Malaysian designer Kenny Yeoh, under the eponymous
Kenstomoto label, has released his fourth special, the Kenstomoto
MechaStallion. Based on the Honda CBR250R, Yeoh has taken Honda’s quarter-litre
sportsbike and worked it over in the Zaku mecha-style.
As is typical of Kenstomoto builds, the
MechaStallion is a single-seater, with the rear sub-frame consigned to the
scrap heap, along with the pillion foot-pegs. A diminutive pod, perched on two
steel risers, carries the tail- and brake-lights, which are LED units.
Comprising of several discrete pieces, the body work
is 3D printed from ABS plastic. The front end is made up of five pieces, while
the side pod and radiator cover come with six and two pieces, respectively,
while five different pieces make up the tail cover.
The single headlight on the MechaStallion is not actually
the headlight, it’s a fog lamp surrounded by four LED DRLs, with the actual
headlights located on either side, above the radiator cowl.
The standard fuel tank is retained, but now
bulkier with the addition of the ABS panels. In the cockpit, a diminutive Trail
Tech Vapor LCD dashboard displays all the necessary information, albeit
designed for younger riders, as the multi-focal wearing author had issues
bringing the small figures into focus.
Yeoh’s prowess with electrics and electronics shines
through on this build, with all wiring neatly terminated and tucked away, using
proper box-connectors. The MechaStallion was given an entirely new wiring
harness, and the quality of work shows, with no weird electrical gremlins
popping up, as is sometimes typical with custom builds.
Riding around on the Mechastallion revealed that
this is very much a work in progress. Yeoh took pains to explain why the
Akrapovic exhaust can sounded the way it did, and why it was held on by
zip-ties. Removing the rear sub-frame has made
this Kenstomoto build very light and nimble, slicing the traffic like a ninja
and cutting like a razor blade. The suspension settings were almost spot on for
fast, point-and-shoot riding.
From a styling point of view, the MechaStallion
follows Yoeh’s penchant for the Japanese Gundam mechanical look. The folds and
angles of the bike, despite its very diminutive size, makes for a very striking
machine, which tends to polarise the beholder.
For a fourth effort, Yeoh has certainly raised the
bar, putting together a small, light, and quick custom sportsbike in the
Kenstomoto style. He has taken on-board comments and criticism, as well as
feedback from his previous builds, and has set himself a target of continuous
improvement with each build.
