The earliest off-road motorcycles were a far cry from the laser-focused machines that dominate dirt tracks today. Most were standard road bikes adapted for off-road use, which created a niche for specialist workshops like Rickman, who stepped in with purpose-built competition machines. It was a golden age, producing iconic motorcycles that we still admire today.
This winsome vintage motocrosser channels the classic era, with a subtle Japanese twist. If you can’t pinpoint the donor bike, don’t worry—the Indonesian custom shop Frontwheel Motors pieced it together from Honda, Yamaha, and Kawasaki parts.
Starting from scratch, shop boss Chandra Gunawan sourced the 150 cc engine from a Honda MegaPro (known as the CB150R in most countries) to power the build. Picking the pint-sized Honda donk was a considered move; the MegaPro is seen as a commuter, and Chandra wanted to prove that he could create something special from such humble origins.…