In Taiwan, 150 cc motorcycles are like domestic production Kymco KTR 150 sells like hot cakes. They’re agile, handy, and economical, and small enough to qualify for cheaper licensing fees. But it’s not just commuters who find the appeal—the KTR 150 and its peers are fast becoming the darlings of Taiwan’s burgeoning custom scene.
The country’s best custom motorcycle builders are adept at transforming humble Kymco KTR 150s into bold styles. If you don’t believe us, look at this street disturbance person from Taoyuan City Fever just outside of Taipei. Slender and stylish, it makes a compelling argument for KTR’s potential.
The original intention was to create a simple scrambler while combining classic and modern aesthetics together. The craze responded with a stylish symphony. The fuel tank is reminiscent of classic Japanese dirt bikes, the saddle and tailgate have a vintage Brit feel, and the exhaust has almost the sound of an ongoing performance scooter.
That fuel tank was the first part fitted to the KTR 150—although it wasn’t originally designed for this particular vehicle. It was the first part that Fever founder Xiao An worked on when he was busy learning the craft of metalworking years ago. When he opens Fever, he hangs it on the wall for nostalgia.
Once adjusted to fit Kymco’s frame, the fuel tank determines the rest of the build. Fever tweaked the car’s subframe, finishing it off with a bolted rear loop. The loop isn’t just for show—it also has sport tabs to stabilize the rear fender.
The overall design is neat, cutting a straight line from the fuel tank to the tail. The single seat sits above, upholstered with a white stripe along the edge making it appear thinner than it really is. The ribbed fender is located just behind it, while the taillights molded from Heiwa in Japan are at the rear of the rear loop.
Fever also built experimental front fenders and racks, sexy fenders, sprocket covers and chain guards. A custom battery box sits under the seat, an exhaust manifold and a number plate on the other.
The box houses the key electronic components, along with a Bluetooth-enabled Motogadget controller. The owner of the KTR 150, Jia-Hong Xu, built the new wiring from scratch himself. You can now start your bike from your smartphone, with a secret key starter providing a backup in case the battery runs out.
Switching to suspension, Fever has paired forks, hubs and front drum brakes from a Yamaha SR400. The crew drilled the brake housing first and treated it to polish, then mounted it to the 19” rim. The front end also uses custom axles, spacers and fork caps.
The 18″ rim takes over at the rear, with new shock absorbers from Gears Racing for better handling. Tires are Dunlop K180—street-specific tires with flat road look.
Kymco’s single-cylinder engine has also been completely changed inside and out. Its polished finish adds to the bike’s classic charm, while its new DNA filter and Yoshimura carburetor free up an extra pony or two.
Fever is best known for its discharge work, so they pulled out all the stops here. A single header threaded behind the sump guard and around the engine, before exiting in a boxy oval muffler. The design is rated very well; note how the heat shield echoes the shape of the silencer, right down to its perfectly parallel shutters.
For the controls, Hong and Fever have put together a spec sheet of intriguing parts from around the corner. The handlebar lifter comes from Biltwell Inc. in the US, while the handlebars themselves come from BAAK in France. The headlights also come from BAAK, complete with a built-in Motogadget speedometer.
It’s a neat setup, with subtle push buttons built into the headlights, lever clamps and custom covers on the bars, and all the wiring running inside. (Admittedly, Hong is probably the only one who knows how to run it all.)
Paint work is another feature that needs closer examination. It’s the work of Jeffrey’s Finishing Touch, who painted the car blue and white, then decorated it with delicate silver pinstripes. Additional details include an illustration of a whale on the tank and an appropriate tagline affixed to each side of the battery case; “Slow down for a better life.”
The Kymco KTR 150 craze is not only a demonstration of how much you can do with a simple commuter bike, but also a great reminder that small bikes can have a big attitude.
Taiwanese Sauce | Dong Lin’s picture
