Photo: Batakastem Workshop via Pipeburn
With Abraham Simatupang leading the way, the crew at Batakastem Workshop are a seriously talented bunch to say the least. They’ve proven this countless times before, delivering some of the coolest custom bikes that Indonesia’s flourishing scene has to offer. From classy choppers to futuristic cafe racers, there’s virtually no genre that Abraham and his teammates haven’t experimented with to great success.
The funky chopper pictured here started out as a Yamaha XS650, but just about everything besides its parallel-twin engine has been ditched. That included the motorcycle’s stock frame, and the Batakastem squad went about creating a bespoke hardtail replacement from scratch. Before the fabrication process began, careful measurements were taken in order to get the skeleton’s dimensions just right the first time.
Once the new frame was complete, the guys moved on to the bodywork. They first crafted a sizeable rear fender and seat pan combo, which was topped with a mesmerizing custom saddle and a full suite of LED lighting components. The only other piece of bodywork you’ll find here is a neat peanut-style fuel tank, manufactured out of steel just like the rear mudguard.
Moving northward, we come across a shiny set of springer forks that look like a million bucks, carrying a small retro-looking headlight near the top. The front turn signals are attached to the frame tubing lower down, and the cockpit is home to a custom handlebar devoid of any unessential bits. Unsprung territory is now occupied by chromed aftermarket rims measuring 19 inches up north and 16 inches down south.
Both of them are wrapped in vintage-style Shinko tires, and there is no front brake to speak of. All the stopping power occurs at the back, where you’ll spot a Brembo caliper paired with a high-grade aftermarket rotor. As for the XS650-sourced powerplant, it’s been cracked open, given a comprehensive once-over, and ultimately refurbished wherever necessary to perform as well as it did on day one.
The twin Mikuni carbs were rebuilt and capped off with chrome-plated velocity stacks, then there is that majestic one-off exhaust system. With stainless-steel acting as their material of choice, Batakastem Workshop fabricated a curvy high-mounted pipe for each side of the bike. These twin headers are covered in handmade heat shields to keep temperatures in check near the rider’s legs.
For the final touches, many bits and pieces were enveloped in chrome plating with brass touches here and there. The paintwork applied to the bodywork and frame is what really steals the show, though, flaunting different shades of purple, stunning graphics, and a rad fade effect. All things considered, this Yamaha XS650 chopper is a fantastic display of custom workmanship, even if it doesn’t offer very much in the way of practicality.
Once the new frame was complete, the guys moved on to the bodywork. They first crafted a sizeable rear fender and seat pan combo, which was topped with a mesmerizing custom saddle and a full suite of LED lighting components. The only other piece of bodywork you’ll find here is a neat peanut-style fuel tank, manufactured out of steel just like the rear mudguard.
Moving northward, we come across a shiny set of springer forks that look like a million bucks, carrying a small retro-looking headlight near the top. The front turn signals are attached to the frame tubing lower down, and the cockpit is home to a custom handlebar devoid of any unessential bits. Unsprung territory is now occupied by chromed aftermarket rims measuring 19 inches up north and 16 inches down south.
Both of them are wrapped in vintage-style Shinko tires, and there is no front brake to speak of. All the stopping power occurs at the back, where you’ll spot a Brembo caliper paired with a high-grade aftermarket rotor. As for the XS650-sourced powerplant, it’s been cracked open, given a comprehensive once-over, and ultimately refurbished wherever necessary to perform as well as it did on day one.
The twin Mikuni carbs were rebuilt and capped off with chrome-plated velocity stacks, then there is that majestic one-off exhaust system. With stainless-steel acting as their material of choice, Batakastem Workshop fabricated a curvy high-mounted pipe for each side of the bike. These twin headers are covered in handmade heat shields to keep temperatures in check near the rider’s legs.
For the final touches, many bits and pieces were enveloped in chrome plating with brass touches here and there. The paintwork applied to the bodywork and frame is what really steals the show, though, flaunting different shades of purple, stunning graphics, and a rad fade effect. All things considered, this Yamaha XS650 chopper is a fantastic display of custom workmanship, even if it doesn’t offer very much in the way of practicality.
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