This is probably one of the best known Honda CX500 cafe racers out there and is probably instantly recognisable to anyone who has searched the internet for inspiration for their own build;
It is the 1981 Honda CX500 Custom, modified by Popbang Classics on the Gold Coast of Australia. Justin Holmes is the man behind Popbang Classics and as you can see from the photo above there’s plenty to talk about on this build.
Starting at the front, there’s a stock set of shocks set in a custom 6061 aluminium top triple clamp and a CB400F lower triple clamp; the shocks have been shortened 40mm to alter the lines of the bike and the non-standard lower triple allows for more suspension travel without bottoming out. The wheels are shod front and rear in Firestone 18×450 Deluxe Champion tyres, and the wheels have been converted to spokes using some custom adaptor rings designed by Justin in CAD. The rings were subsequently water jet cut from 6061 aluminium and laced up with stainless steel spokes to 18 x 275 Excel H pattern rims with polished brass nipples.
The headlight is a vintage 7" spotlight mated to a brass mount that has had a fresh lens, bulb and stone guard installed.
The top triple is quite a piece of work, incorporating LED idiot lights as well as a Motogadget Mini speedometer. The brass wing nuts on top of the fork tubes is a nice touch, too. Sharp eyes will notice the clutch master cylinder on the left handlebar – Justin has converted the CX500 to a hydrauluc clutch setup and the brake master cylinder is matched to it – the units are from Adelin. The clutch slave cylinder is a custom-made unit for the bike for those curious as to whether they can get one for their own CX. The handlebars are CNC machined clip-ons and all of the hand controls have been custom made.
The tank is a fibreglass unit molded by Justin in the style of the old Norton tanks and it’s coated in Jaguar’s British Racing Green. Amongst other things Justin is a spray painter by trade – perhaps unsurprisingly, then, the tank goes beyond the basic paint job and sports a stained timber effect with gold pinstriping. Wondering how you put fuel in it? Push the silver cap in and twist and it pops up.
The engine has been bead blasted, fully rebuilt – new crank/pistons and all – and painted in a mix of metallic grey and brown. The rear cover fasteners you can see in the photo are lengths of brass threaded rod with acorn nuts on the end! The radiator’s brass has, unsurprisingly, been polished as well and the clutch has had the plates replaced with Ferodo items and the springs upgraded to boot. Custom machined plugs have replaced the plastic ones in the frame and there’s a set of custom engine badges ("Popbang") adorning each side of the motor. A custom set of 6061 aluminium rearset pegs to make the lowered bars work in terms of ergonomics – check out that linkage to get the gear shift working!
The carbs have been aqua blasted and the bodies painted. The airbox has been removed and replaced with machined aluminium intake runners which have foam filters sandwiched between brass mesh. It’s hard to see but there’s a custom-done battery box under the bike housing an Antigravity 8-cell lithium ion battery.
The exhaust is, again, a custom done 2-2 setup done in stainless steel. The silencers are
The rear section of the frame has been cut off and replaced – gone is the curved loop near the top of the rear shock and you can see that the new frame is much straighter. Longer shocks were used and the upper mount was relocated from it’s original position.
The rear brake shoe plate has some additional venting added in the form of four brass cigar box vents!
1981 HONDA CX500 CUSTOM Custom made: Exhaust system – 316 Stainless Steel Taillight – Brass, Aluminium, Plastic Seat – Fibreglass, Waxed Leather Grips – Brooks Leather, Aluminium Wiring, Cables, Hydraulic Lines. Extras: Keyless ignition system AntiGravity 8cell Battery Titanium exhaust wrap Stainless and Brass fasteners Photography: Kenny Smith