary Heiwa Motorcycle approaches a build. It’s not about throwing every aftermarket part in a catalogue at a bike, but rather stripping it back, distilling it, and then rebuilding it until every line looks intentional and every weld feels inevitable. His latest creation, 250TR No. 018, is no exception. Based on a humble Kawasaki 250TR from the early 2000s, this custom scrambler is a masterclass in minimalism and balance, drenched in a rich metallic green that practically glows under the workshop lights.
Kimura-san has become something of a cult figure in Japan’s custom scene. Over the past two decades, Heiwa Motorcycle has built a reputation for bikes that are understated yet dripping with style, often leaning into brat and tracker aesthetics with a distinctly Japanese flair. This latest build, completed just this week, continues that tradition, taking Kawasaki’s factory retro-trail bike and turning it into a lean, purposeful machine that could just as easily win a design award as it could tear through Hiroshima’s backstreets. And as part of Kimura-san’s more affordable range of bikes, it allows his fans to ride a Heiwa every day, without selling a kidney for the privilege.
The Kawasaki 250TR is already a bit of a blank canvas for builders, a simple, air-cooled single-cylinder with a five-speed box, a lightweight 146 kg chassis, and a retro silhouette that nods to ‘70s trail bikes. With its 249 cc SOHC thumper pumping out a modest 25 horses, the stock bike was never going to break land speed records. But that’s the point: simplicity breeds creativity. And in Kimura’s hands, this humble Kawasaki has been transformed into something that feels bespoke from every angle.
The transformation starts with the frame. Kimura stripped the bike down to its bare bones, reshaping the seat rail and subframe to create a slimmer, more aggressive stance. The swingarm remains understated, keeping the bike’s proportions tight and balanced. Perched on top is a custom synthetic leather seat, stitched and shaped to follow the clean new lines. The framework alone tells you this isn’t a bolt-on job; it’s a from-scratch vision executed with Heiwa’s trademark precision.
A set of scrambler bars fitted with MX grips sets the riding position, while a petite 4.5-inch fog lamp at the front and a signature Heiwa taillight out back keep the lighting minimal and classic. The dash is stripped to the essentials, with nothing but a single Mini meter offering a subtle nod to vintage instrumentation. A single mirror tucked in tight keeps things street legal, and the switch gear has been replaced for some truly vintage stuff. Completing it all is the leather-bound handlebar pad, which really taps into that ’70s dirt bike feel.
Underneath, the single-cylinder mill stays true to Kawasaki’s tried-and-true formula but breathes through a one-off handmade exhaust system and a custom muffler fabricated in-house at Heiwa. The pipework is an artwork of its own, sleek, purposeful, and perfectly matched to the bike’s proportions. That neat, straight line, shielded where the leg passes over, makes you wonder why so many seem to overcomplicate this facet of a build. The simplicity of the air-cooled setup gives the bike a raw, mechanical feel, perfectly complementing Kimura’s design ethos of “less is more, but better.”
The bike rolls on rugged Dunlop D603 rubber, with a 110/80-19 front and 120/90-18 rear, mounted on classic spoked wheels. Combined with the tall stance and long-travel forks, the 250TR keeps its scrambler DNA alive, while the meticulous detailing elevates it to something you’d expect to see under the spotlights at a custom show. Both front and rear fenders are custom-made, the rear with hand-fabbed struts that match the bike’s clean geometry. Every visible component feels like it’s been pared back to its essence.
Finished in a stunning metallic green paint job by ACN, the colour brings a vintage-meets-modern vibe that ties the whole build together. At its core, this is a bike that embodies Kimura’s philosophy: timeless styling, mechanical honesty, and craftsmanship you can feel in every component. The 250TR No018 isn’t a radical departure from the Kawasaki’s scrambler roots; rather, it’s a further refinement. But what this bike also offers is a great lesson to young builders coming through the ranks: take a considered approach, dumping a catalogue of parts on a machine is not what makes for a great custom, and you don’t have to break the bank to play with the big boys.
[ Heiwa Motorcycle | Photos by Hiro Shikikui ]