Thunder Motorcycles’ exhibition booth expresses a Japanese image
The 52nd Tokyo Motorcycle Show was held at Tokyo Big Sight from March 28th to 30th. Over the three days, over 118,000 people visited, with 180 manufacturers, shops, and organizations exhibiting a total of 584 motorcycles. Among the many exhibition booths, Thunder Motorcycles stood out in particular. The booth featured a large red torii gate, a large red and white lantern attached to the bright red walls, and a woman dressed in a courtesan-style kimono standing in front of a custom chopper. Despite its American style, the bike somehow also matched the Japanese image.
With a total length of 2240mm, it has an impressive style that makes it hard to believe it is a 250cc.
A fully custom cruiser equipped with 74 springer forks equivalent to those used on Harleys.
The vehicle on display is the SOFTAIL THUNDER250 XL250-S, a custom cruiser. Despite its long styling—2240mm in length and 1570mm in wheelbase—it’s a 250cc motorcycle registered as a light motorcycle. Its impressive styling makes it hard to believe it’s a 250cc. This isn’t a custom display vehicle; it’s a commercially available model sold in its current form. It’s housed in an original frame designed specifically for this vehicle, powered by an air-cooled V-twin OHC injection engine with many similarities to the XV250 Virago. The front forks are fully equipped with 74 springer forks. The front brakes feature a φ300mm disc and are also equipped with ABS. Thunder Motorcycles, a leading name in Harley customization, is a highly regarded name. This authentic custom machine hits all the right spots. A hardtail model with a rigid rear frame has already been on sale since 2022 and has gained many fans. The model on display retains the basic style, but is a Softail model with rear suspension for improved riding comfort. The price of 996,000 yen including tax may seem a little high, but if you consider the customization costs up to this point, you will realize that it is not too expensive. The hardtail model is 935,000 yen, so if you want to ride wildly, you can choose this one.
Currently, there are 29 dealers nationwide, from Hokkaido to Okinawa, with plans to increase this number in the future, so purchasing and maintenance are easy. The fact that you can ride a full-fledged custom cruiser with a regular motorcycle license is a big attraction.
The engine is an air-cooled V-twin OHC engine with its roots in the XV250 Virago, and the fuel supply is injection.
A Softail equipped with rear suspension without changing the style of a hardtail.
