The loyal Honda The NX650 Dominator has proven to be a popular custom donor over the years. Maybe it’s the legendary reliability of Honda thumpers, the relatively simple layout of the NX650, or the fact that it can be picked up cheaply. Whatever the reason, there’s huge potential there—and Follow STG just exploited that potential spectacularly.
Based in Buenos Aires, Argentina and run by Marcelo Obarrio and Germán Karp, STG Tracker has a penchant for building incredibly sophisticated things. street watcherThis 1989 Honda NX650 Dominator has all the makings of an STG; sharp lines, an aggressive stance, and a paint job so good it’s hard to imagine it painted any other way.
Choosing a classic HRC color scheme for a custom Honda build might seem like a cheat, but STG has executed the theme so well here that it transcends any criticism. The yellow accents complement the blue, white, and red graphics, while the frame is Honda’s traditional bright red. The new finishes make the engine look like it was built yesterday.
The whole thing looked clean enough to eat from—which is remarkable considering how old the donor bike was. Long before Marcelo and Germán made it beautiful, the old bike Boss The entire engine needs to be overhauled to bring it up to standard.
With that sorted, STG could focus on the fun stuff. “The idea was to create a bike that was completely fun to ride, with full engine power and reduced weight, but also improved suspension and braking,” says Marcelo.
To achieve that, STG grafted the upside-down forks from a Ducati Multistrada 1200 onto the front end of the NX650 via custom-made swingarms. The Multistrada also donated twin Brembo brakes, which required a completely new front wheel. STG CNC-machined a custom hub and mounted it to a 17” rim.
Another new 17” rim sits at the rear, mounted to a Honda hub that’s compatible with disc brakes. This NX650 comes with a drum brake at the rear, but STG took the opportunity to convert it to a disc setup, with Nissin calipers and master cylinders. Both front and rear brakes are hooked up to HEL Performance brake lines.
The STG kept the NX650’s rear shock absorbers but built them from scratch. Pirelli MT60 RS tires provide the perfect balance between rugged looks and grip.
All of the NX650’s old, worn-out plastics have been removed and replaced with a mix of recycled and handmade parts. The fuel tank is a recycled part from an unknown 1970s mountain bike, while the leather seat is unique.
STG chopped off the Honda subframe and built a new one, shortening the rear end in the process. A handcrafted aluminum fender protrudes out back and provides splash protection down below.
The lower part of the Dominator’s new tail section looks like a Tetris ring. Twin LEDs hang from the bottom of the fenders, serving as turn signals and taillights. The whole system is tucked away in a custom electronics box, which also houses the exhaust system and provides a place to mount the regulator/rectifier.
Under the hood, STG has rewired the bike’s entire electrical system around the Motogadget brain, mounting all the vital components into a new underseat box that now also houses the ignition.
At the opposite end of the bike, you’ll find the Honda XR650L nacelle headlight, with LED lighting added. The front bumper is another handcrafted aluminum unit. STG shaped it to perfectly match the shape of the headlight housing, so it looks like a single piece from a distance.
Behind the headlight are new ProTaper bars, held in place by custom clamps that also house a small digital Motogadget speedometer. New grips and Motogadget pushbuttons complete the cockpit.
One of the Dominator’s many quirks is its twin exhaust ports. STG has made good use of that here, fabricating a two-into-one stainless steel exhaust system that snakes through the frame, exiting through BMW-specific Akrapovič mufflers.
As we’ve come to expect from Marcelo and Germán, this Honda NX650 Dominator hits all the right notes. According to Marcelo, it’s also a pretty good bike to ride.
“This bike is amazing to ride—maximum power in every gear,” he adds. “Super thin and light, just like riding a bike!”
“Once you start, you can’t stop.”
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