It’s no secret that HB-Custom’s Holger Breuer has a bit of an affinity for the NX650 Dominator nameplate, as what we’re about to look at is his third project revolving around Honda’s famed dual-sport. The chosen donor was a 1994 exemplar equipped with 17-inch wheels, which just so happened to fit Holger’s vision perfectly.
To kick off the customization process, he wrapped those very hoops in a set of dual-purpose TKC 80 tires from Continental. Although the NX650’s forks and Brembo brakes were left pretty much unchanged, the same can’t be said for its rear suspension setup. That’s where you’ll find a top-shelf YSS shock absorber replacing the OEM component.
Herr Breuer kept things simple when it came to the running gear, but he spared no effort or expense when it came to the powertrain. The Dominator’s 644cc thumper received new valves, bearings, and piston rings as part of the HB-Custom treatment, as well as a new timing chain and a modern electronic ignition system.
The clutch has been refurbished to ensure smooth operation, and the stock carburetor has been replaced with a Mikuni TM40 module. K&N air filtration hardware completes the intake system, while exhaust gases are routed through custom-made pipework. The plumbing was assembled with parts from a CRF250 and an XR600.
Holger occupied himself after removing the NX650’s factory outfit by retrofitting a Yamaha XT500’s fuel tank atop the main frame. The bodywork theme continues with a set of high-mounted fenders and angular side panels designed in-house.
Looking back, we notice a handmade subframe covered in black saddle upholstery, and lighting is provided by LED componentry at both poles. Magura supplied a large portion of the cockpit’s components, including the handlebar, throttle, and control levers. Finally, the instrumentation on the bike is comprised of a single digital dial from Motogadget’s inventory.
