Getting to Know Custom Motorcycles, from Types to Costs to Build

 Buying a mass-produced motorbike is one way to get your dream motorbike. For those who want a more exclusive version, usually the manufacturer also provides special editions that are sold on a limited basis. But what is the solution for people who want a motorbike according to their specifications and desires? Motorcycle custom (custom) is the answer.

In recent years, custom motorcycles are increasingly in demand by the people of Indonesia. This is undeniably the effect of the actions of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo (Jokowi) who often blusukan using his custom motorbike.

Although it has a price that is usually much more expensive than mass-produced motorcycles, the custom motorcycle scene always has a place in each generation. Custom motorbikes usually do not have a selling price that can be calculated with certainty. The price can start from tens of millions to billions of rupiah.

Understanding Custom Motorcycles

Before discussing further about the types and costs, it's a good idea to repeat a little bit about the definition of a custom motorcycle. 

Custom motorcycles, as the name implies, are two-wheeled vehicles built to customized specifications (customization). Usually it is built from a certain motor base, whether it is only taken from the frame or the engine.

In terms of the engine, the engine used is a unit created by the motorcycle manufacturer. This component is often the basis because this mechanical device requires the quality of manufacturing in the style of the manufacturer to support the performance of the custom motorbike.

Even if there is a custom motorbike that is modified from a complete motorbike, usually the format is to change the body design to suit consumer tastes. From there, the builder will design a new design based on the agreed engine and frame.

Custom Motorcycle Type

There are various types of styles or styles of custom motorbikes, here are some types that are popular in Indonesia.

1. Cafe Racer

Cafe racer is one of the most popular types in Indonesia today. As the name implies, the wild racing style of the past is the visual approach. This one style is popular because it is not too difficult to be adopted into the existing types of factory motorcycles to be customized.

The main characteristic of this motorbike is to use a clamp handlebar, a single seat with a wasp tail, to a round lamp. Because it is designed for those of you who like speed, usually the riding position will look down so it is less comfortable when driving for a long time.

2. Brat cafe

This one model is indeed the development of Cafe Racer. The difference is only slight, and is usually often mistaken for a cafe racer. The main differentiator in the stern and seats.

Where in Cafe Racer there is a hornet, while Brat Cafe uses a flat seat so it looks like a skateboard.

3. Bobber

The bobber was a very popular custom motorcycle style in America in the 1920s. At first this type of modification was applied to the Harley Davidson motorcycle. However, now it has been widely applied to various types of motorbikes from various brands.

The style of this motorbike can be said to be very minimalist. The hallmark of the Bobber is the wide rake angle, large front wheels without fenders, short rear and often without suspension, to using a low handlebar.

The seats used usually use a single seater. This aims to get a lower ground clearance.

4. Brat Style

From the sources we cite, Brat Style is a type of custom motorcycle designed for riding together. Actually the name Brat Style comes from a modification workshop located in Japan.

The modification workshop gives its own characteristics to the modified motorcycles. So that many people can easily find out that the motorbike is the result of a modification of the workshop.

His style applies the philosophy of simplicity. This is one style that is very suitable to be used as an option for those of you who like custom motorbikes for casual riding.

5. Chopper

Chopper is one of the most popular custom motorcycle styles in Indonesia. One of the characteristics of this motorbike is that it has a high handlebar and a low seat.

The next characteristic is the diameter of the front wheels which are larger than the rear. Not only in the circumference, but also the width of the tires are often significantly different.

Modifications of this type are mostly done using Harley-Davidson motorcycles or the like.

Cost of Building a Custom Motorcycle

Cost, is a variable that is often asked by ordinary motorcycle enthusiasts. Of course, not a few people are curious about the costs that must be incurred when they want to build a custom motorcycle. Not so for those who are familiar with this scenario, cost is a factor that is often not the main calculation.

The cost of modifying a custom motorbike is actually influenced by only two things, the components used, and the cost of the builder. The money spent to buy components for custom motorbike modifications can be more expensive than the purchase price of the motorbike.

This is very likely to happen if there are a lot of components that are replaced. It can be concluded that the costs that must be incurred to make a custom motorbike are relative to the type of modification made.

There are people who spend up to tens to hundreds of millions just to make modifications. These costs do not include the money spent to buy a motorcycle from the manufacturer.

However, there are several things you can do to save money when modifying your motorbike. One way is to build from a motor that you already have before.

For example, you already have a Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R and want to change its style into a cafe racer, you can also use the engine and several main frame components as the basis for modification.

The next way is to take a motorcycle base that is cheap and easy to customize. For example, with the Royal Enfield 350 or Kawasaki W175 units, which are sold in Indonesia at quite affordable prices.

What you need to pay attention to is the legality of the custom motorbike. Make sure your partner workshop can issue a certificate for changing data on the STNK and BPKB. Likewise, if there are changes to the machine, make sure to re-test at the Transportation Service and then be registered with Samsat.

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Honda Hawk Eleven Officially Released, Specs Surprise!

 Honda has finally officially released the details and specifications of the Hawk 11 (Hawk Eleven) after making its premiere at the 2022 Osaka Motorcycle Show.

The modern retro motorcycle of the café racer genre was developed with the concept of a large motorcycle that provides new value and life that can satisfy experienced riders. As initially suspected, the mechanical heart uses a 1,084 cc unit which is exactly the same as the Africa Twin and Rebel 1100. This parallel 2-cylinder engine produces large torque.

Although the puzzle of the shape of the Hawk 11 has been revealed at the 2022 Osaka Motorcycle Show, his party has not officially released the specifications at that time. As predicted, Honda's new Neo Café Racer-style motorcycle carries a large engine and the distinctive booming sound of a large motorcycle exhaust.

The 2022 Honda Hawk 11 is powered by a liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, OHC (Unicam), 2-cylinder 1,082 cc inline engine equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission and electronic control technology. It has a bore and stroke size of 92.0 x 81.4 mm. He is claimed to be able to exhale 100 hp at 7,500 rpm and 103 Nm of torque at 6,250 rpm. Slight difference with the CRF1100L Africa Twin which produces a maximum power of 101 hp at 7,500 rpm and a peak torque of 105 Nm at 6,000 rpm.

Honda's electronic control technology (ECT) is of course also present. Four driving modes are available: Sport, Standard, Rain, and one customizable mode can save the settings according to the user's preferences. Throttle-by-wire, Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSCT), and ABS are also standard equipment.

Regarding the appearance, the retro impression is highlighted by the use of the half fairing rocket cowl which is often found on café racer motorbikes. Complete with a round headlamp that has adopted LED technology. Then there is a tiny windshield on it. While the placement of the rearview mirror is also unique because it is placed sideways from the cowl holder. The handlebars use a clamp model and make the riding position more bent.

There are not many panels that cover the engine area, making it look more manly and sturdy. Even with the design lines on the motorcycle body that have minimal sharp curves, plus the masculine colors that give the impression of elegance.

Although it has been wrapped in a retro style, the details of the modern motorbike are still visible, especially in the area of ​​the frame and legs which are similar to the Honda NT1100. Dimensionally, he has a length of 2,190 mm, a width of 710 mm and a height of 1,160 mm. Wheelbase is 1,510 mm and ground clearance is 200 mm. The seat height is 820 mm or about 32.28 inches. The total weight of the vehicle is 214 kilograms, or about 471.8 pounds. But this weight is not yet known in detail, including dry weight or wet weight. While the tank capacity reaches 14 liters.

Suspension consists of an SFF-BP upside down fork made by Showa (Hitachi Astemo Co., Ltd.) up front, as well as a monoshock and Prolink rear swingarm setup. All presented to pursue high-quality driving in a speed range of various surfaces.

Braking is provided by a dual disc arrangement at the front with four calipers, and a single disc arrangement at the rear with two calipers. The frame is a semi-double mount design, and the Hawk 11 is equipped with 17-inch front and rear wheels. Wrapped in tires measuring 120/70 up front and 180/55 rear.

The Hawk 11 is available in two color options in Japan, Pearl Hawks Eye Blue and Graphite Black. Honda only produced 1,200 units. It also plans to start releasing this unit on September 29, 2022 specifically for the Japanese market. About the price reached 1,397,000 yen or around Rp. 159 million.

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Trinity Uranus RS, an electric scooter from Germany has a visual similar to the Keeway Shiny 150

 Trinity released the latest generation of Uranus with the identity 'RS' behind it. This brand-new electric scooter from the German electric mobility startup is rapidly gaining popularity. That's thanks to low running costs, almost no maintenance, and government incentives for zero-emissions vehicles. However, when it comes to visuals, the Uranus RS has a similar form to the Keeway Shiny 150 which has just been sold in Indonesia.

The Trinity brand may still be a fairly foreign motorcycle brand name in the global market. However, this German brand has developed high-quality two-wheeled products. The presence of Uranus RS is proof of their seriousness in welcoming future vehicles.

Actually this model is the result of the development of the previous generation of Uranus. It is a pure electric powered scooter. While significantly more expensive than traditional internal combustion scooters, the Uranus RS is proof that the technology around electric powertrains is constantly improving, and becoming more accessible to a wider audience.

The Uranus RS Trinity is powered by a brushless DC electric motor with a peak power output of 11 kW. He is capable of reaching a top speed of 110 km/h, or 68 miles per hour in Sport mode. Arguably much faster than any other electric scooter on the market.

The electric scooter is equipped with two 72V/32Ah lithium batteries. Making it able to travel as far as 60 miles or the equivalent of 96 km on a fully charged battery. In addition, the ECU has been programmed to optimize battery performance depending on the driving style, to ensure maximum battery life. Despite its relatively high top speed, the Trinity Uranus RS is categorized as an A1 electric scooter, and can be ridden by anyone who holds a driver's license with the B196 extension.

To offer and even more comfortable driving experience, the Uranus RS comes with three driving modes. Each one is limited to the highest speed. For city trips, Eco mode limits the top speed to 55 km/h. When heading out of town with Standard mode, the speed is limited to 80 km/hour. And the highest Sport mode can reach 110 km / h.

Apart from offering performance, another interesting part is in terms of visuals. It has a vintage scooter design but is wrapped in a modern style. There is nothing strange about that part, only the body design is similar to the Keeway Shiny 150, which was recently launched at the IIMS Hybrid 2022 exhibition. Apart from that, unlike the Keeway, the Uranus RS relies on pure electric power.

You could say they both look identical. Prioritize modern retro design. Body panels in some parts slightly oval. The fascia is round in structure. The front shield is made a little futuristic with the embedding of angled DRL lights that blend with the turn signal. The middle is filled with a front tie, like Italian and French scooters. Chrome tones on a black background. Create the main lighting using LED technology with a round cover. At the bottom there is a wide fender, adjusting the overall style.

The middle body panel is no less interesting than the front. It looks like an egg and sits with Side LED Light (left and right), just like the Keeway Shiny 150. It has a flat deck and is quite spacious. Overall, they are very similar. However, until now there has been no information regarding copyright infringement from the two companies.

In Germany, the Uranus RS will be available from May 2022. As an introductory price of 5,888 Euros (Rp 91 million). Then the official price rose to 6,388 Euros, or Rp. 98 million after the introduction period. There is currently no word on whether the Uranus RS will be sold outside Germany or not.

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DAS Indonesia wants to sell Junior Jeep and Wrangler 4xe electric cars, this is the price leak

 PT DAS Indonesia Motor as the official distributor of the Jeep car brand in the country announced a strategy regarding the business of selling its electric vehicles. This can not be separated from the various regulations set by the government to accelerate the era of electric vehicles.

Chief Operating Officer (COO), PT DAS Indonesia Motor, Dhani Yahya said, referring to the current market segmentation and opportunities, it is most likely that they will first launch a Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) product with the Wrangler 4xe model.

"We see from the Jeep market strategy for Asia. The Wrangler model has a lot of demand, while the Wrangler 4xe has a large engine capacity and can be fuel efficient with its Plug-in Hybrid technology, for traffic jams it is also capable," said Dhani in the Jakarta area. Center, not too long ago.

Until now, continued Dhani, the availability of the Jeep Wrangler 4xe is still left-handled in the global market. Once the right-hand drive option is available, the product will immediately be sold to Indonesia.

"For the Jeep Wrangler PHEV model known as the 4xe, the right wheel is still not available. But once it's available, I think we can bring it to Indonesia," he concluded.

However, there is no definite schedule for the launch of the Wrangler 4xe for the domestic market. But at least, starting from Dhani's confirmation about the plan to sell the 4xe, they are serious enough to enter the era of electrification in Indonesia.

In addition to the PHEV Wrangler 4xe off-road car model, PT DAS has also included the name Junior Jeep pure electric car in its new product plan. He has the appearance of an urban SUV, has a compact body, and is claimed to be suitable for offering to Indonesian consumers.

"Junior Jeep BEV, we will see if we can enter it, the volume depends on the development of taxes in Indonesia, currently with the applicable tax, of course this is still very high. But hopefully in 2025 we will introduce it to the public," he explained.

To welcome the arrival of the pure electric-powered Jeep, according to Dhani, the entire network of Jeep dealerships under DAS has prepared all the tools, mechanic training, and others.

"When this vehicle arrives, we must have special tools. Even the dealers that we have established have taken this into account, in the workshop there is already a charging station, in the parking lot, or a showroom. even though the product will be released either in 2025 or 2026," he added.

Specifications of the Jeep Wrangler 4Xe and BEV Junior

Referring to the official Jeep global website, the Wrangler 4xe is equipped with a 4-cylinder, 1995 cc FCA turbocharged engine with 2 electric motors and a 400 volt 17 kWH lithium ion battery pack. The engine design is capable of producing maximum power of up to 272 horsepower at 5,250 rpm and peak torque of 400 Nm at 3,000 rpm.

In addition to the internal engine, there is also an electric motor in the car's transmission that can deliver a maximum power of 100 kW or the equivalent of 136 horsepower and 245 Nm of torque. With the help of electricity, the Wrangler 4xe can run without an internal engine as far as 33 kilometers. In order to support the battery charging process in the car, Jeep has installed an Integrated Dual Charging Module (IDCM) and a 2.5 kW DC/DC Converter.

Regarding the selling price in the United States (US) market, the Jeep Wrangler 4xe is offered in 3 different variants. The first is the Sahara 4xe at a price of 53,795 US dollars or the equivalent of Rp.772 million, the second is the Rubicon 4xe, which costs 57.890 US dollars 

As for the pure electric SUV, the Junior Jeep, according to Dhani, will be equipped with a 43 kWh battery which has a range of up to 320 kilometers when fully charged. Meanwhile, for maximum power it can produce up to 143 horsepower.

Based on the presentation, the Junior Jeep BEV has a length of 4,084 mm, a width of 1,776 mm, a height of 1,535 mm, and a wheelbase of 2,557 mm. He claims that from a stationary car position to 100 km per hour, it can be completed in just 9 seconds.

"I see that there is a supply crisis and so on, so that some manufacturers increase vehicle prices. But, in the long run, for example, Indonesia can have it or the development of battery prices can be cheap, like this Jeep Junior for example (sold) at Rp. 800 million," he concluded.

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Examining the Attractiveness of the Honda NS125LA, Yamaha Fazzio's Candidate Rival in Indonesia

 Honda Motor in synergy with their joint venture company in China officially launched the classic Honda NS125LA scooter. The visuals are like an Italian scooter which is said to be suitable if it competes with the Yamaha Fazzio Hybrid in Indonesia.

quoting Greatbiker, Honda NS125LA was created as an urban scooter that has a retro look. It can be seen from the shape of the rounded headlights, the use of round mirrors, and the use of small wheels. The design is similar to scooters in the mid 80's or 90's.

Despite having an old-school appearance, the Honda NS125LA is equipped with many modern features. Not surprisingly, in this era, many motorcycle manufacturers are creating classic vehicles, but in terms of functionality and comfort, they are prioritized.

For example, the lighting system has LED technology, both in the headlights, taillights, and turn signal lights. Especially for the rear view, it is interesting that he appears rounded with a stop lamp forming the letter 'U' and flanked by 2 vertical turn signals. At first glance similar to the Vespa Sprint.

Not enough there, the Honda NS125LA meter panel also looks attractive thanks to the LCD screen that displays various important information from the motorcycle. The interface is the favorite of the millennial generation, has a variety of color backgrounds with elegant numbers and letters.

Now, in order to support the practicality of the keyless key device, the owner simply has to pocket the remote, turn the knob, press the starter button, and the engine can start immediately. Interestingly, this motorbike is also equipped with a remote lock system similar to that of a car.

Next is the embedding of the CBS (Combi Brake System) brake system. Functionally the same as Honda motorcycles in Indonesia, this technology is there to make it easier for the rider. Yes, because when the rear brake lever is pressed, the front brake will automatically brake.

The rest is the USB charging feature, you will no longer bother carrying an adapter because you just need to plug the smartphone's default data cable into the charging dock. And for security features on the Honda NS125 LA, a side stand switch device has been installed.

In terms of accommodation, this scooter has a main trunk of up to 20 liters which is capable of storing 1 open face helmet. In front there is 1 hook with a lock that can be used to carry goods, if not there is still a closed storage compartment on the left deck.

With a flat footrest configuration, the owner can also put other luggage there. So for practicality and transportation of goods, this motorbike has a pretty good selling value.

Talking about the pacemaker, he is equipped with an exact 124.9 cc engine, air conditioning, and has injection foggy. With this engine layout, this motor is capable of producing maximum power of up to 8.97 horsepower and peak torque of 9.87 Nm. Indeed, when compared with Fazzio, the output produced is slightly different, where the master of the tuning fork has a maximum power of 8.3 horsepower and 10.6 Nm of torque.

But Fazzio is superior in terms of engine technology, this scooter is equipped with power assist or what the manufacturer calls a hybrid. Its function is to provide additional power at the initial acceleration moment.

Regarding the selling price of the Honda NS125LA, according to a Greatbiker report, this motorbike is sold at a price of 62 thousand Baht or which, when converted to rupiah, has a selling price of Rp. 26.4 million. Looking at the appearance, features, and specifications that are carried, it feels like this motorbike is suitable if it is marketed in Indonesia.

Considering the trend of classic-looking scooters on the rise lately. Its presence can be a solution or an alternative to the high price tag of the Vespa. For your information, the cheapest type of Vespa LX in Indonesia is offered at IDR 40 million OTR.

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Honda Will Add RS Line, For City Sedan?

 Honda gave a surprise again this month. After recently launching the latest HR-V, Honda stepped on the gas by bringing back a new product.

Previously, Honda already had several models that had an RS variant. Usually, the RS nomenclature is pinned on models with a sporty aura and become the top variant. Some of the models that received the RS code include the Civic RS sedan, City Hatchback RS, Brio RS, and HR-V Turbo RS. The Mobilio had received the RS variant but is currently only available in the S variant with a manual transmission.

If you look at the leaks that were present, it could be that the one that gets the latest RS touch is the City sedan. This can be seen from the form of images that appear on Honda's social media which shows the shape of the front of a vehicle that is similar to the sedan.

Currently the City is offered in one variant with several features such as the use of a 1.5L DOHC i-VTEC engine with 121 ps power. There is still the use of 16-inch rims, headlamps with LED and LED DRLs, LED fog lamps, modern meter clusters. Inside, there is an 8-inch head unit, 8 speakers, six airbags, paddle shifters, remote engine start and a large cargo area.

Looking at some of the features in Thailand, the City may get additional RS accessories as in other RS models, namely a black grille, body-colored door handles, side mirrors with black ornaments. There is no change in the size of the rim which is still 16 inches. The interior comes in black and uses red stitching to add a sporty impression. There is no change in the size of the head unit.

Another possibility is the presence of Honda Sensing on the City sedan. These safety features consist of Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low Speed Follow, Auto-High Beam, and Lead Car Departure Notification System. (LCDN). However, if you see that this feature is not present in City Hatcback in Indonesia, this feature may not be offered.

Currently City is only offered in one variant with a price tag of IDR 365.4 million. The presence of this RS variant is likely to increase the small sedan market which is now no longer subject to different taxes thanks to emission tax regulations.

We'll see what Honda will offer in the next few hours. At least this is a breath of fresh air for Honda consumers who have continuously received new product offers in the last few months.

Honda also still has one product that will be presented this year on the basis of the RS CONCEPT SUV. Had circulated the possibility of this model is the figure of the ZR-V which was developed for the South Asian market. But seeing this possibility, it seems that consumers will have to endure the wait to be able to see the production version of the RS Concept SUV.

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Ducati Cooperates with Alex de Angelis to Test Motorcycle Prototypes at the Vallelunga Circuit

 Ducati released a video showing their MotoE bike in action for the first time. This time the manufacturer Borgo Panigale took a new test racer, Alex de Angelis. The test is known to be at the Vallelunga circuit, Italy. This is quite a surprising phase regarding the development of electric motorcycles from Ducati. The V21L prototype development project continues to show continuous progress.

As we know, this year is the last season in which Energica Ego Corsa becomes the exclusive supplier of the MotoE World Cup. From next season Ducati takes the place of his compatriot since the beginning of 2019. It has signed a contract with Dorna to supply the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup from 2023 to 2026.

In fact, the steps taken by Ducati at that time were a little unreasonable, because they had not yet built an electric motorcycle. But the project continues and develops. In this sense, the Borgo Panigale brand has been working on a prototype 'V21L', which aims in the long term to increase the competitiveness of the category, as well as the autonomy of racing motorcycles. Still, Ducati wants to point out that this is only the beginning of the electric era for the brand, and it will be interesting to see which direction they take electrification in the future.

And now Ducati has released a video showing the motorcycle being ridden on the track in Vallelunga, Italy. The bike, called the V21L, is known to have been tested by former MotoE racer and former MotoGP star Alex de Angelis. He is one of the test drivers for the project, having previously been Michele Pirro who was the first to debut at the Misano test last December.

De Angelis is certainly no stranger to the tools or components owned by the Ducati V21L. He has also participated in electric motorcycle racing in 2019. His input and data will also be important in technical development efforts. Unfortunately, there is no information about the lap times, or what improvements Ducati has made to prepare for MotoE 2023.

to be sure, the test in Vallelunga continued the inaugural test which was held at Misano late last year. Ducati continues to collect as much data as possible, so that the V21L can perform optimally when used starting next season.

The V21L prototype emerged from the close collaboration and constant knowledge exchange between Ducati Corse and Research and Development (R&D). High performance, and built with a light weight for electric motor power. There is no doubt that the MotoE project is an important step in the history of the Italian manufacturer, because it is also the beginning of the electric era that Ducati has entered.

Over the next few months, Ducati will also share more information about the technical evolution of its projected bike. Then the manufacturer, which is commanded by Claudio Domenicali, will describe the next steps regarding the MotoE project, and the latest developments in the V21L.

Director of eMobility Ducati, Roberto Canè, said, "Since bringing the MotoE Ducati prototype to the track for the first time, the development of the project has never stopped, not even for a moment. “The hard work of the whole team pays off for the efforts made through continuous progress, which gives us great satisfaction. In just four months, our prototype has overcome corners at several of Italy's main circuits, giving a positive response. There is still a lot of work to be done, but the direction is definitely in the right direction.”

Following involvement in the MotoGP and World Superbike projects, a new adventure in MotoE will prove the perfect laboratory for Ducati to bring technology and innovation from the track to the showroom.

The V21L electric motor for MotoE will be built specifically from Ducati's racing DNA. Focused on creating lightweight motorcycles that unite tradition, passion and innovation in the electric world championship.

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