South Paw

Mar 29, 2017

Base Bike Honda VTR250 (MC33 Carb Model)

There is something undeniably magnetic about the image of a flat track rider exiting a turn, bike slew sideways as the rear fights for traction, inside foot extended, skimming the track and stopping rider and machine losing their battle with the laws of physics and being pitched unceremoniously to the earth or into the fence.Though Honda's VTR250 would not normally be linked with this imagery.

In the late nineties, Honda’s VTRs, a 249cc V Twin screamer, were raced, scratched and toured across Japan and thrashed merciless at the hands of a legion of Tokyo couriers (invaluable combat testing). The pint sized V Twin pulls harder than it has any right too, is a fiend for high RPM and handles better than many bikes with twice its specification.

While the rev happy Honda’s pair of pistons willingly spin upwards of 12000 rpm, with the soundtrack and poke to match, the trellis frame and stonking great airbox where the gas tank usually sits, has thwarted serious interest in the bike in the custom world. Till now. “Once you’ve had the vision, it’d be unfair not to build it so others can enjoy it too” offers Matthew Roberts, Deus Japan’s man behind the custom motorcycles. Sagely advice from one never known to shy away from a design challenge, and the creator of The South Paw Street Tracker.

Unlike the hidden frame backbone or spine of more commonly customised machines that happily allow dozens of tank configurations to be achieved, a trellis frame stakes its claim on the design and requires gallant effort on the part of the customizer to have it yield to serious customisation or re-imagining.

Working from a series of 1:1 sketches, the body form was shaped by hand before being formed in a carbon fiber, woven glass and epoxy composite. The curves and purposeful air were inspired by the bodywork of modern day flat track machines, though Roberts highlights his thinking was infused with a nod to the past “borrowing lines from 1970’s Champion style tracker fuel tanks and seat units”.

The hefty standard air-box and CV carbs were originally planned to be dropped for a set of flat slide carbs and create the fuel cell in the space afforded. But the little twin had other plans. The flat slides were a dream at full noise, but try as the team might, they couldn’t get them set up for any useful gains without upsetting the VTR’s bottom and mid range, and it is that seamless midrange that makes the VTR fun in the first place. So it was hats-off to Honda’s 1990’s R&D department as the air box and factory carbs were returned and the build sent back to the drawing board.

The solution – junk the back half of the bike, a cantilevered fuel cell that does double duty as the rear sub-frame in its place. Access to the fuel filler is under the seat, with a one-off quick release fastener being machined up and visible at the rear of the seat. The seat itself has a hand formed alloy pan and graphite alcantara upholstery with a neat burnt orange accent stitch making it feel at home with the paint scheme.

Foot control position has been moved 130mm forward and 40mm down from the original machine to give the control needed in cornering when the rear of the machine tries to overtake the front. “So often overlooked, when people make trackers or scramblers. You start sliding round with standard rearset pegs and things tend to get outta hand real fast” notes Roberts.

A set of 17 inch Excel alloy racing rims, 4.5 inch rear and 3 up front, were laced to Honda hubs and are wrapped with the sticky black goodness of Metzeler Sportec M7 RR tyres. Braking duties are taken care of with an uprated 320mm front disc and a mix of Nissin and a Brembo components, a 2 piston caliper at the front helps provide stopping power while still clearing the spokes.

Up front the number board-come-fairing was sculpted from aluminum and a rugged LED spotlight encased in this hand formed surround, giving the South Paw the obligatory race face.

Exhaust gases exit via stainless tuned length headers from Mugen and a one off stainless end can (we hesitate to use the word silencer) which is “delightful” or “raucous” depending on if you’re asking the rider or the neighbours.

Unveiled at the Tokyo Motorcycle Show, the bike is shown here as displayed, with a Motogadget mini speedo and other road going necessities waiting to be fitted once the camera bulbs stop flashing.

Special Thanks

Nakata-san for the lacquer magic

Miauchi san for the stylin’ suede work

Metzeler Japan for the sticky hoops

Kono-san the fixer

ENGLISH TEXT BELOW

Setiap tahun, teman-teman kita Tasix Adventure—penyelenggara petualangan ban berlumpur dan adrenalin berbahan bakar terbaik di Bali—mengadakan acara akhir pekan berkemah yang sangat dinanti-nantikan. Mereka menamakannya “ The Wild,” dan jujur saja, tidak ada kata yang lebih pas dari itu.

Ini bukan sekadar acara; ini adalah petualangan wajib bagi siapa saja yang mencintai tanah, tantangan, dan persahabatan yang hanya bisa terjalin saat tertawa melihat teman lain terjatuh.

Hal tentang The Wild adalah misterinya. Kamu tidak tahu ke mana akan pergi, bagaimana sampai di sana, atau apa yang akan kamu temui—seperti hidup, tapi dengan lebih banyak asap knalpot.

Tahun ini, The Wild yang berlangsung pada 7 Desember 2024, mengumpulkan 135 pecinta motor enduro, trail, dan cross di Desa Kopi, Tabanan. Tepat pukul 9 pagi, kami berangkat menuju Desa Gesing, Singaraja. Rute tetap dirahasiakan hingga hari acara, meningkatkan sensasi penasaran dan antusiasme. Dengan dibagi menjadi beberapa kelompok kecil, kami melengkapi diri dengan perlengkapan motocross lengkap untuk menghadapi tantangan musim hujan.

Perjalanan? Murni magis. Jalur berkelok melalui permata tersembunyi Bali, di mana setiap tikungan menawarkan pemandangan yang memukau atau hampir membuat jantung berhenti. Rute tahun ini menghadirkan medan tanah liat merah—dijuluki tanah "keramik" karena teksturnya yang licin dan keras saat basah. Untuk melintasinya, diperlukan teknik khusus yang disebut “paddling the throttle,” sebuah manuver yang mendebarkan dengan motor yang sering bergoyang liar. Dari kejauhan, mungkin terlihat lucu, tetapi saat di atas motor? Ceritanya berbeda.

Setelah menempuh 68 kilometer petualangan liar, kami tiba di perkemahan di puncak bukit yang sudah dipenuhi tenda-tenda peserta lain dan deru knalpot. Destinasi selalu mencuri perhatian, dan yang satu ini tidak terkecuali—tempat tinggi dengan pemandangan 360 derajat yang menakjubkan dari laut, gunung, hingga kota.

Saat hujan turun, tenda-tenda didirikan, dan malam itu diisi dengan berbagi cerita tentang penyelamatan heroik dan kecelakaan yang menggelikan. Dan tentu saja, ada balapan. Bayangkan sekelompok pengendara penuh semangat meluncur di perbukitan dalam kekacauan yang terkontrol. Balapan tahun ini termasuk duel 1 lawan 1 yang seru di sekitar puncak bukit, dengan peserta menyelesaikan dua putaran penuh adrenalin.

Bukan soal menang; ini tentang hadir, tertawa, dan menikmati momen. Para pemenang dan peserta tercepat yang mencapai puncak bukit dirayakan dengan hadiah, tetapi senyuman, persahabatan, dan kebersamaan membuat semua orang merasa seperti juara.

The Wild tahun ini benar-benar sesuai namanya, bahkan lebih. Petualangan, tawa, dan cukup banyak tanah di gigi untuk menyebutnya otentik—kami tidak akan menginginkannya dengan cara lain. Terima kasih yang sebesar-besarnya kepada semua peserta yang menjadikannya pengalaman tak terlupakan. Sampai jumpa di petualangan berikutnya!

Every year, our mates over at Tasix Adventure—Bali’s finest purveyors of muddy tyres and fuel-driven adrenaline—host their much-anticipated camp-out weekend. They’ve named it “Wild,” and honestly, there’s no better word for it.

It’s not just an event; it’s a pilgrimage for anyone who loves dirt, daring, and the kind of camaraderie you can only forge while laughing at someone else’s wipeout.

The thing about Wild is that it’s shrouded in mystery. You don’t know where you’re going, how you’ll get there, or what you’ll find—kind of like life, but with more exhaust fumes.

This year’s Wild, held on Saturday, December 7, 2024, brought together 135 enthusiasts of enduro, trail, and cross motorcycles at Desa Kopi, Tabanan. The route was kept a secret until the event day, heightening the thrill of the unknown. At exactly 9 am, they shared the destination, Desa Gesing, Singaraja, Divided into small groups, we geared up with full motocross kits to tackle the rainy season’s challenges.

The ride? Pure magic. Twisting trails through Bali’s hidden gems, where every turn promised either breathtaking views or breathtaking near-misses. This year’s route featured red clay terrain—nicknamed "ceramic" soil for its slick, hard texture when wet. Navigating it required a special technique called “paddling the throttle,” a nerve-wracking maneuver that had bikes swaying wildly. From a distance, it might have looked hilarious, but on the bike? It was a whole other story.

After 68 kilometres of this wild adventure, we arrived at the hilltop campsite already alive with the buzz of activity and the roar of exhausts. The destination always steals the spotlight, and this one was no exception—a high-altitude perch offering stunning 360-degree views of the sea, mountains, and city.

As the rain came down, tents went up, and the evening was all about swapping stories of heroic saves and laughable crashes. And then there were the races. Picture a pack of overexcited riders tearing up the hillside in what can only be described as controlled chaos. This year’s races included thrilling 1-on-1 duels around the hilltop, with participants pushing through two laps of sheer adrenaline.

It wasn’t just about winning; it was about showing up, laughing, and embracing the moment. The race winners and the fastest hilltop arrivals were celebrated with prizes, but the smiles, the camaraderie, and the shared triumphs made everyone feel like champions.

This year’s Wild lived up to its name and then some. Adventure, laughter, and just enough dirt in your teeth to call it authentic—we wouldn’t have it any other way. A massive thank you to all the participants who made it unforgettable. See you on the next adventure!