Released in 2006, the Yamaha SX225 — aka Yamaha Scorpio Z — has become one of the most popular platforms for customization in Indonesia and beyond — an affordable air-cooled four-stroke single that’s garnered praise for its handling, value, and fun factor. Riders have called it a “whippet” and a “workhorse” and “the most fun for the least bucks I’ve ever had” (source):
“Sure, the Scorpio doesn’t look ‘flash’ or sexy, but it’s not only a good little workhorse, it is fun and easy to handle too.“
Enter our friend Yohanes Marse — “Anes” — of Indonesia’s Jowo Kustom. While some workshops are happy to turn out cookie-cutter customs that match a common brand image or silhouette, Anes and crew continue to turn out a diverse portfolio of builds, each unique yet stamped with a recognizable Jowo style.
This 2009 Yamaha SX225 had already been customized as a scrambler, but the owner wanted to give the bike a futuristic makeover — a brand new aesthetic for the old machine. Anes and the customer worked together on a visual concept, then the fabrication work began.
Many of this Scorpio scrambler’s major elements are handmade: the gas tank, headlamp cover, subframe, seat, exhaust, and more. The bike now features double-disc front brakes, a heavy-duty swing arm, and a stainless steel plate and strap for the rider’s raincoat or tool bag — a nice touch.
All of Jowo Kustom’s builds have nicknames, and this one is “BIMA” — a Sanskrit word meaning “The Great.” Below, we get the full story on this burly little scrambler.
Yamaha Scorpio Scrambler: Builder Interview
• What’s the make, model, and year of the bike?
The donor bike was Yamaha SX225 year 2009, also known as Yamaha Scorpio in Indonesia.
• Why was this bike built?
This bike was a scrambler before. But the customer wanted to change the ambience of the bike. He wanted some kind of a futuristic bike rather than how the bike looked before. Black and red, like Deadpool maybe. Ahahahaha.
• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?
Nothing influenced but original concept between the customer and Jowo Kustom. The key was, how to make this bike look futuristic. And as always, simplicity is our character.
• What custom work was done to the bike?
We chopped the subframe, made a new one combined with a handmade gas tank, seat, muffler, headlamp cover, and many other things. The stainless steel plate placed at the rear side of the seat was made to carry a raincoat or tool bag.
We also put double disc brakes at the front to give a strong character combined with the muscular wheels and swing arm.
• Does the bike have a nickname?
We named it BIMA, a Sanskrit word which means “The Great.”
• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride this bike?
Very comfortable and easy ride. Smooth but powerful. And as always, whenever and wherever you ride, people stare at BIMA, wondering what kind of bike it is.
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