Triumph’s various Bonneville models are fantastic donors for those looking to build a custom desert bike with modern performance. However, such machines are rarely cheap even on the used market, so not every builder will be willing to spend a lot of money before even changing anything. If that’s the case, then Kawasaki’s W range is worth considering.
Offerings like the W650 and its bigger brother can really give Triumph’s modern classics a run for their money, which is why some workshops are choosing them over them. Essentially, you get an equally reliable machine and a similar visual package that oozes vintage charm, all for a fraction of the price. It’s an intriguing proposition, for sure, and one that many talented craftsmen choose to pursue.
Among them is Rick Hannah and his team at DDM in London, who have dabbled with the Kawasaki platform many times. Every W650 build they’ve created has been undeniably superb, but the one we’re looking at today might just be our favorite. It’s a sleek scrambler full of old-school British desert sled charm, and DDM has really pulled out all the stops to make it as sexy as it is today.
Getting this far was no walk in the park, mind you, because the Kawi didn’t even run when it arrived at Rick’s shop. It had a lot of potential, though, so there was no way DDM was going to pass up this opportunity. The W650 was promptly lifted onto the workbench and given a look over to see what was wrong, then the custom work began.
Rick and his team found that a complete overhaul of the powertrain was mandatory, so they wasted no time in executing it. With the parallel twin back in working order, it also needed a new breathing apparatus before it was truly complete. Premium aftermarket pod filters were fitted to the intake, but the hand-built exhaust is the real show-stealer.
Photo: Mikhail Jershov
Constructed from stainless steel, the tubes curve back in a seamless arc before terminating in brass tips. The next port of call for DDM was the bike’s frame, starting with the rear frame tubes. A completely new subframe was assembled in-house and the entire skeleton was nickel-plated once bolted down. The guys clearly started with a bang, but they were just warming up.
The original W650 swingarm is gone, making way for a much better looking custom billet aluminum replacement. The new swingarm and subframe are connected via retro-looking Hagon shocks with full adjustment. Rick and his crew kept the OEM suspension hardware up front, but installed an Andreani cartridge kit with adjustable preload, rebound, and compression.
In the unsprung sector, we come across new Morad wheels, 19 inches up front and 18 inches at the rear. They are wrapped in Continental TKC 80 dual-purpose tires and laced to the stock wheel hubs via stainless steel spokes. Additionally, the hubs themselves have been reconditioned and then coated in a layer of silver powder coating. A little extra stopping power was also on the shopping list.
Photo: Mikhail Jershov
This is achieved by a six-piston front brake caliper, biting into a 320 mm (12.6 in) diameter floating EBC rotor. With so much going on mechanically, this hacked-up Kawi had to look like a million bucks from head to toe. The factory fuel tank is still there, but it’s been stripped of its badges and kneepads before being trimmed around the edges for a cleaner look.
It also gets a CNC-machined filler cap from Motone. Just behind the modified fuel tank is a custom-made solo seat, which wears a mix of black genuine leather and Alcantara. The seat is flanked by custom side covers, while a large rear fender can be spotted further back with its integrated LED taillight and license plate mount. A custom fender has also been installed up front.
Completing the W650’s new look is a perforated stainless steel skid plate, sure to keep the underside of the engine nice and safe. In the cockpit area, DDM has fitted a Motogadget ChronoClassic speedo as the creature’s sole instrumentation, ahead of an aftermarket chrome handlebar with minimalist controls and black rubber grips. A new headlight lives on a custom mounting kit further up front.
It’s accompanied by bullet-style LED indicators that sit a little lower, keeping the retro vibe but looking a lot cooler at the same time. Finally, the fuel tank and side covers have been finished in a lovely shade of green, perfectly complemented by gold detailing. Chrome and shiny metal are the name of the game everywhere you look, helping to achieve the classic scrambler look that DDM was aiming for.