Launched in 2005, the FMX 650 — aka the “Funmoto” — allowed riders to dive straight into the action without having to purchase an expensive set of 17-inch wheels and tires to convert their XR or NX into a supermoto. The bike used the rock-solid 644cc engine from the Dominator and a basic steel backbone frame. While it wasn’t the most innovative machine, it was an affordable, reliable big single supermotard with a penchant for urban hooliganism.
Enter Thomas Jeukens of Belgium’s TOMA Customs, who left a high-powered job in the corporate world to follow his true passion of working with his hands. In a world where so many bikes are conceived in Photoshop, long before the builder puts skin on steel, Thomas prefers a more old-fashioned, analog approach, inviting his customers to come to the shop, discussing concepts and details as the build evolves:
“It’s really about this kind of experience that we want to evolve and bring our customers to. Discussing details, sharing what we do, making them come to the workshop to live the project together — not just buying a product, but living an experience together and building the motorcycle of their dreams.”
For this build, the customer, Bruno, was already a client, but this time he wanted a Honda with a larger engine, and a style that was “radical and unique”:
“So we went together to get a good coffee in the pub next to the workshop to discuss about the project and quickly we agreed on a concept of a urban version of the Superhooligan motorcycles.”
They decided on an FMX as the base, as it already had an inverted fork and supermoto wheels. Once they had the donor, they stripped down the plastic-clad “Funmoto” to the barest essentials — wheels, frame, forks, engine — and began envisioning the build. Fortunately, Bruno’s office isn’t far from the TOMA Customs workshop, so he was able to drop in regularly, involving himself deeply in the creation of his dream bike — just the type of experience that TOMA Customs tries to foster.
The finished project is one of our favorite 650 Honda customs we’ve seen in some time — a minimalist, big-single blend of superhooligan / supermotard that itches to jump curbs and tear shortcuts through the dirt. Below, we get more details on the build from the man himself, Thomas Jeukens, as well as some stunning shots from photographer Olivier Truyman.
Honda FMX 650 Custom: In the Builder’s Words
When we start a project, we first want to hear about the clients’ wishes and transformation ideas. It is a great opportunity for us to get to know our client and enables us to visualize what his dream bike would look like.
For this project, the approach was different. We already knew very well our customer Bruno and his wishes for customization, as this is actually the second bike we built for him. He already ordered a project in the past, also based on a Honda but with a smaller engine.
Quite aware of Bruno’s desires and taste from our past project with him, we knew he would want to go for a quite minimalist, sober and neat project with a rather road / city use. When he came to the workshop to discuss his new project, he added that for this specific project he wanted something radical and unique…
So we went together to get a good coffee in the pub next to the workshop to discuss about the project and quickly we agreed on a concept of a urban version of the Superhooligan motorcycles. We then just had to find the right base to start the project. After some research we found that the Honda FMX650 was the ideal base for his project, easy to find secondhand and with its stock inverted fork and 17” wheels. We were on the same wavelength for the project and Bruno trusted us, so he got a Honda FMX which would serve as the project base without even having defined all the details of the project, only the budget range was set.
It is a way of working that we like too, to set the bases of the project and then let it evolve while working on the bike. When Bruno brought us the FMX two weeks later, we thus completely dismantled the bike to keep only the wheels, the frame and the engine, and from then we imagined everything together. As Bruno has is office not far away from the workshop, he came regularly to see the progress of the project and it allowed us to show him what we imagined for the next steps at each key stage of the project: the type of tank, handlebar, headlight, side covers, exhaust, he even came three times to try the saddle and the adjustments of the foam so it fits perfectly before we sewed the alcantara leather on it.
We love this kind of project and relationship with the customers, to take their ideas into account and try to achieve their dream motorcycle, all this happening in the workshop around the bike without going through Photoshop. It’s really about this kind of experience that we want to evolve and bring our customers to, discussing details, sharing what we do, make them come to the workshop to live the project together, not just buying a product, but live an experience together and build the motorcycle of their dream.
Regarding the modifications, we wanted to play with the general line of the bike, so we decided to replace the original tank with a smaller one and align / shorten the rear part of the frame.
We cut and welded a shorter frame loop and replaced the original huge saddle by a custom seat base that we then sewed at our workshop. The finish and covering of the saddle is in Alcantara leather. Replacing the handlebar also helped work on the line of the bike.
All electronic components have been replaced by new and more minimalist elements (LED indicator lights, speedometer) to make the motorcycle look more modern. List of modification also includes the build of an electricity box, bespoke side covers, bespoke exhaust header with Supertrapp silencer.
In the front we removed the fairing and replaced it with a tiny LED headlight and an Aluminum Endurance plate to give the bike a radical look. The color of the tank is the original one but we applied a matte varnish coat to make the bike look more aggressive.
List of Modifications
– modification/shorten of the rear part of the frame
– bespoke exhaust header with Supertrapp silencer.
– replaced the tank
– bespoke side covers
– aluminum Endurance plate
– tiny led headlight
– new set of led indicatorlights
– new handelbars
– bespoke seat with alcantara leather
– bespoke electricity box under the seat
– new speedometer
– removed a lot of original accessories that were superfluous
Builder Information
Workshop: TOMA CUSTOMS
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Pictures: Olivier Truyman
Owner of the bike: Bruno
Owner of TOMA CUSTOMS: Thomas Jeukens
Contact: Thomas Jeukens, +32 479351638, [email protected]
Follow the Builder
Website: www.tomacustoms.com
Instagram: @tomacustoms
Facebook: TOMA customs
