BSA-Inspired Meguro Desert Sled from LEMBinc…
Based on the Kawasaki W230, the Kawasaki Meguro S1 is a tribute to Meguro, Japan’s oldest motorcycle manufacturer, which Kawasaki acquired in the early 1960s to help them enter the “big bike” market.
Founded in 1924, Meguro was known as a Japanese “prestige brand” that supplied police and military motorcycles, produced aircraft parts, and competed with Honda both on the racing circuit and the sales floor. In the 1950s, Meguro acquired the rights and plans from BSA to build copies of the 500cc A7, badged as the K-series “Stamina.”
The quality and engineering were reportedly superior to that of BSA, prompting Edward Turner himself to call the bikes “too good to be true.” In 1965, Kawasaki enlarged the original 500cc BSA parallel-twin design to 624cc in order to launch their first “big bike,” the now legendary Kawasaki W1.
The W1 established Kawasaki as a major player in the large-displacement motorcycle market, and the company has done a good job of keeping that heritage alive with the modern rebirth of the W series.
“Revived in the early 2000’s, thanks to the now legendary W650, the W range traces its roots back to the mid 1960’s when Kawasaki unveiled its first ‘big bike’, the W1 which, in turn, was based on a former Meguro model thanks to Kawasaki acquiring the company previously.” –Kawasaki
Kawasaki introduced the Meguro S1 in 2024 to mark the 100-year anniversary of the founding of Meguro. Based on the W230, this air-cooled single-cylinder retro roadster features fuel injection and classic style derived from the 1964 Kawasaki 250 Meguro SG.
“With so many new motorcycles focusing on tech and features flooding the market, it’s clear to see that the Kawasaki Meguro S1 and W230 are a rare breed. They’re classic-inspired offerings with the goods to back up the heritage they’re fronting, and they paint a good picture of how motorcycling once was, and perhaps, how it should be.” –RideApart
This Meguro S1 desert sled comes from Rizqi Pratama of Indonesia’s Lembinc Cycle.
“I fell in love with classic and custom motorcycles back in 2006. I do almost all the custom work on a bike’s parts by myself, manually. I am also an industrial designer who’s focused on automotive since 2013.” -Rizqi
The bike’s owner, Den Dimas (@buburayamracer), is a well-known automotive vlogger who wanted to give his new bike an even more classic look…and complete the transformation in time for the 12th annual BBQ Ride “Vintage-Kustom” Motorcycle and Car Show in Bandung. That timing gave Rizqi just a few days to complete the build…along with two other bikes intended for the event.
“Since we had a short timeline, I decided to propose a Desert Sled concept to him, and he was 100% in agreement. So I started to dig up a lot of images and literature about Desert Sleds and BSA history.”
The concept became to create what a BSA-based Meguro desert sled would have looked like back in the 1960s, but using a fuel-injected 2025 model. Rizqi says the wheels, seat, exhaust, handlebars, fork brace, skidplate, rear fender, and number plate are all custom elements, mostly built in-house. RSSQ hand-painted the race number. The build was an adventure right down the moment of delivery.
“The bike was finished at dawn on D-Day, and I had to ride it fast intercity from Bekasi to Bandung (about 150Km). I couldn’t see anything when I crossed the forest road because the bike doesn’t have any lights at all. And of course, it’s a cop magnet too. :D”
We’ve known plenty of bikes to be completed on the morning of a show, but never one ridden nearly 100 miles from city to city to make the event — that’s one hell of a shakedown run! Rizqi and the Meguro desert sled made it just in time. You have to love a story like that!
Below is our full interview with Rizqi about the build, and we look forward to featuring more work from Lembinc Cycle.
Meguro Desert Sled: Builder Interview
• Please tell us a bit about yourself, your history with motorcycles, and your workshop.
My name is Rizqi Pratama, owner of Lembinc Cycle workshop. I fell in love with classic and custom motorcycles back in 2006. I do almost all the custom work on a bike’s parts by myself, manually. I am also an industrial designer who’s focused on automotive since 2013.
• What’s the make, model, and year of the donor bike?
Kawasaki W230 (Meguro S1), 2025 model.
• Why was this bike built?
The idea came from the owner, Den Dimas, who is a well-known automotive vlogger in Indonesia. He wanted to give his new bike a classic racing look. His bike was listed to be displayed at the BBQ Ride event in Bandung, Indonesia.
• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?
Since we had a short timeline, I decided to propose a Desert Sled concept to him, and he was 100% in agreement. So I started to dig up a lot of images and literature about Desert Sleds and BSA history. Meguro was one of Kawasaki’s first bikes that was developed from a BSA. So I imagined: “How would it look when BSA made their Desert Sled back then?”
• What custom work was done to the bike?
Wheels, seat, exhaust, handlebar, fork brace, skidplate, rear fender, and racing number plate.
• Any idea of horsepower, weight, and/or performance numbers?
Nope, because we didn’t touch anything on the engine.
• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride this bike?
Imagine that you rode a 60s/70s bike in new condition but with a high rev idle (because it has fuel injection), hahaha.
• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?
The timeline and the trip. I made this bike in only a few days. This Meguro was to be displayed in the BBQ Ride event in Bandung, and I had to deliver it on time. Poor me, I also had another two bikes to be done too for this event!
The bike was finished at dawn on D-Day, and I had to ride it fast intercity from Bekasi to Bandung (about 150Km). I can’t see anything when I cross the forest road because the bike doesn’t have any lights at all. And of course, it’s a cop magnet too. 😀
• Is there anyone you’d like to thank?
Thanks to @buburayamracer (the bike’s owner), and @r.s.s.q for painting the number plate.
Follow the Builder
Instagram: @lembinc
Wow! Nicely done.