Australian Motorcycle News — January 03, 2018

1. Tank is part racing,
   part spaceship


2. Stock bike was no
   oil painting


3. Brake light or warp
   drive?
   4. New mount,
   original dial


4. Sci-fi influences
   are evident wherever
   you look

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Apocalypse pow
Pratama knew where this
conversation was headed, and
after the meeting an exchange of
emails led to a series of visits to
each other’s shops, and eventually
they agreed on a plan. Plenty of
research was required – not only
because such an extensive project
has to be done right, but also
because it would serve as the test
bed for Thrive to develop a range
of custom parts to be sold under
the T/H/R/V name.
TheCB250Nwaschosen

precisely for the reason many

avoid it: the unflattering engine

shape and rear subframe. But as

a small and super-reliable bike,

it’s perfect for a new rider. With

the donor bike up on the lift and

completely stripped down, they

could begin to envision where the

changes had to take place.

“The design was pretty much

inspired from the D9 weaponry,

looks that gelled with our

own taste and vision of post-

apocalypse kind of vehicles,”

Pratama explained.

Give us a brake

A new tubular frame is perfectly

integrated into the stock

backbone, shortened to expose

more of the rear tyre. To create

a visually cohesive rear end, the

stock swingarm was used as the

foundation of the new piece to

support the monoshock.

The rear fender hovers out over

the tyre with supports on just

one side for probably the most

incredible piece of engineering

attempted on a humble 250N.

To really make the bike special,

the parts that could later be sold

by the company couldn’t be run of

the mill, stretching the build time

to 18 months. But looking at the

sheer brilliance and exceptional

craftsmanship of the tail-light

and frame, the wait was worth it.

The fully integrated brake

light and turn-signal combo is

attached to underseat aluminium

skirting that can be easily adapted

for other models. It’s topped off

with a matching leather seat that

conceals the battery.

The less than sexy stock Honda

tank was next on the chopping

block, ditched for one of the

coolest custom pieces you’re ever

likely to see. The stealthy lines

are fashioned from galvanised

steel, so even years of Jakarta

downpours won’t rust this baby.

But it’s the two new T/H/R/V

parts that really take it to a new

level. The gas cap was the first

piece the team designed – the

dry-break-style filler is straight

from the world of motorsport, but

this billet-machined piece puts

many pro race teams to shame.

The flush-fit fuel indicator is also

out of this world, and being able to

buy one makes the mouth water.

Alien bikinis

Having come so far, a single

headlight would have been a

crime and the over-under alien

eyeball look is perfect.

To maintain the sci-fi-style

lines, the hard edges have all

been softened with aluminium

front and rear fenders.

A perfectly sculpted bikini

fairing and belly pan give that

warp speed vibe even when the

bike is standing still.

To add a classic touch, an

old school single speedo was

chosen and set on an all-new

mounting plate, hand-formed

by the guys to bolt seamlessly

to the upper triple clamp. And

the Dunlop K180 tyres allow you

to ride the T9 in just about any

conditions.

Now that the build is finished,

all these small pieces of the

puzzle come together to form

an amazing machine – movie-

inspired prototype, sci-fi movie

masterpiece, test bed for

incredible parts, and a stunning

creation for a college friend.

This is the best CB250N we’ve

ever seen and with its D9 guns

ablaze it really lays waste to its

custom competition.