The Honda NX 650 Dominator is one of the custom scene’s greatest sleepers. It’s not the most prolific donor, but it’s loaded with potential. Even in stock form it has tons of 90s adventure bike charm?and if you tweak it just right, you’ll end up with a killer scrambler.
At first glance, this Italian-built Dommie looks like a rough-hewn weekend thrasher. Look past the murdered-out paint job though, and you’ll find a slew of tasteful changes.

It’s the work of Tommaso, founder of the unusually well curated Asphalt and Gravel Instagram account. Tommaso’s wrenched on his own own bikes before, but this is the first official Asphalt and Gravel bike built for a customer?’#AG01.’
?I started riding at 10 years old in the family quarry,? he tells us, ?and I haven’t stopped since then. I created a space inside the quarry, where I can work on my projects, and take care of my bike collection?the so-called ‘Asphalt and Gravel den’.?
Tommaso’s client wanted a scrambler with some 70s dirt bike influence. After some deliberation, they settled on the Dominator?so Tommaso sourced a good condition example, and brought it back to the den. There, he and his friend Edoardo set to work.
Given the state of the donor, the guys didn’t have to crack open the motor. But they did bin all the bodywork, so that they could start fresh.

On went the fuel tank from a 1971 KTM 125 cc dirt bike, held in place by a custom-...