underbone tuner: August 2013

Underbone Tuner was able to interview Johnie Rey Nabua the bike builder from Luzon behind the
jaw dropping Yamaha 2-stroke bikes that took the IR Bikefest 2013 by storm. He talks about his
award winning creation which bagged the National Championship for the IR Bikefest Customized
bike competition.

Bike: YAMAHA RS-100
Owner/Designer: Johnie Rey Nabua

The Team behind the bike:
Raigo Metal Finishing
Zero Custom Graphics
K2 Hydrographics
JR Designs
Serna Machine Shop

1. UT: How did you come-up with the rear swing arm? did you design it? who did the machining for the parts?
Johnie: The rear swing arm is adopted with the chassis which is using round tubes. There are similarities of the design with the existing single sided swing arms in the market. It is similar but not the same. The alloy covers integrated with the swing arms are all personalized. The design also needed to adapt to a belt drive transmission system that makes the interconnection of the parts harder. The machining was made by our “Kuya Flor and Papi Jun” of Serna Machine Shop.

2. Can you talk about your front suspension system? Can your walk us through how you built the front suspension system?
Johnie: Maybe It’s just hard to notice but the front swing arm is a factory made swing arm from a single sided front suspension scooter. I just bought it online but it’s not a plug and play type we made customization on it because real customizers hate plug and play parts. We make adjustments to suit it well to the entire design of the frame.

3. How did you get into modifying bikes? how did you get started?
Johnie: I love bikes. I love to see unique parts and unique bikes. I can make a design and do some of its parts but I cannot put it in to reality alone that makes me explore to search for people and talents to help me. In modifying bikes I create the design and build my team of builders, I don’t take the credit alone, to be able to work with other talents to build and complete the bike is the best thing for me, In the end I was able to have a unique bike to be proud off and build a team of talents and friends.

4. Why did you choose the 2-stroke platform?
Johnie: When it comes to the category of bikes between 2 and 4 stroke, I think the 2 stroke bikes are the under dogs that makes it more challenging. To be able to customized one, most of the parts would be made and not bought. That situation would push a customizer to its limit not to able to buy parts but rather to create it.

5. Can you describe the overall concept of your bike? how did you come up with the overall theme?
Johnie: The theme and concept of bike is robotic type, we also base concept on available materials and machines limitations. The word “single sided” also wrap the entire design, most of the parts including the paint and airbrush design are single sided that no parts from left to right to bottom and front are the same and duplicated. Every single part should be customize including the engine parts and covers. You will enjoy looking around the bike and finding every angle and every part unique and will tease you to look at it longer.