Every project always starts in the same way, a man who wants a bike that satisfies his taste and needs and someone who tries to put words into a tangible object and even Toma Customs does not escape these parameters, in fact Thomas tells us about this project and its evolution.
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 has it is actually the second bike we build 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 FMX 650 was the ideal base for his project, easy to find second hand 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 3 times to try the saddle and the adjustments of the foam so it fits perfectly before we sewn 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 by 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 by 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 indicatorlights, 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 by 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 matt 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
Background info about the Workshop
TOMA is a Brussels-based custom workshop. We transform, customise and hand finish motorcycles to create unique and personalised machines. Our artistic approach strives to extract the best potential of each bike and match the vision of their future owner’s. We aim to create unique, one-of-a-kind machines, with a clean and efficient style.
Our work mainly focuses on tracker, scrambler, and bratstyle projects. Customising goes hand in hand with transforming to us. We do not only modify bikes we give them a new life, a new look. We always work starting with an older, existing base and then begin adding new parts (tanks, wheels, handlebars, lights). Given the complexity of certain projects, we often create and adapt some of these parts ourselves, especially when they’re metal. Before we even get going, we spend a lot of time with the future-owners to see where they come from, what their interests are, where and how they grew up, their tastes, what they’ve been doing in life etc. All these elements, along with a ton of aesthetic and artistic research, allow us to create the motorcycle of their dreams.
About the Owner
I’m the owner of TOMA CUSTOMS, my name is Thomas Jeukens. 2 year ago, I decided to leave my job as Strategy Manager for a big consulting firm to open TOMA CUSTOMS and fully live from my passion, transforming and customising motorcycles. Mixing mental and manual activities generates a level of freedom and satisfaction that I’d never experienced before.
Working as a manager at a big consulting company enriched me personally and professionally, while it also made me grow and evolve as a person. Yet, I felt it was time for me to achieve one of my dreams and to fully live my passion: combining my intellectual abilities with creativity and manual work. That’s why I decided to turn my passion into my job.
Info/contact -
Workshop : TOMA CUSTOMS - Location : Brussels, Belgium
- Contact : Thomas Jeukens, Workshop leader, +32 479351638, info@tomacustoms.com
- Pictures : Olivier Truyman
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