Licks Cycles: Honda NX650 Scrambler

Patina Pony: Dominator 650 Scrambler from Emporio Elaborazioni Meccaniche…

Absolutely nobody at Honda knew the Honda NX650 Dominator — a single-cylinder, plastic-clad journey bike — would develop into a darling of the customs scene greater than thirty years after its introduction.

“The Honda Dominator 650…is the bike that outlined the ‘city trailie’ craze of the Nineties. Beloved by town-bound bike couriers and B-road hackers due to its punchy supply, rufty-tufty construct high quality and commanding using place…” –MCN

The Dominator was produced from 1988-2001, and whereas the bike is exceedingly uncommon right here within the States, the engine would go on to energy the Honda XR650L — one of many longest-produced, most profitable dual-sports of all time. The bike was extremely standard in Europe, the place customized builders have turned to the rough-and-tough “trailie” as a donor for retro scrambler builds.

The one you see right here comes from our pal “Dopz” of Rome’s Emporio Elaborazioni Meccaniche (EEM). We featured a number of EEM builds up to now, although Dopz took a bike-building break for a few years to construct a free skateboard for his neighborhood.

“I imagine it’s vital for everyone to do one thing manually (from cooking to gardening, from constructing bikes to portray). So guys on the market, let me offer you somewhat recommendation: strive, fail, and re-try one thing utilizing your palms. It’s price it. No Ctrl-Z simply quaint work!” -Dopz

This NX650 Dominator was constructed for a widely known Roman skateboarder — his first bike!

“The shopper requested for one thing minimal, a bit traditional with a avenue angle.”

The proprietor ended up coming to the workshop, rolling up his sleeves, and getting his personal palms soiled on the construct — identical to Dopz advises! The bike was transformed to a twin-shock setup for a extra classic look, and an outdated Honda tank, which had loads of patina, was cleaned and clear-coated to develop into a focus of the construct.

Different highlights embody the bespoke metallic headlight fairing, footpegs constructed from chain, and a metallic cowl that hides the rear portion of the seat, protecting the bike shorter to the attention whereas preserving the flexibility to hold a pillion passenger.

Honda NX650 Dominator Scrambler

Dopz says it was a bit dangerous to mix components from each the cafe and scrambler fashion, however he’s proud of the way it turned out. Now that Dopz is again constructing bikes once more, we’re excited to see what EEM seems!

Dominator 650 Scrambler: Builder Interview

Honda NX650 Dominator Scrambler

• Please inform us a bit about your self, your historical past with bikes, and your workshop.

Emporio Elaborazioni Meccaniche (EEM) born within the historical metropolis of Rome roughly 13 years in the past. After totally different places and firm constructions, in the previous few years, Dopz (me, chief customizer) runs the corporate alone.

Honda NX650 Dominator Scrambler

The goal is identical: providing one thing distinctive and recognizable to the client. Working slowly, passionately, and attempting to combine performance and creativity on a motorcycle.

Honda NX650 Dominator Scrambler

About me, Dopz: I like to experience my outdated BMW R80G/S…a bit modified I’ve been into enduro rides since…ceaselessly. Once I took a pause from constructing bikes a pair years in the past, I constructed a small free skateboard park for my neighborhood…trigger I nonetheless like to experience my skateboard on small half pipe.

What else? I imagine it’s vital for everyone to do one thing manually (from cooking to gardening, from constructing bikes to portray). So guys on the market, let me offer you somewhat recommendation: strive, fail, and re-try one thing utilizing your palms. It’s price it. No Ctrl-Z simply quaint work!
What else…I like to hear hip hop and, let me be somewhat romantic: spending time with my spouse!

• What’s the make, mannequin, and 12 months of the donor bike?

The bike is an outdated Honda NX650 Dominator from the 1990’s. I constructed it in 2016…and it nonetheless has good vibes.

• Why was this bike constructed?

This bike was a four-handed mission. It was the proprietor’s first bike, so Emporio determined for a traditional scrambler posture (straight again, good view) ranging from a strong good outdated engine. The shopper liked to be a part of the method so he began coming into the storage and serving to me in constructing the bike.

Honda NX650 Dominator Scrambler

• What was the design idea and what influenced the construct?

The shopper requested for one thing minimal, a bit traditional with a avenue angle (he’s a widely known Roman skater) so I began turning it over in my thoughts and doing a little sketches.

• What customized work was accomplished to the bike?

At first I made the bike decrease for a superb strong foot place on the bottom. Put traditional double rear shock absorbers as a substitute of the centered enduro mono for the traditional contact.

The proprietor requested a brief bike but additionally good for two-up using, so I constructed a metallic cowl to cover a part of the seat and make it shorter to the attention.

I constructed a small entrance metallic fairing and let the exhaust be easy as doable, and constructed the foot rests with a sequence to provide a tough look.

The final contact got here from this outdated rusted Honda tank. Correctly cleaned and painted with a transparent coat, it guided the colour palette you see. It was excellent to suit the rear rim shade and to provide that feeling we had been in search of.

• Does the bike have a nickname?

This bike is a part of what I name the Dardo Sequence; it’s a set of Honda-based single cylinder (like Honda XR and NX) bikes I constructed. So it’s a Dardo IV however the identify is “Primo Brown” in honor of a well-known Roman rapper who died in that interval.

• Are you able to inform us what it’s wish to experience this bike?

It’s skinny and lightweight, with a superb engine that pushes arduous. I’ll say very enjoyable!

• Was there something accomplished throughout this construct that you’re notably happy with?

Firstly, ranging from a Dominator to land right here it was a pleasant and spectacular journey to me. And second, I ought to say that it was a wager mixing collectively traditional café racer components (twin shock absorbers, the fairing, the tail) and scrambler components (the tank, the wheels, the posture)…and it really works fairly nicely.