The Honda XL600R is one of those bulletproof dual-purpose bikes that will go on forever if looked after properly. It?s simple and strong, and in the right hands, a formidable trail weapon.
At around 325 pounds wet (147 kilos) it?s much also lighter than most modern ADV bikes. Which makes it nimble enough for city use?and easier to forgive the hassle of kick-starting a 600cc four-stroke.

The XL600R?s looks are something of an acquired taste these days, with a short tank that?s stumpy to the point of almost being triangular.
But the simplicity of the big XL makes it the perfect base for a go-anywhere custom. Especially if you want something a little sturdier than a modern-day scrambler.

That?s the thinking behind ?Dirt Trooper,? an off-the-wall XL600R from Herencia Motor Company of Buenos Aires, Argentina. HMC has a similar setup to Deus: they blend bike building with apparel and accessories to create a stable business. (They even build custom cars too.) Federico Lozada and German Karp run the motorcycle side of the business, and have made a name for themselves with street trackers.

?We have a preference for certain styles, and our clients look for that style,? says Fede. ?But this time, we managed to convince a client to try a style we haven?t done.?
?We didn?t want to go along with the fashion trend that has surrounded most builds lately,? says Fede. ?As engineers, we like the process of designing from zero. We wanted to build a custom that could adapt to any ...