Most customs look nothing like a factory bike, with radical styling and, let?s face it, often dubious legality. But occasionally we see a machine that could have rolled straight off a production line.
This custom Sym Wolf looks it could have been a ?retro? made by a Japanese factory in the 1980s?with a similar vibe to bikes like the Honda GB500. But it?s the work of student Charlie Huang, who also gives us an interesting insight into Taiwanese custom culture.

Charlie lives in Taichung, but also spends time in California?where attends the renowned ArtCenter College of Design.
His bike is a 1994 Sym Wolf 125, which started life as a somewhat inelegant commuter tool. ?It belonged to my uncle, until he passed it down to me in 2020,? Charlie tells us. ?It had been my dream bike since I was a child, so I wanted to honor it?by enhancing it and bringing it back to life.? He started with a sketch.
Passing down motorcycles is common in Taiwan: young people often take on the bike used by a grandfather or father, and the Wolf has long been the most popular motorcycle in the country.
Customizing is less common though. ?Due to a ban on large motorcycle imports in the late 60s, there was a big gap in our motorcycle culture,? Charlie explains. ?This is why our custom bike culture started very late, and small-engine motorcycles are the main theme.?

Charlie?s goal was to not only rebuild the Wolf 125, but also enhance its styling and performance without resorting to the fat-tire, mi...