In Taiwan, 150 cc motorcycles like the locally-produced Kymco KTR 150 sell like hotcakes. They’re nimble, utilitarian and economical, and small enough to qualify for cheaper licensing fees, too. But it’s not just commuters that see the appeal—the KTR 150 and its ilk are fast becoming darlings of Taiwan’s blossoming custom scene.
The country’s best custom motorcycle builders are adept at turning the likes of the humble Kymco KTR 150 into spunky customs. If you don’t believe us, just take a look at this street scrambler from Fever in Taoyuan City just outside of Taipei. Svelte and stylish, it makes a compelling argument for the KTR’s potential.
The brief was to create a stripped-down scrambler while weaving together retro and modern aesthetics. Fever responded with a tasteful symphony of styles. The fuel tank recalls vintage Japanese dirt bikes, the seat and tail have a classic Brit feel, and the exhaust almost has a performance scooter vibe going on.
That fuel tank was the first part to go onto the KTR 150—even though it wasn’t originally designed for this particular bike. It was the first part that Fever’s founder, Xiao An, fabricated while he was busy with his metalworking apprenticeship years ago. When he opened Fever, he hung it on the wall for nostalgia’s sake.
Once it was adapted to fit the Kymco’s frame, the tank dictated the rest of the build. Fever tweaked the bike’s subframe, finishing it off with a bolt-on rear loop. The loop isn’t just for show either—it’s also sporting mounting tabs to stabilize the rear fender.
The overall design is tidy, cutting a straight line from the tank through to the tail. A solo seat sits up top, upholstered with a white stripe along the edge that makes it look skinnier than it physically is. A ribbed fender sits just behind it, while a cast taillight from Heiwa in Japan sits against the back of the rear loop.
Fever also fabricated the trials-style front fender and bracket, voluptuous bash plate, sprocket cover, and chain guard A custom-made battery box sits under the seat, flanked by the exhaust on one side and a number board on the other.
The box hosts the main electronic components, along with a Bluetooth-enabled Motogadget controller. The KTR 150’s owner, Jia-Hong Xu, built the new wiring harness himself from scratch. The bike can be switched on from a smartphone now, with a secret key ignition offering a backup in case your battery dies.
Moving to the suspension, Fever transplanted the forks, yokes, and front drum brake hub from a Yamaha SR400. The crew drilled out the front brake casing and treated it to a brushed finish, then laced it to a 19” rim. The front end also uses a custom axle, spacers, and fork caps.
An 18” rim does duty at the back, with new shocks from Gears Racing offering a better ride. The tires are Dunlop K180—street-specific tires with flat track looks.
The Kymco’s single-cylinder motor went under the knife too, with a full refresh inside and out. Its polished covers add to the bike’s retro charm, while its new Yoshimura carb and DNA filter free up an extra horse or two.
Fever is best known for its exhaust work, so they pulled out all the stops here. A single header snakes behind the sump guard and around the engine, before exiting in a boxy oval muffler. The design is remarkably well-considered; note how the heat shield echoes the shape of the muffler, right down to its perfectly parallel louvers.
For the controls, Hong and Fever pieced together a spec sheet of tasty parts from all over. The handlebar risers come from Biltwell Inc. in the US, while the bars themselves are from BAAK in France. The headlight comes from BAAK too, complete with an integrated Motogadget speedo.
It’s a tidy setup, with subtle push buttons integrated into the headlight, lever clamps, and custom-made housings on the bars, and all the wiring run internally. (Admittedly, Hong is probably the only guy that knows how to operate it all).
The paint job is another feature that demands closer inspection. It’s the work of Jeffrey’s Finishing Touch, who shot the bike in blue and white, then adorned it with subtle silver pin-striping. Extra touches include an illustration of a whale on the tank, and an appropriate slogan pasted on each side of the battery box; “Slow down for the better life.”
Fever’s Kymco KTR 150 is not only a testament to how much you can do with a simple commuter bike, but also a great reminder that small bikes can have big attitude.
Fever Taiwan | Images by Dong Lin
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