Manufacturer MForce is making waves in the heart of Indonesia’s custom motorcycle scene with its SM Sport SM3. The SM3 is a sleek modern classic with styling akin to Triumph’s Bonneville range. Beneath its retro bodywork lies a hoard of modern performance features. At its heart, the SM3 is a 36bhp, 400cc parallel twin delivering power to the rear via a 6-speed gearbox. The adjustable suspension combines upside-down forks and retro-looking twin springs in the back. The spoked rims are 17-inch items and the disc brakes have optional ABS.
One workshop that has worked its magic on the SM3 is Bali’s Treasure Garage. The project didn’t start with a blank slate though. Instead, a client brought the SM Sport SM3 to Treasure Garage after a previous custom job by another workshop failed to meet expectations. Under the skilled hands of Prakoso “Nuel” Imanuel and his team, the SM3 evolved from a customization faux par into a stunning neo café racer.
The design brief was ambitious—to transform the roadster into a cafe racer sporting Treasure Garage’s trademark neo-retro style palette. Drawing inspiration from the Triumph’s coveted Thruxton, the concept called for a single-seat configuration, a wasp tail rear cowl, and clip-on handlebars. To ensure that the client would be happy with the result this time, the concept was developed in 3D by Radite, whose virtual blueprint became the foundation for the bike’s transformation.
Reengineering the bike’s swing arm was one of the most daunting aspects of this project. Treasure Garage replaced the original setup with one from a Honda CBR1000 Fireblade, along with its monoshock suspension. The SM3’s chassis required extensive modification to accommodate the new setup, but the result was well worth the effort. Along with adding a touch of modern sport bike style, the swingarm has allowed the fitment of a wider rear wheel that helps to beef things up.
The bodywork is another standout achievement of this build. Treasure Garage has handcrafted every panel from aluminum, shaping it into angular forms that fit the bike to factory standards. The fuel tank has been finished using a repurposed billet KTM filler cap while the tail is sporting an integrated dual-function LED light strip. Purposeful rear set footpegs, a trick digital Koso gauge, and a modern Daymaker headlamp add more modern tech to the neo-retro racer. Neul’s go-to painters, Vidhi and Henryan, then worked magic to create the unique paintwork and graphics.
While there’s no denying the visual changes on this project have been a huge success, it’s the way the bike now handles that Nuel wasn’t expecting. “I’m honestly surprised at how nicely it rides,” he admits. “Of course, a café racer isn’t made for long, two-hour trips, but I’d rate it 8.5 out of 10 for riding comfort.” Based on that insight and the bike’s impressive new look, we’re sure this time around, its owner is happy with the outcome.
