If you were to draw a Venn diagram of “legendary reliability” and “unapologetic 90s plastic,” the Honda NX650 Dominator would sit right in the center. Launched in 1988, the Dominator was Honda’s answer to the growing demand for “soft” dual-sports—bikes that could handle a gravel fire road on Saturday and a grocery run on Monday. At its heart beats a 644cc SOHC air-cooled single-cylinder engine, a “thumper” in the truest sense. It was known for its punchy low-end torque and a bulletproof nature that has seen many units clock six-figure distances with little more than oil changes.
While the stock aesthetics, complete with integrated fairings and a somewhat bulky silhouette, haven’t aged quite as gracefully as a CB750, the Dominator’s bones are pure gold for customizers. Beneath that plastic is a slim frame, a versatile 21-inch front wheel (usually), and a motor that looks fantastic once stripped of its surroundings. It is a blank canvas for everything from desert sleds to urban scramblers.
At Bike EXIF, we’ve seen the NX reimagined in every way imaginable. Here are six of our favorite custom Honda NX650 Dominators that prove this old warhorse still has plenty of gallop left.
The HRC Tribute by STG Tracker
Based in Buenos Aires, STG Tracker took a 1989 NX650 donor and transformed it into an impossibly slick street tracker. By grafting the upside-down forks and twin Brembo brakes from a Ducati Multistrada 1200, they gave this thumper the front-end prowess it always deserved, paired with a custom CNC-machined hub and 17-inch rims.
Visually, the bike is an exercise in the classic HRC palette. The frame wears Honda’s traditional bright red, while the bodywork—a mix of a 1970s dirt bike tank and a handmade aluminum rear fender—is draped in blue, white, and red graphics.
The cockpit is refined, featuring ProTaper bars and a digital Motogadget speedo. The exhaust is a custom two-into-one stainless system snaking through the frame to an Akrapovič muffler. According to builder Marcelo Obarrio, the weight loss has transformed the bike into a “bicycle” with full power in every gear—a slender, lightweight, and addictive machine that is hard to step away from. [MORE]
The TET Explorer by HB-Custom
Holger Breuer of HB-Custom built this 1989 Dominator with a singular mission: conquering the Trans Euro Trail (TET). Inspired by the Husqvarna 701 Enduro, Holger created a bespoke navigation tower using a mix of KTM parts and a Rade Garage windscreen. It’s a purposeful build where form follows function, featuring Hella twin headlights, a Koso digital dash, and a smartphone mount for GPS-heavy adventure riding.
Mechanically, it was treated to a full overhaul, including a Mikuni TM40 carb for better throttle response and a YSS rear shock for improved damping on rugged trails. The wheels were powder-coated and re-laced with stainless spokes, wrapped in aggressive Michelin dirt tires. To handle the heat of long-distance trekking, Holger fabricated a two-into-one-into-two exhaust system capped with titanium Leo Vince mufflers from a CRF series.
The livery is a subtle nod to Honda’s rally heritage, featuring “PRO-LINK” and “Rally Touring” decals that look like factory-issue graphics. Despite its rugged capabilities, the bike remains incredibly clean. Whether it’s dragging the bike out of a muddy rut via its rear grab handles or cruising at highway speeds, this Dominator is the ultimate tool for a 50,000-mile adventure. [MORE]
The Neo-Classic Rally by North East Custom
Brothers Diego and Riki Coppiello of North East Custom aimed to fix the Dominator’s “ugly” years (specifically a 1994 model) by looking backward for inspiration. They swapped the stock tank for a 1989 version and hand-built a stunning fiberglass rally fairing. The front end is dominated by mismatched LED headlights that evoke the spirit of the iconic BMW R1150GS, paired with a high-mounted UFO supermotard fender.
The detail work on this build is exceptional, featuring a custom leather pouch integrated into the dashboard—perfect for sunglasses or trail snacks. The seat was reshaped into a modern, slim profile and covered in black leather with yellow stitching matching the bold, Husqvarna-inspired paint job. To keep things practical, they added handmade aluminum side covers to protect the rider from the heat of the twin Virex silencers.
Underneath the flashy paint, the bike remains a capable off-roader. It sits on 21F/18R gold rims wrapped in Continental TKC80 rubber. The brothers managed to create a bike that looks like a “lost” factory prototype—a machine that is as comfortable carving through city traffic as it is kicking up dust in the Italian countryside. [MORE]
The Razor-Sharp Scrambler by Earth Motorcycles
Slovakia’s Earth Motorcycles took a different route, stripping a 1991 Dominator down to its bare essentials to create a minimalist street scrambler. The engine was vapor-blasted and rebuilt with new internals, while the electronics were simplified around a Bluetooth-enabled Motogadget controller. The stance was leveled out by lowering the forks and swapping the 21-inch front wheel for a more street-biased 19-inch unit.
The visual highlight is the “straight line” silhouette achieved by welding new tabs for a classic aftermarket tank and fabricating a completely new subframe. The tail ends in two sharp, slash-cut rails with integrated Highsider LEDs, while the seat pan was 3D-designed to follow the frame’s unique “drop-tail” geometry. It’s a practice in clean lines, where every wire and bracket has been hidden or eliminated.
Aleš Tomis, the lead builder, focused on making the bike significantly lighter than the original. The custom exhaust utilizes modified stock headers and a custom aftermarket muffler, achieving a clean look without compromising performance. The result is a universal bike—equally at home on a sidewalk cafe or a light off-road trail—that feels as svelte as a modern mountain bike. [MORE]
The 3D-Printed Futurist by Vagabund Moto
Vagabund Moto is known for a “modernist” approach, and their “V13” project is arguably the most futuristic Dominator in existence. The standout feature is the bodywork, featuring the fuel tank, tail unit, and air filter cover, which were all created using Nylon PA12 3D printing. This allowed the Austrian duo to achieve a minimalist, seamless look that would be nearly impossible to replicate with traditional metal-shaping techniques.
Despite the high-tech bodywork, the bike remains a fully functional off-roader. It features a custom luggage rack designed to hold GKA fuel canisters for extended range, and a front cargo rack that houses a quick-release Black Ember storage bag. The 644cc engine was reconditioned and paired with a high-performance Akrapovič muffler, while the braking was upgraded with a massive 320mm rotor.
The cockpit is an exercise in “less is more,” with a custom top yoke and integrated Kellermann turn signals. The bike looks like something from a sci-fi film, yet it is fully street-legal in Austria. It’s a testament to how 21st-century technology can breathe entirely new life into a 30-year-old Japanese thumper. [MORE]
The Urban Tracker by HB-Custom
Our second entry from Holger Breuer proves that the Dominator is so good, it could convince someone to sell their modern bike. In this case, the client traded a Husqvarna 701 Vitpilen for this custom 1992 NX650. Holger’s goal was to build something light, strong, and cool for an urban environment. He achieved this by ditching the rally plastics in favor of a modified Yamaha XT500 fuel tank and hand-shaped aluminum side covers.
The engine was rebuilt for total reliability and fitted with a Mikuni TM40 carb and a K&N filter for a bit more “snap” off the line. The wheels were downsized to 17-inch hoops at both ends, shod in Continental TKC80s to maintain that rugged aesthetic while improving road handling. A Magura HC1 radial master cylinder ensures stopping power up to modern standards.
The livery—a striking combination of white, green, and gold—was developed in collaboration with Himora Motors. It’s a sophisticated look that complements the brown leather seat and matching grips. By stripping away the ’90s bulk and focusing on classic proportions, HB-Custom created a tracker that is more engaging and soulful than many brand-new bikes on the showroom floor. [MORE]
