Photo: Clement Lazzaro
Most custom bike builders prefer to avoid an overly specific design criteria when taking commissions from clients, and Pierre Dhers of Freeride Motos is no different. However, the motorcycle he refers to as Alpine was built with a set of specific instructions in mind, as the owner had a very clear idea of what he wanted right from the get-go.
Pierre got tasked with creating a versatile supermoto that could serve as a daily rider, turn heads at the Wheels & Waves festival, and hit the racetrack on weekends. For the project’s basis, the chosen donor was a Husqvarna SM 630 from the model-year 2011 – a solid choice given the Husky’s decent power output and lightweight construction.
As one of the very few sumos available from the factory, the SM 630 came with some desirable goodies like inverted 45 mm (1.8-inch) Marzocchi forks, a progressive Sachs monoshock, and 17-inch wheels. The first step of Freeride’s makeover involved deleting the stock bodywork. A mold was then carved out of foam, ultimately allowing the fabrication of a snazzy fiberglass outfit that merges the fuel tank and tail into a single unit.
The tank can hold up to 12 liters (3.2 gallons) of fossil syrup, and there’s a new subframe supporting Alpine’s monocoque attire at the back. Stored in between the tubes is a fresh lithium-ion battery and the SM 630’s relocated electronic hardware, all hidden well out of sight in a bespoke tray. The long saddle came courtesy of Christophe from Akotabe, but the number plate you’ll see up front is yet another fiberglass part made in-house.
We spot dual LED projectors a bit higher up, attached to the handlebar and easily removable when it’s time to hit the track. Pierre wrapped a discreet pair of lighting strips around the fork legs, so as to act as the front turn signals and keep the SM 630 Alpine street-legal. At the back, he fitted a tiny LED taillight into the rearmost tip of the bodywork, as well as a custom license plate bracket a bit lower down.
Internally, the machine’s 600cc single-cylinder mill is unchanged for the most part, but Monsieur Dhers did install a Suter anti-hopping clutch and some fresh breathing equipment. On the intake side of things, he placed a Uni air filter on a tailor-made silicon manifold, while the exhaust gases are now expelled via stainless-steel pipework ending in an SC-Project muffler.
The original hoops were enveloped in Dunlop Mutant rubber for use on public roads, and there’s also a second pair of 17-inchers with track-focused tires on standby. Finally, the bike’s stunning livery is what inspired its name, using Renault’s Alpine Blue as the base color. White highlights and black details are present, too, and the reimagined Husqvarna logos were designed by the customer himself.
As one of the very few sumos available from the factory, the SM 630 came with some desirable goodies like inverted 45 mm (1.8-inch) Marzocchi forks, a progressive Sachs monoshock, and 17-inch wheels. The first step of Freeride’s makeover involved deleting the stock bodywork. A mold was then carved out of foam, ultimately allowing the fabrication of a snazzy fiberglass outfit that merges the fuel tank and tail into a single unit.
The tank can hold up to 12 liters (3.2 gallons) of fossil syrup, and there’s a new subframe supporting Alpine’s monocoque attire at the back. Stored in between the tubes is a fresh lithium-ion battery and the SM 630’s relocated electronic hardware, all hidden well out of sight in a bespoke tray. The long saddle came courtesy of Christophe from Akotabe, but the number plate you’ll see up front is yet another fiberglass part made in-house.
We spot dual LED projectors a bit higher up, attached to the handlebar and easily removable when it’s time to hit the track. Pierre wrapped a discreet pair of lighting strips around the fork legs, so as to act as the front turn signals and keep the SM 630 Alpine street-legal. At the back, he fitted a tiny LED taillight into the rearmost tip of the bodywork, as well as a custom license plate bracket a bit lower down.
Internally, the machine’s 600cc single-cylinder mill is unchanged for the most part, but Monsieur Dhers did install a Suter anti-hopping clutch and some fresh breathing equipment. On the intake side of things, he placed a Uni air filter on a tailor-made silicon manifold, while the exhaust gases are now expelled via stainless-steel pipework ending in an SC-Project muffler.
The original hoops were enveloped in Dunlop Mutant rubber for use on public roads, and there’s also a second pair of 17-inchers with track-focused tires on standby. Finally, the bike’s stunning livery is what inspired its name, using Renault’s Alpine Blue as the base color. White highlights and black details are present, too, and the reimagined Husqvarna logos were designed by the customer himself.
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