Porto, Portugal, is a city defined by its dramatic topography, cobblestone streets, and a deep-seated appreciation for industrial craftsmanship. It is also home to Sergio Almeida, the powerhouse behind WKND Customs. Operating with a philosophy rooted in clean lines, functional ergonomics, and meticulous engineering, Sergio has quietly carved out a reputation for building motorcycles that look as though they rolled straight out of a premium design studio rather than a custom garage.
His latest creation, a stunning and heavily textured black 2001 Kawasaki W650 scrambler, perfectly encapsulates this ethos. It is a practice in restraint, showing how a builder can completely alter a motorcycle's attitude without cutting up its fundamental DNA.
When it first debuted, the W650 was a love letter to the golden era of British parallel twins, executed with flawless Japanese engineering. Long before the modern retro wave took over the industry, it stood out for its mechanical honesty. Utilizing an air-cooled, 676cc vertical parallel-twin engine, the motor delivers a smooth, torque-rich low-end rumble. Pushing out roughly 50 horsepower at 7,000 rpm, the 434-pound machine is fueled by a pair of dual Keihin CVK34 carburetors. For a custom builder, the factory silhouette offer the perfect aesthetic foundation, anchoring the project around a genuinely beautiful piece of machinery.
The story of this specific W650 began when a local client reached out to Sergio, captivated by a custom Kawasaki KZ400 that WKND Customs had completed a few years prior. After sourcing a clean 2001 W650 donor, the client brought the bike into the Porto workshop for what was initially intended as a minor aesthetic tidy-up.
As luck would have it, the two discovered they were practically neighbors, allowing for an incredibly collaborative, organic design process. Sergio kicked things off by building a custom short seat so the owner could immediately enjoy the bike through the summer with a cleaner look and improved comfort. However, once winter arrived, the pair began discussing a few more upgrades, and one idea quickly led to another. What was meant to be a light refresh slowly evolved into a much more comprehensive build, though the goal remained to create a modern scrambler while preserving the original character of the W650 without major frame modifications.
The initial design direction was locked in through a digital render that Sergio prepared, showcasing a clean, dark scrambler that combined premium aftermarket components with bespoke, custom-made parts. The physical transformation began with the installation of an LSL flat-track handlebar, a Purpose Built Moto headlight, and Shin Yo turn signals. As the build progressed, the bulky factory brackets and tabs began to feel out of place with the new, stripped-down aesthetic, prompting Sergio to grind them down to simplify the appearance.
Significant attention was then directed toward the cockpit and the bike's electrical architecture. A compact Daytona digital speedometer was integrated directly into a modified top triple clamp to keep the rider's view completely uncluttered, while the ignition switch was relocated beneath the fuel tank. Daytona officially sponsored the project, supplying not only the speedometer but also the handlebar switches, grips, mirror plug bolts, and a discrete USB charger.
Having engineered his own proprietary control units on past builds, Sergio opted to use the Daytona EZ Relay module for this project, finding it a highly reliable and affordable solution that vastly simplified the motorcycle's wiring setup.
To complete the updated look, Sergio hand-reshaped and fitted a set of aluminum fenders, pairing the rear with a matching Purpose Built Moto LED taillight. The factory side panels were modified with custom air vents. Many of the smaller brackets and components were designed in-house and laser-cut, including an aluminum skid plate, front fork brace, and rear luggage rack. A set of aftermarket crash bars were modified to fit between the engine and the exhaust system, providing essential protection while maintaining a clean, compact appearance that avoids the bulky look often associated with off-the-shelf armor.
The running gear and mechanical elements received an equally thorough overhaul. The front telescopic forks and braking system were completely rebuilt, while the rear suspension was upgraded to a pair of blacked-out, adjustable YSS dual shocks. The factory wheels were relaced using black spokes contrasted by raw silver nipples, then wrapped in chunky, dual-purpose Heidenau K60 tires. A set of Biltwell footpegs and a matching throttle tube added further tactile refinement, while the dual Keihin carburetors were tuned to breathe through a pair of low-slung, satin-black Leo Vince mufflers, giving the vertical twin a throatier, more authoritative bark.
Although the project was never intended to be a full frame-off rebuild, the motorcycle was eventually stripped down completely to address rust and refresh every major component after two decades on the road. The owner is a fan of matte black, but Sergio wanted to avoid a flat, one-dimensional finish by introducing visual depth and contrast. The frame, wheels, and select hard parts were powder-coated in a textured black finish, while other components received a smooth satin-black coat to break up the surfaces. Every piece of factory hardware was either replaced with stainless-steel fasteners or freshly re-zinc plated, and the rebuilt engine was finished in metallic silver, leaving it exposed as the machine's focal point.
The final elements of the paint scheme beautifully tie the entire project together, combining satin-black and textured-black surfaces separated by a silver pinstripe. Custom, laser-cut aluminum Kawasaki emblems were affixed to the tank indents, referencing the bike's heritage with a sharp, modern edge. What began as a modest list of winter upgrades ultimately evolved into a complete reinterpretation of the classic platform. Through clever packaging and meticulous fabrication, WKND Customs has delivered a modern scrambler that remains entirely faithful to the soul of the original W650 while introducing a much sharper, more aggressive personality to the streets of Porto.
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