More often than not, custom projects start with a concise battle plan that builders stick to right to the very end, but this isn't always the case. At times, it’s simply better to heed the popular saying and go with the flow, as this sort of approach can certainly lead to some fantastic outcomes. That’s how this rugged dual-sport titan came together, courtesy of Matteucci Garage over in Italy.
Shop boss Marco Matteucci and his team were looking to keep things simple at first, with a Honda NX650 Dominator acting as their starting point. The original plan was to build a budget-friendly off-roader, but the project quickly snowballed during the initial phases. In the end, Matteucci went on to create a fully-fledged adventure bike capable of riding far off the beaten path.
It calls itself the Raptor, and it’s abundantly clear that no expense was spared here. Helped by his experience as a graphic designer and professional photographer, Marco makes great use of his keen eye for detail on each and every build he tackles. This NX650-based workhorse was no different, so it ought to give you a pretty good idea of what he’s all about. With the donor delivered to their shop in Montegranaro, Signor Matteucci and his team wasted no time getting their knuckles greasy.
As they were taking the Dominator apart, it was decided that its running gear could use some modern upgrades. The heavy lifting took place at the front, where we now find the inverted forks and triple clamps of a Honda CRF replacing the stock parts. With these goodies in place, the motorcycle was sure to handle a lot better than it did in its former incarnation, but the project’s authors were just getting warmed up.
They treated the brakes to a complete overhaul, as well, with a 320 mm (12.6-inch) aftermarket rotor and a four-piston caliper making their way onto the front end. The latter is operated through a high-grade PS16 master cylinder from Brembo’s range. Next up, Marco performed a fuel tank swap for practical reasons rather than cosmetics, as the Raptor would need plenty of juice to keep it going in the middle of nowhere.
Photo: Matteucci Garage
Our protagonist sourced a much larger gas tank from Acerbis, offering a very generous 23-liter (6.1-gallon) capacity. The bike’s front-end lighting was Matteucci’s next port of call, and the Italians entrusted a potent Koso LED headlight to keep the party going after sundown. It’s kept out of harm’s way thanks to a steel outer ring and a protective grille.
Marco wasn’t happy with keeping this item as the only source of lighting, though, so he also fitted a pair of auxiliary spotlights a bit lower down. The custom sorcery in that area continued with a new high-mounted fender and a translucent wind deflector, but the cockpit underwent a comprehensive makeover, as well.
It now features a digital Motoscope Mini dial from Motogadget and a sturdy smartphone mount in the center. The speedo is recessed into a tailor-made billet aluminum riser along with a full set of LED warning lights. Glancing outward, we come across plain switchgear and Circuit hand guards, as well as heated Daytona grips to keep the rider’s mitts toasty during cold days on the road.
Photo: Matteucci Garage
Lower down, the Raptor carries bespoke crash bars and a drilled skid plate, working together to keep the engine nice and safe on gnarly terrain. Custom fork guards provide a nice bit of protection for the front suspension, while a pair of Continental TKC 80 knobbies provide ample grip on dirt and tarmac alike. In addition, Matteucci fitted a pair of serrated foot pegs further back on the Dominator’s flanks.
The subframe was extensively reworked and then topped with a sizeable handmade seat, as well as a boxy tail section sporting an integrated LED taillight. A trio of Mosco Moto luggage bags can be attached to the creature’s rear-end construction when needed. The license plate holder and blinkers are attached to the tail’s underside at its southernmost tip, and the exhaust heat shields do double duty as mounting points for the luggage.
They sit above aftermarket under-seat mufflers, which are linked to the OEM headers by way of custom plumbing. On the intake side of things, we find a Keihin FCR carburetor concealed by bespoke side covers, breathing via a modified version of the original airbox. Finally, the last piece of the puzzle was the Raptor’s livery.
Matteucci Garage came up with a delightful mixture of matte-black, white, and yellow-ochre, flaunting equal measures of elegance and ruggedness. It’s a perfect match for the storage bags and CRF forks, with all three hues also carried onto the seat upholstery. With the paintwork applied, the Raptor was buttoned up and prepped for endless fun on its future adventures. Honestly, its one of the raddest NX650 customs we’ve seen as of late!
A bit of an artist himself, Silvian sees two- and four-wheeled machines as a form of art, especially restomods and custom rides. Oh, and if you come across a cafe racer article on our website, it’s most likely his doing. Full profile
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