Built for Pure Riding Pleasure: HONDA FTR223 Custom

Webike's Opinion

Here is a "HONDA FTR223" custom by Webike community user "HEAT RIDER". The owner runs a support shop focused on helping riders enjoy the kind of riding and driving that only small, lightweight motorcycles and cars can offer. As you'd expect from someone that skilled, this Honda FTR isn’t just a means of transportation—it’s been built to bring out the joy of riding. One of the owner’s favorite views is from the bike’s left side. He loves its simple and clean design. At first glance, it may look understated, but a closer look reveals a host of custom touches. Each one is thoughtfully chosen to prioritize riding enjoyment, giving this FTR a performance far beyond stock.

The exhaust system uses a one-off silencer, paired with just the pipe from a bargain aftermarket exhaust and reworked into a high-mount style. The result gives the bike a sharper look while also drawing attention to one of the FTR’s best features—its beautifully exposed frame. With a high-mount front fender, the bike leans toward an off-road appearance, but the actual aim is more of a streetfighter-style scrambler, the owner says.

At the cockpit, a simple DAYTONA Speedometer is combined with a compact GUTSCHROME Tachometer. The setup was inspired by the YAMAHA SRX-4 the owner used to ride. Another detail he’s particularly fond of is the shortened Honda mirror stalks, trimmed so the mirrors stay tucked neatly within the handlebar width.

The carburetor was replaced with a KEIHIN PE28, which gave the bike a noticeably torquier feel. But things really came alive after adding a K&N custom air filter and re-tuning the carb—the power increase was surprising, according to the owner. As for engine visuals, the camshaft cover has been polished and clear-coated for a cleaner finish. Internally, the camshaft was changed to one from the 125cc version of the same engine, effectively converting it to a high-cam setup. This mod did lead to a slight drop in torque in the low and mid-range, but above 6,000 RPM the engine really comes to life, delivering a punchy, powerful ride at mid-to-high revs, much like an off-road bike.

In the rear, shocks from a Kawasaki Ninja 400 have been fitted, with the swingarm modified to accommodate. The setup was adjusted to match a desired spring rate of around 17 to 18kg. Looking ahead, the owner is planning to big bore the engine, increasing the piston diameter from 60.5mm to 66mm, in pursuit of even more performance.

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