Do you remember What first piqued your interest in custom motorcycles? Santi deWolf does not; it’s a Honda CB cafe racer, built by Dustin Kott, which he discovered online about seven years ago. And it set him on the path to becoming a part-time custom builder.
“I immediately fell in love with the purity and simplicity of the bike,” Santi tells us. “That led me to find Bike EXIF, and I went through absolutely all your stuff in a couple of weeks… that’s quite an achievement. I was so obsessed with this movement that I didn’t even know it existed.”
Santi is a mechanical engineer by trade and works as a product developer for a major home appliance brand. But since he’s fascinated with the custom scene, he spends his spare time working on bikes from his home garage in Zaragoza, Spain, under the banner of deWolf Moto Co. ., this Honda SLR 650 is his fifth project and it is built using the most basic of toolset.
“Everything I know is self-taught, mostly through YouTube tutorials and trial and error,” he said. “My bikes are made with a drill, grinder, file, and a basic set of wrenches, literally. Over the past two years, I have purchased and learned how to use a TIG welder and a large format 3D printer, among other things.”
Santi initially received the sponsor’s bike, a 1998 Honda SLR 650 (a more street-focused version of the entry-level model). Ruler), from his father-in-law, around the same time he discovered the custom. “It’s in good condition,” he says, “and it’s a great bike to learn – cheap, reliable, comfortable, nimble and not too fast. Just what I needed as a rookie.”
“I drove it for a couple of years, with lots of trips in between, and really liked the way it handled. But as you know, the look is pretty awkward, so from the day I bought it, I was thinking of customizing it. “
Since this is a personal project, Santi’s goal is to turn the Honda into a modern car street watchers—No bank violations. So he just does everything by himself, lacking specialist work like painting and upholstery.
“I wanted something with a street watcher vibe,” he told us, “but completely unique, with as many handcrafted parts as possible. I started with a Procreate sketch on my iPad, and went from there. “
The biggest visual highlight comes from Honda’s new geometric body. But lurking among the custom components is a salvaged part: the fuel tank from a 1979 Bultaco Metralla GTS 250. Santi modified the bottom to fit the Honda, then repainted the inside.
The headlights, side caps, tailgate and fenders (yes, at both ends) are hand-formed from fiberglass. Santi made the parts from the foam blocks first, before laying down the fiberglass.
The subframe has been shortened and refined, and all bodywork is attached to hand-crafted steel supports. Pedro Vilés has upholstered the seat in a water-repellent suede-like fabric, and the rear pad is interchangeable for a billion-dollar chair. A set of 3D printed badges adorn the Bultaco tank.
Hidden behind the side covers is a custom steel battery case. Santi also rewound the bike and treated it with a thorough service – down to the last detail of nuts and bolts.
Tucked away in the front plate is a halogen illuminator released from the aftermarket Polisport enduro unit. Right behind it is a Koso digital speedo and a set of Renthal bars, fitted with new mirrors and lever guards. A set of Micro Cube LED turn signals is mounted just outside the bottom pin.
Behind is a custom license plate holder, equipped with a pair of multi-purpose LED Highsider lights. Santi wanted to keep SLR street legal, so there’s also LED license plate lighting — but this whole arrangement is easy to pull off for off-road freaks.
Other upgrades include braided brake hoses from HEL, Mezeler Tourance tires and a DNA high-flow air filter. Santi kept the stock suspension, but rebuilt it at both ends for a more durable ride. Completing everything is a pair of aftermarket carbon silencers, mounted to the custom stainless steel front end.
The warm light gray highlights Honda’s revised lines, coined by Alberto Malpica. Santi completed the rest of the car with a mixture of powder coated and polished parts.
Since Santi only works on his bikes after work, it took him 5 years to complete the SLR 650. And now that it’s installed, it’s being sold to raise funds for the project. Next up – prove how addicted he is to custom motorcycles.
DeWolf Moto Co’s Instagram. | Photo of Tirso Bernad
