Part of what we do around here is celebrate motorcycles as canvases for art. But they’re also, at their core, modes of transport. This tasteful Kymco KTR street tracker from 2LOUD Custom is a bit of both.
The Taiwanese workshop customized the KTR for a friend of its founder, Ma ‘Max’ Yicheng. “He had just returned from studying in the UK and had become a chef at a high-end Japanese restaurant,” Max tells us. “He wanted to fulfill his dream of owning a custom motorcycle and riding it when he gets off work.”
2LOUD suggested the humble Kymco KTR 150 as a donor—a humble single-cylinder commuter that’s made and sold in Taiwan. It’s a bike that they’re very familiar with, and one that they know just how to tweak.
Max and co. kicked things off by swapping the KTR’s engine for a Chinese-made 230 cc, six-speed single. The new mill was matched to the Kymco chassis via custom-made stainless steel mounting brackets. It’s fed by a new 32 mm carb, fitted with a handmade velocity stack that contains a hidden mesh filter.
Next up was the Kymco’s stance. 2LOUD retained the OEM forks and brakes, but swapped the wheels for a 19” front and an 18” rear. The wheels use aluminum rims, stainless steel spokes, and trials-style tires from Duro.
The elegant tubular swingarm is from 2LOUD’s aftermarket parts catalog, as is the chain guard that’s bolted to it. Rear shocks from the Taiwanese suspension brand GJMS offer a ride height boost, with springs matched to the rider’s weight.
Up top, 2LOUD redesigned the KTR’s subframe with a kicked-up rear loop. The tail end is a riff on classic trials bike designs, with a shortened seat, a generous aluminum fender, stainless steel struts, and a Lucas-style taillight. Chromed turn signals hang off 2LOUD brackets, bolted to the upper shock mounts.
It’s more of the same up front, where a slim handmade aluminum fender hovers above the front wheel. The dainty chromed headlight and front turn signals are attached to a single bracket; another part from the 2LOUD catalog.
Wide stainless steel bars dominate the cockpit, fitted with KustomTech levers, mini-switches, and white grips that complement the luxe seat upholstery. The ignition barrel now sits on the left-hand side of the bike, and the speedo (a Motogadget part) is integrated into the top of the bike’s fuel tank.
The teardrop tank is a custom part, as are the small side covers that finish off the bodywork. A bespoke exhaust header and conical muffler run along the right-hand side of the bike, suspended from a bracket that carries 2LOUD’s signature style.
As we’ve come to expect from Max, this Kymco KTR’s finishes are pitch-perfect. The bodywork wears a red and white livery, punctuated by gold striping, while the hard parts are done in alternating black, silver, and chrome finishes.
But the real reward for Max is the attention that his creation demands. “The owner happily told me that guests who come to eat his high-end Japanese cuisine see this beautiful vehicle at the door, and stop to discuss it,” he tells us. “Hearing this makes me feel, ‘Today is a good day!’”
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