High-end custom motorcycle often criticized for favoring form over function, but Kengo Kimura excels with mastery. As Heiwa Motorcycle, he has won numerous awards — including multiple wins at the prestigious Mooneyes show. But he also loves building real world smashers like this sassy little Suzuki rival.
Simply named ‘GrassTracker No0006’, this bike was ordered by a customer and follows the pattern Kimura-san has developed over the past few years. It is based on the humble Suzuki TU250 Grasstracker Big Boy 2000 — a 250 cc single-cylinder commuter with classic charm.
Kengo often chooses the TU250 or its variant, the ST250, for these scrambler projects, because they tick a lot of boxes. They are uncomplicated machines with minimal bodywork, good ground clearance and 19F/18R wheels perfectly suited for dual use. And since they only make 20 hp and weigh 273 dry lbs, brake and suspension upgrades are less of a priority.
That’s why this Grasstracker running suit is mostly left alone, save for a new set of Dunlop D603 tires. Kengo focused on trimming the petite car even further, refining its appearance and making it more enjoyable to drive.
Kengo started by removing Suzuki stock trims, replacing them with an ingenious mix of modified and one-off parts. The aluminum fuel tank is actually from a vintage motorcycle; more specifically a 1977 Suzuki RM250. Kengo modified it to fit the Grasstracker’s frame and welded in a new sling for the pet.
Behind the fuel tank is a slim single seat, wrapped in a sturdy gray vinyl. Kengo modified the subframe underneath it—cut and spliced it as short as possible without hacking into the stock shock-rack gussets.
Custom fenders mounted high at both ends complement the classic scrambler look of the Grasstracker. The front fender is held in place by an elegant hand-made bracket, and the rear is fitted with Heiwa taillights and a neat license plate holder.
Kengo modified the classic fog lights to act as headlights, then fitted small bullet-style turn signals at both ends.
Up top is an off-road set of handlebars, complete with Heiwa’s trademark decorative bar pads. The control area is quite sparse, with Renthal handles, small vintage style switches and a single mirror. A micro speedo, mounted to the left of the top peg, makes things street legal.
Kengo also tweaked the wiring and placed the ignition to a custom side panel on the left side of the bike. Behind it, the airbox has been removed to be replaced by a housing filter.
Look to the other side, and you’ll notice a small, hand-made fuel cell that is easily mistaken for the oil tank on an older bicycle. It carries less than a gallon of fuel, which, as Kengo says, is enough for “mountain emergencies.”
However, it did not fall into the main tank. Instead, it pops out via two latches under the saddle, which act like a sort of jerry can. And because the side cap is the right size, easy to reach and angled, you can cover it while it’s still attached to your bike.
In the end, there’s nothing extravagant going on here — just a well-reviewed mod set that complements a cute commuter that can enjoy the weekend. We also love the monochrome paint job, done by frequent Heiwa collaborator, Ninben.
But our favorite mod is definitely the stainless steel exhaust system. Kengo chose a pair of high-mount shotgun tubes for this version, protecting the rider’s legs with an elegant custom heat shield. It looks perfect, and probably looks killer as well.
We’re constantly reminded of how fun small bikes can be — but we rarely expect those reminders to come from award-winning custom motorcycle builders. Here’s hoping that Kengo has enough time between his larger projects to keep making sassy shredders like this.
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