It’s hard to be deny the allure of a rally motorcycle. Every inch of it is built to work, and every part on it serves a specific function. Add it all in, and it’s an overall vibe; main definition of form after function.
It is therefore not surprising that many modern adventure bikes take their style from purpose-built racing machines. And why is the aftermarket filled with parts to turn dirt bikes into racing bikes — to actually race or simply make them more suitable for dual sport use.
This custom 1989 Honda NX650 Dominatorfrom Holger Breur at HB-Custom in Germany, built to do a little bit of everything. This is the second Dominator Holger has done in this style, both with the specific purpose of traversing the Trans-Euro Trail.
The Trans Euro Trail is 80,000 km . long [49,710 mile] adventurous equestrian routes, 64 percent of which occur on dirt roads. It was a sort of virtual navigation gathering—participants could download free GPS routes, stretching from the Arctic Circle all the way to Africa, and tackle them at their leisure, bit by bit. And this Honda seems perfect for it.
Holger took some inspiration from a friend’s Husqvarna 701 Enduro, which has been fitted with an aftermarket navigation tower. 701 switches are common and their parts are easy to find. But this is not the case with Dominator.
That’s why the navigation tower on this particular bike is a combination of replaced, modified, and single-use parts. Holger started with some small KTM details, then pieced them together with some custom pieces. The actual windshield comes from Rade Garage, a company near Prague that specializes in these.
Illuminating the road ahead is a pair of Hella headlights. The navigation tower is surrounded by a pair of handmade panels that hold everything together. But there are also many adjustments that are not visible—such as adjusting the steering wheel and stopping the steering.
The layout behind the screen is neat and practical. A digital Koso dashboard is front and center, with the smartphone mounted higher for navigation. Holger also added a charging port to make sure he doesn’t get lost.
There’s also a set of Magura handlebars, equipped with racing-style soft grips, hand guards and new switches. The brake lever is another Magura part, and the brake hoses at both ends have been upgraded to braided stainless steel items. Holger also fitted a pair of KTM sturdy footrests, but he had to modify the mounts to accommodate them.
Most of the bodywork is actually OEM, but the whole package has been tweaked somewhat. Holger left the tank and saddle intact, but added a new gel pad and upholstery for the rear seat. The front fender is from Polisport, while the rear fender is original, with an extra pair of handles to pull the car out of difficult spots.
The wheels are also original, but they have been stripped, powder coated and tied with stainless steel spokes. Other upgrades include Brembo brake discs, Michelin dirt tires and front and rear brake guards.
Holger has upgraded the fork at the factory with new adjustable internals, and replaced the rear shock with a fully adjustable YSS kit.
The internals of the Honda were also overhauled. Holger rebuilt the engine and installed a Mikuni TM40 carburetor. He also built a two-in-one-to-two exhaust system, and covered it with matching titanium Leo Vince mufflers designed for the Honda CRF series.
All wiring is new, built around a controller from Axel Joost Elektronik in Germany.
Dominator’s paint colors are simple but highly effective. Elegant red and black stripes adorn the vehicle, complemented by graphics taken directly from Honda’s style guide.
Holger went to great lengths to add a sense of realism to the graphics. The Honda ‘Wing’ logo, the saddle logo and the ‘PRO-LINK’ motif on the swingarm are clear highlights. But a closer look, you’ll even spot Honda’s ‘Rally Touring’ logo on the side panels; a graphic that has adorned countless Honda Transalps and Africa Twins throughout the years.
It’s details like these that make this Dominator so delicious. But the irony is that Holger probably won’t ride it on the Trans-Euro Trail. He has another NX650 already lined up—so he’ll either give this to his girlfriend on the trip or sell it.
Either way, we hope it is used for the purpose for which it was designed; Dominate the trails and get dirty.
HB-Custom | Instagram | Pictures of Emayat Wahab
