Bespoke Honda XR650L Scrambler Adds Visual Charm to Rugged Dual-Sport Formula

Sir Bozi didn’t go down the usual route of scrambling a street bike, instead opting to base the project on a rugged dual-sport with readily available off-roading capabilities. To fit the bill, he eventually picked a Honda XR650L from the model-year 2007, which had been imported to Hungary from the U.S. several years prior. Coincidentally, the motorcycle ultimately made its way back across the Atlantic, as it was sold to a Texas-based client upon completion.

Arpi’s goal here was to replace all the factory plastics with a much slimmer and classier attire, while balancing out its off-roading prowess with more street cred. Once the XR650L had been delivered to Mokka’s shop, placed on the workbench, and taken apart, the transformation process quickly got underway. The first tasks on the list had to do with the donor’s footwear.

It’s been decided that a more even wheel combo was the way to go, so the stock hoops were shown the door to leave room for Moose Racing alternatives. The rear item still measures 18 inches in diameter like the OEM part, but the front rim is smaller than stock at just 19 inches. Both of them are wrapped in dual-purpose K60 rubber from Heidenau’s range, offering decent grip on dirt and asphalt alike.

With the footgear taken care of, Arpi added a floating brake disc at the front before turning his attention to the bike’s suspension. The XR’s original forks are still in play, but they’ve been refurbished and then lowered ever so slightly to revise its stance. Things get a lot more interesting at the back, though, because there was no way to make the factory monoshock setup work with the desired aesthetic.

As such, the project’s author went all-in by converting the rear suspension to a twin-shock arrangement better suited to the retro scrambler vibe. It employs premium YSS shock absorbers with adjustable preload, dual-rate springs, and piggyback reservoirs. Up top, these bad boys connect to a new loop-style subframe that’s been painstakingly fabricated from scratch.

This handmade rear framework supports a thin, but comfortably padded bench seat upholstered in black leather. Right beneath the saddle, you’ll spot a custom battery box with horizontal mesh-covered cut-outs, seamlessly filling up the rear potion of the subframe triangle. Arpi fitted aftermarket LED turn signals behind the upper shock mounts, while attaching a tiny mudguard of sorts at six o’clock.

It serves more of a cosmetic rather than practical purpose, carrying a Bates-style LED taillight and a bespoke license plate holder. A second, more functional rear fender is installed low down on the swingarm, and a high-mounted unit can also be spotted at the front end. The slender fuel tank placed center-stage is an old reproduction Honda item adapted for this XR650L scrambler. Clearly, it goes a long way in giving its new host a much leaner appearance.

Mokka’s solo mastermind hasn’t overlooked the creature’s engine, either, treating it to an internal refurbishment and some high-grade breathing equipment. A K&N air filter was fitted on the intake side of things, while the standard exhaust system made way for a high-mounted custom replacement. Manufactured in-house out of stainless-steel, the pipework snakes its way back to a reverse megaphone silencer on the right-hand side.

On the electrical front, there’s a fresh wiring harness hooked up to CDI componentry and a Motogadget controller. Arpi installed a vintage-looking headlight up north, complementing it with LED blinkers attached on each side of the upper triple clamps. In the cockpit, his modded XR650 comes equipped with a Norman Hyde handlebar and a single Daytona dial, as well as Motogadget grips and bespoke aluminum bar-end caps.

Minimalism was the name of the game when it came to the paint job, but the result is absolutely breathtaking, nonetheless. A glossy coat of light brown was applied on the gas tank, along with small Mokka graphics done in black. On the other hand, the frame and fenders were finished in silver, while a darker grey hue made its way onto the swingarm, fork lowers, and engine covers.

All things considered, this scrambled one-off should give you a pretty good idea about the level that Arpi Bozi operates at, and it’s no wonder he’s getting orders from across the big pond nowadays. Even though Hungary may not have a huge custom bike scene, it does have Mokka Cycles and we’d say that’s more than good enough. Quality over quantity, as they so often say.