Custom-Built Kawasaki ER-6N Boasts Handmade Bodywork Everywhere You Look

From Jakarta to Bali, there’s absolutely no shortage of world-class builders to grace our Custom Bikes section with their work. Batakastem Workshop is one of firms we’ve been constantly revisiting as of late, based in the nation’s bustling capital city and run by Abraham Simatupang. He and his crew have made a name for themselves with some truly wild projects over the years, always dialing things all the way up to eleven.

This mind-blowing ER-6N is an excellent example of what they can pull off, with very few stock components left on it following the Batakastem treatment. As a matter of fact, only the engine and main frame are Kawasaki parts, while everything else was either built in-house, sourced from top-tier aftermarket brands, or donated by different motorcycles. In short, the extent of the work performed here is pretty astounding.

As we’ve got a lot to cover here, let’s dive straight in without further ado. The transformation started at the back, where the ER-6N is now home to a custom subframe that’s been fabricated from scratch. It relocates the suspension mounting point to the left, so as to suit the replacement swingarm selected by Abraham and his team.

Transplanted from a Ducati 1098, the single-sided unit was far from an easy fit, but the effort to make it all work was definitely worth it in the end. Suspension duties in that area are now taken care of by an adjustable Ohlins shock absorber, and the hardware installed at the front is just as intriguing. The premium upside-down forks found there were donated by a Ducati Multistrada, with custom CNC-machined triple clamps holding them in place.

More Bolognese hardware can be found in the unsprung sector, in the form of forged Y-spoked wheels taken from the 1098. Their rims are embraced by snazzy Pirelli Diablo Rain tires, which are not only great in terms of grip but also look the part. As you would expect, only the best parts were used when it came to upgrading the brakes.

Sturdy Brembo calipers are present at both ends, with the front units mated to floating aftermarket discs and a top-grade master cylinder. Batakastem clearly spared no expense when it came to the Kawi’s running gear, but they haven’t overlooked its twin-cylinder powerhouse, either. A new radiator was installed to keep temperatures in check, together with a shiny overflow canister placed on the right.

In addition, the engine exterior got dressed up in a multitude of snazzy bits and pieces for a punchier visual statement. The coolest powertrain-related mod has to do with the exhaust, though, as the guys fashioned a new stainless-steel setup in-house. It runs a two-one-two layout before reaching a pair of outward-facing tips right below the right foot peg. Oh, and then there is that jaw-dropping attire adorning the ER-6N from front to back.

The bike was 3D-scanned so the new garments could then be drawn up using CAD software, and the physical bits were ultimately shaped out of aluminum. At the front, we notice a gorgeous half-fairing with MotoGP-inspired winglets and lateral air vents that flank the radiator. The fairing surrounds a high-grade aftermarket LED headlight, while working its way up and over the stock instrument panel in the cockpit.

A classy fuel tank can be spotted further back, topped with a flush-mounted filler cap and complementing the fairing’s contours beautifully. The engine’s underside and exhaust headers are encased in a bespoke belly pan, but the motorcycle’s rear end is all about the cafe racer vibes. Its new tubular subframe supports sporty side covers and a pointy tail section with integrated LED lighting.

You will also see a plain foam saddle in that area, and a swingarm-mounted fender comes into view lower down. A custom mudguard is also present at the front, sitting on tailor-made brackets nice and close to the tire. Besides the factory instrumentation, the creature’s cockpit houses clip-on handlebars equipped with Motogadget grips and bar-end mirrors. An Ohlins steering damper can be seen right behind the top clamp.

To take the project across the finish line, the bike-modding gurus at Batakastem Workshop came up with a stunning color scheme to dress it all up. It is a mixture of red, dark grey, and gold, along with pinches of black and brushed aluminum finishes. Now, the stock ER-6N may not be the prettiest thing out there, but this custom gem from Indonesia is a genuine head-turner.