Inspired by classic superbikes, the guys from Jakarta’s Thrive Motorcycles had the wonderful idea of turning a 1980 Honda CB650 into a blacked-out vintage racer. With ten years of experience in building motorcycles, as well as manufacturing aftermarket components, the crew at Thrive knew what they were doing. The end product, 'T 15 Portia', hasn’t failed to deliver.
Starting With A Honda CB650
Not a bad place to start. Made in 1980, the Honda CB650 was a great street bike. Designed to fill the gap between the 500 and 750, it did even more than that. A lot of riders went with the 650 instead of a more powerful 750. A low price with lower maintenance costs and a great engine was a winning combination.
Honda CB650s had a 626 cc engine that produced 62 horsepower and 39 foot-pounds of torque. That power was best used between 6,000 and 9,500 rpm, where it would redline. There was also plenty of grunt in the mid-range. In 1980, its top speed was 117 mph, and it would hit 60 mph in 4.3 seconds. All in all, a pretty awesome platform.
Turning A CB650 Into The ‘T 15 Portia’
Starting at the front, Portia got a retro-looking front fairing made out of fiberglass with twin headlights, from Geba Parts, and new upside-down forks from Yamaha. It also got a new, classic Öhlins’ Blackline edition rear suspension. The brakes, which came from a Honda CBX550F, were installed on 17-inch spoked wheels. Those were made in-house to replace the original Honda’s Comstar wheels. The tires are high-performance Pirelli Sportscomp, with a vintage tread pattern.
The fuel tank was another part that was made by hand at Thrive Motorcycles in order to fit their own endurance fuel cap. Under the tank is a slightly improved engine from a CB650. It was thoroughly restored by the experts at Kandang Ayam Garage. It has new carburetors and new velocity stacks for smooth power delivery. To help this engine breathe, a new custom-made four-into-two exhaust system was installed alongside Thrive’s own stainless steel mufflers.
If the front end looks like it came from the sixties, the rear end with its sharp lines resembles the eighties. Made by hand from aluminum, it houses two circular taillights. The finish on the ‘T 15 Portia’ looks awesome. Satin black paint with white striping and the rear end in brushed aluminum is really impressive.
At The Forefront Of The Custom Bike Scene
The custom motorcycle scene in Indonesia is certainly booming for the last ten years or so. More and more bike shops are popping up, with some really original ideas, and Thrive Motorcycles is definitely one to keep an eye on. A lot of parts for the ‘Portia’ were made by hand, or taken from their own catalog, which shows a high level of expertise. Looking at their previous work will leave you impressed because for these guys no idea is too weird, and no bike is undoable.