There’s a plethora of causes to select the Honda Dominator as a donor for a {custom} construct. However for the crew at Morex Customs in France, it was one explicit attribute that sealed the deal; its reliability. Honda thumpers are notoriously bulletproof, and the blokes needed to construct a {custom} scrambler that might not solely look nice, however run perpetually.
Based mostly in Vezin-le-Coquet, a commune in Brittany within the northwestern area of France, the Morex workshop is run by brothers Joan and Kévin Morel, with their good friend, Valentin Pointeau. Since all three are motocross riders, they needed to imbue the Dominator with slightly trendy off-road racing type.
“The thought was daring,” Kévin tells us. “We needed to take the sturdy and dependable coronary heart of a legendary bike, and rethink the working gear with high-performance elements. The end result is an ideal mix of eras—a motorcycle with character and trendy traces.”
Reworking the bike from a bone inventory Honda NX650 Dominator into the sharp avenue scrambler you see right here took the trio nearly a yr. They employed a variety of strategies too—from 3D design, to good old school mechanical work.
Since reliability was high of the listing, and for the reason that donor bike was in a shoddy situation, Morex determined to separate the engine open and rebuild it. The cylinder went off to Revaltec to be honed, in the beginning was put again along with a brand new piston and a full complement of gaskets, seals and bearings. The transmission is manufacturing unit recent, too.
On the surface, every part was cleaned up and vapor-blasted to the purpose that it’s now not recognizable. A BMC air filter was put in to interchange the airbox, earlier than Kévin fabricated an all-new two-into-one exhaust system.
Many of the Honda’s working gear is new too. Morex re-laced the Honda hubs to 18” Excel rims with new spokes, then wrapped them in Continental TKC80 rubber. The unique brake calipers have been refurbished, however the entrance now grips an outsized disc from Braking, with a custom-made provider to ensure every part traces up.
Additionally fitted up entrance are the yokes and upside-down forks from a Yamaha WRF450, shortened to go well with a supermoto stance and using type. A YSS shock does responsibility on the again.
The Dominator’s new bodywork is remarkably svelte. The set features a repurposed Yamaha 125 DTMX gasoline tank, modified to suit the Honda. Behind it, Morex redesigned the subframe to create a stepped profile.
The supermoto-inspired headlight nacelle and entrance fender, and the tapered rear cowl, have been designed utilizing CAD software program. The ultimate elements have been then 3D printed in a strong nylon materials, and completed in gloss black. LED lights are embedded at each ends.
The work is extremely tidy, and loaded with neat particulars. Morex’s emblem is embossed into every 3D-printed half, and the again finish is completed off with a honeycomb grill over the taillight, and a discreet interior fender decrease down. A blank-off plate underneath the seat hides the wiring, which has been redone round a Motogadget controller.
Equal consideration went into the super-sparse cockpit. Neken motocross handlebars sit entrance and middle, fitted with new grips and Beringer clutch and brake controls. There’s even a single mirror perch on the left aspect, for once you’re using the bike as an alternative of taking photographs of it.
The push button switchgear, and the tiny digital speedo, come from Motogadget. The latter is mounted on a intelligent little bracket that clamps on to the handlebars, together with a discreet warning mild array.
Completed in gloss black with {custom} Morex badges on the tank, the Dominator now goes by the apt nickname, ‘Phantom.’ Kévin can be completely satisfied to report that it rides simply nearly as good because it appears to be like.
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