Honda CX500, GL500, CX650 and GL650 Bobbers, Choppers, Cafe Racers and more!
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Here's the grand list of CX400, CX500, CX650, GL400, GL500 and GL650 builds we could find on the 'net - cafe racers, bobbers, choppers, brats and everything inbeween - and a few that are something else entirely. Whatever your taste, you should find some inspiration here.
This page is in the middle of being revised - the old list is at the top, new bikes and as I get time the old bikes are being added to a table at the bottom which is sortable and a bit easier to use if you're looking for builds with specific features for inspiration.
Andreas Diavatis' CX500 - LINK
Custom tank w/stripe, silver engine/black tappet covers, fork gaiters, 2-2 exhaust, bar end mirrors, clip-ons
"B52 Bomber" by Wrench Kings -
LINK
GL500! Clip ons, front end swap, chopped rear frame, black/white/silver paint, 2-2 exhaust
"Blubber" by Ton Up Garage -
LINK
Wrapped 2-2 exhaust, CX500, white rocker covers, Custom tank, flyscreen fairing, modified frame
"Bomber" by Aniba - LINK
Two-tone tank, wrapped 2-2 exhaust, black engine, modified frame, unusual gas tank cap
Brad's CX500 - LINK
Wrapped 2-1 exhaust, custom seat, red tank/white stripe, fork gaiters
Brooks Brat CX500 -
Featured Build
CBR1000RR front end swap, gunmetal grey, Murray's carbs, MotoGadget Motoscope Pro and more!
"Birdie" by Mokka Customs - GL500 Cafe Racer -
LINK
Modified frame, USD front end, CNC switchgear
"Cachet Racer" by Nemo Gould - Featured Build
Polished tank, much custom metalwork, custom rad grille, 2-2 exhaust, silver engine, new gauges
Boostaholic - Featured Build
Turbocharged..! Not from factory either!
Cafe2ride CX500 - LINK
Wrapped 2-2 exhaust, two-tone tank with gold pinstripe, seat hump, bar-end indicators
Cafe Fighter CX500 - Featured Build
Taco Bender inspired, reversed gas tank, custom rear end, rear disc brake, monoshock conversion, more!
"Cafe Noir" by Rough Stuff -
LINK
Stock airbox! CX500, black/gold paint, gold wheels, wrapped exhaust, clip ons
Caiman's Urban Scrambler CX500 - LINK
Scrambler style, rear monoshock, knobby tyres, brown leather custom seat, modified frame, wrappped 2-2 exhaust
Canadian Cafe Racer CX500 by MotoMicah - Featured Build
Custom painted tank, red/black theme, 2-2 wrapped exhaust, gunmetal engine, custom seat, integrated rear lights in seat hoop, custom gauge cluster
Carolina Street Tracker - Featured Build Link
Ceramic coated Mac 2-1, white tank/bodywork w/red pinstripe, Ducati fan, silver engine/covers, custom side panels
"Cash Cafe" CX500 - LINK
2-2 exhaust, black wheels with red pinstripe, Custom tank, custom seat
Chris Fielding's CX500 - Featured Build
2-2 exhaust, no H-box or midpipes, custom seat, front end conversion, KTM 690 radiator
"Custom Deluxe" by Murray Feldman - Featured Build
CX650C engine, front end, rear end added to CX500 frame, Mikuni carbs and more!
"CXL500 Scrambler" CX500 by Kingston Kustoms - LINK
Custom tank, 2-1 exhaust, black tappet covers, custom radiator grille
CX500F Concept Cafe Racer by Jason -
Featured Build
CBR600RR front end, MAC 2-1, modified frame, monoshock conversion
CX500R - Featured Build
Bobber styled, 370lb, rectangular headlight
CX500RR: LINK
Upswept, wrapped 2-2 exhausts, spoked wheels, CBR600RR front end, seat hump, black/red/white colour scheme, rear disc brake w/custom caliper bracket
"CX1" by Brother Moto - LINK
No mufflers, scrambler style, custom seat, frame cut, painted frame
"CXon Valdez" - Featured Build
2-1 exhaust, custom seat and tailpiece, pod filters, aftermarket controls/headlight/levers
Dallas Ziebell's CX500 - LINK
Tank stripe, custom seat, black wrapped exhaust, silver engine/black tappet covers
"Dances With Trikes" GL500 - Featured Build
Trike conversion, bedliner paint job
David T's CX500 - LINK
Wrapped 2-1 exhaust, black paint/brown seat, number decal on tank, side covers in situ, fork gaiters
Dek Design GL500 "The Warthog" - LINK
Brushed steel look tank, wrapped and upswept 2-2 exhaust, GL500 rather than CX...
- Build info part 01 - LINK
- Seat construction - LINK
Doc's Chops CX500 - LINK
Custom tank, 2-2 exhaust, drilled disc, black wheels, yellow headlight
Double Barrel Garage CX500 "Spike" - LINK
2-1 exhaust, black/silver tappet covers, custom seat/taillight, silver engine, black wheels
Eastern Spirit CX500 - LINK
2-2 exhaust, modified frame, fusebox relocated, LEDs in top triple clamp, clip-ons
Elias Dairis' CX400 - LINK
2-2 exhaust, red fork gaiters, Custom tank, custom seat, black engine/unpainted tappet covers
"Eve" - CX500 - Featured Build
2-2 exhaust, ivory tank, custom seat, black tappet covers, silver wheels, Murray's carbs
Filthy Cupcake -
LINK
Scrambler style, 2-2 wrapped exhaust, knobby tyres, USD front end
Florian's CX400 - LINK
Exhaust wrap, 2-1 with sportsbike can, speedo in fusebox cover, single mirror, side mounted temp gauge
Frank Guarini's CX650E Scrambler - Featured Build
Spoked wheels, original CX tank, YSS rear shock
Garage Project Motorcycles CX500/Justin's CX500 - LINK
Wrapped 2-1 that exits under engine, GSX 1000RR forks, CBR1000 trees, Ninja rotors
Garret Dietz's CX500 - LINK
Custom tank, custom seat, black, wrapped 2-2 shorty exhaust, silver engine/blacked out everything else, clip-ons
Gavin Clark's CX500 Cafe Racer - LINK
NTV650 single sided swingarm, underseat exhaust, Ducati Monster USD forks
GL400 Cafe Racer - LINK
Black engine/silver rocker covers, pod filters, unwrapped 2-2 exhaust
"The Gentleman's Cafe" -
Featured Build Link
CBR1000RR front end, rear disc brake, custom gauges, monoshock rear, 2-1 exhaust etc.!
GL400 Cafe Racer from Vietnam - LINK
2-2 exhaust - but single sided! Gold wheels, GSXR600 front end, CB400 brakes
GL650 Cafe Racer by Mantas Simanauskas -
Featured Build
2-2 exhaust, custom paint scheme, custom seat/tailpiece, powdercoated frame/wheels
"Going Straight" GL500 by Wrench Kings - Link
2-2 exhaust, front end conversion, revised subframe
Graeme Dobbs' CX500 Cafe Racer - Featured Build
2-1 exhaust, USD front end swap
"Gulf Racer" by Howard Coop - Featured Build
Gulf themed, 2-2 exhaust, CRK bits, silver engine, aftermarket rocker covers
"Half Millenium Falcon" by Ken Finn - Featured Build
2-2 exhaust, CBR600RR front end conversion, modified subframe, Ducati tailpiece and seat
Herencia Custom Garage CX500 - LINK
2-1 exhaust, fork gaiters, relocated fusebox, black engine/silver tappet covers, black wheels
Heinz Christmann's CX500 -
LINK
One-off tank, CBX550F front end swap, 2-2 wrapped upswept exhaust, custom fairing
"The Indian" GL500 - Featured Build
Indian replica, modified frame, plenty of custom work
"Italian Betty" - M8 Design: LINK and another
LINK
Modern sportsbike-style fat exhausts, black tappet covers, pod filters
Jesse's CX500 - LINK
Wrapped 2-1 exhaust, CBR600RR front end, custom seat
Josh Mott Racing CX500 - LINK
Underseat exhaust, tri-tone paintjob, before/after pics, video
Kingston Customs CX500 - LINK
Bronze painted frame, Custom tank, pale exhaust wrap, 2-2 exhaust
Kustom Research CX500 - LINK
Frame mods, white/black wheels, new subframe, tri-tone, 2-1 exhaust, black/dark grey engine
Lindsay Bodanza's CX500 - LINK
Wrapped 2-2 exhaust, custom seat, vintage headlight, black flyscreen
"Low and Mean" - VIDEO LINK
2-2 exhaust, black tappet covers, black wheels, modified silver frame, flyscreen, two-tone tank
Mario's CX500 - LINK
Wrapped 2-2 exhaust, colour matched side covers/tank, reverse Comstars, brown seat
"Made in Vietnam" CX650 - LINK
Yamaha FZ1000 ('94) front end, custom made tank, bodywork and mufflers, CX650..!
"Matt's CX500" - LINK
2-1 exhaust, blue/white standard tank, black frame, black tappet covers, modified Ace bars
Michael's CX500 cafe - LINK
Upswept 2-2 exhaust, bar end mirrors, heat wrap, shortened front fender, custom flyscreen
Modern Metal's CX500 Custom - "The Twisty Lady" - LINK
Upswept, wrapped 2-2 exhaust, chopped rear frame, bare metal look Custom tank
Monque Country Racer - LINK
CX650E, modified frame, CX500 tank, handmade seat, modified Yamaha exhaust
"Morning Wood" - LINK
Pale heat wrap, triangular headlight, unpainted tank, black tappet covers
Moto Motivo's CX500 -
LINK
Brown ceramic coated intake/tappet cover/exhaust, monoshock, custom tank, 2-1 exhaust, black engine
Motosynthesis - LINK
2-1 exhaust (black), spoked wheels, customised tank
Mr. Swallow's CX500 Custom - LINK
2-2 wrapped exhaust, two-tone tank with Honda wing emblem, drilled front discs, modified frame, bonkers huge indicators
Nathan's balcony-built CX500 - LINK
Black engine, wrapped 2-2 exhausts scrambler style, modified frame, belt on tank...
"No Dice" CX500 bobber - LINK
Black/bare tank with red pinstripe, hardtail bobber, silver engine, black wheels w/red pinstripe, video + photos (no photoshoot)
Noah Blum's CX500 - LINK
Two-tone tank and tail, spoked wheels, wrapped 2-2 exhaust, rear disc brake, drilled discs front and rear
Nozem Amsterdam CX500 - LINK
Custom tank, upswept 2-2 black exhaust, black engine, clip-ons
Pacific CX500 street scrambler - LINK
Twin headlights, Custom tank, wrapped 2-2 exhaust, green tank/brown seat, silver engine/black tappet covers
Patrick Sauter's CX500 - LINK
Wrapped 2-2 exhaust, folded blanket as seat (!), bare metal tank, lowered front end
Paul Dutra's Lucky 13 CX500 - LINK
Undertail exhaust, CB650 forks/triple trees... only one photo, sadly
"Plastic Maggot" - Gertje's CX500 Cafe Racer -
LINK
Rear monoshock with linkages, modified frame, USD front end
"Polina" by Lolana Motos - Featured Build
2-2 exhaust, new fairing, white wheels, custom seat
Purpose Built Moto's Signature CX500 - Featured Build
Custom exhaust, modified frame, spoked wheels, custom tailpiece
Ranger Green - Featured Build
Scrambler style, custom 2-1 exhaust, rear hoop, bash plate
Ray's GL650 cafe racer -
LINK
2001 CBR929 front end, 2-2 exhaust, CBR929 rear shock, custom seat and tail, GL650 build!
"Reborn" by John Thompson -
Featured Build
Bobber monoshock conversion, MAC 2-1 exhaust, custom paintjob
RGK Street Trail -
LINK
Cross drilled discs, custom seat, grey motor, new bars
Richard's yard-build CX500 - LINK
Temp gauge in fusebox, shorty 2-2 exhaust, Murray's carbs, battery under engine
Rino Scala's CX500 - LINK
Metal flake painted tank, 2-2 exhaust, drilled front discs, relocated fusebox
Rive Gauche Customs CX500 Street Tracker - LINK,
LINK2
Black 2-2 exhaust, custom seat, bare brass on radiator, gold (?) engine
Riverside Projects CX500 LINK
Wrapped 2-2 exhaust, modified frame, raised tank rear, black engine/wheels/final drive, silver tappet cover
Robinsons Speedshop CU29 CX500 - LINK
Corroded copper coated tank, wrapped 2-2 pipes, blacked out engine+wheels
Roel Scheffers' CX500 - LINK
Frame mods (!), monoshock rear, custom seat, 2-2 exhaust, light on detail but some reasonable pics
Sacha Lakic's CX500 - LINK
Monoshock, 2-1 with very interesting muffler, black engine, wire wheels, red USD forks
"Samantha" - Alexander Herold's CX500 - LINK
Wrapped 2-1 (?) exhaust, brown leather seat, two-tone side covers, before/after pics
Sampo's CX500 - LINK
Wrapped 2-2 exhaust, black wheels, seat hump, bar-end mirror
Sartorie Meccaniche Lido - LINK
Two-tone tank, no gauges, silver engine
"The Scrambler" - Featured Build
Custom paintjob, spoked wheels, 2-1 exhaust, custom seat, lightened flywheel
Steve Foster's CX500 - LINK
Hyosung GT650R front end, replica Laverda SFC750 fairing, RFID ignition, orange paintjob
"Streetfighter" CX500 - Featured Build
Bobber, chopped rear end, MAC 2-1 wrapped exhaust, LED tail lights, minimalist gauges
"Super Deluxe" CX500 by Murray Feldman - Featured Build
Sleeper build - CX650C motor conversion, touring front end, blueprinted motor
"Superfly" CX500 - LINK
Street tracker, 2-2 exhaust, blacked out everything, Custom tank, custom seat
"Taco Bender" - LINK
Part-wrapped 2-1 exhaust, Hyosung GT600R front end, R1 rear monoshock, modified frame, rear wheel on front, drum brake and all (!)
Tadao Cern's CX500 - LINK
2-2 wrapped exhaust w/gold can, bare brass on radiator, matching tank/fender/caliper/can/underseat, mini flyscreen, Custom tank
"Testardo" - LINK
Street tracker style, Custom tank, fork gaiters, 2-2 exhaust, black tappet covers
"The Major's Machine" CX500 - Featured Build Link
Military-themed paintjob, custom leather seat+stitching, sidecovers retained, stock gauges in custom surround
"The Red" CX500 cafe racer - Featured Build
Open headers, custom rearsets, custom seat and tail section, custom tank
Tiago's CX500 - LINK
Two-tone paintjob (left/right!), wrapped 2-2 exhausts exiting under engine, electronic gauges
"Tokyo Sauce" - LINK
Non-english page, so name is a guess. Relocated fusebox, custom seat, 2-2 exhaust
Tommy's CX500 - LINK
Standard tank, black engine bars, bar end mirrors
"Top Gun" CX500 cafe racer - Featured Build
Tristan's Pepper White CX500 - LINK
Modified frame, mostly blacked out, 2-2 short exhaust, USD front end, Firestones
"Twister" by Wena Customs - LINK
Undertail wrapped exhaust, monoshock conversion, chopped frame, single piece tank/seat pan
Type 8 CX500 by Auto Fabrica - LINK
Customised tank, one-off 2-2 single sided exhaust, spoked rims, custom seat etc. etc.
Untitled CX500 - LINK
Custom tank, modified frame, GPS mount, bar end mirrors, hand-build leather seat
Untitled CX500 - LINK
Black 2-2 exhaust, silver engine, Custom tank, pod filters, relocated fusebox
Untitled CX500 by CusTom Eightyone - LINK
Wrapped 2-2 exhaust, white/brown/black colour scheme, custom seat, Firestone tyres
Untitled CX500 by Ironwood - LINK
Wrapped 2-2 exhaust, chopped frame, custom seat, silver engine
Untitled CX500 - LINK
2-2 exhaust, Custom tank, custom seat, silver tank stripe, black engine/silver tappet cover, Firestones
Untitled CX650 Chopper - Featured Build
45 degree rake, hardtail rear end, custom sprung seat
Untitled CX500 - LINK
Green tank w/white stripe, Custom tank, silver engine/black tappet covers, 2-2 exhaust, brown leather seat, sidecovers in situ
Untitled CX500 by Josh Deardorff - LINK
Custom 2-1 exhaust, USD front end, chopped frame, custom seat
Untitled CX500 by Michal Groniewski - LINK
Red frame, wrapped upswept exhaust, Reverse comstars
Wrenchmonkees CX500 - LINK
Wrapped and upswept 2-2 exhaust, Custom tank, drilled front discs, solo seat, one-off gauges, much more
Builds threads, no photoshoots:
New table:
The table can be sorted by clicking on the headings and you can hide or show as many columns as you like by clicking on the boxes just below.
Make columns appear by clicking on the check boxes.
It's a work in progress and will regularly be broken in the first couple of weeks!
| Build Name |
Builder |
Type |
Base Model |
Front End |
Front Brakes |
Handlebars |
Rear Suspension |
Rear Brakes |
Footpegs |
Tank |
Wheels |
Carbs |
Engine |
Engine Colour |
Rocker Covers |
Frame modified? |
Frame colour |
Exhaust |
Where? |
Link |
Notes |
| 26 |
Samantha Williams |
Cafe Racer |
CX500E Sports |
Stock |
Stock |
? |
Wilber Monoshock |
Stock disc |
? |
Eurosport |
Boomerang Comstars |
? |
497cc |
Black |
Silver |
Modified |
? |
2-2 |
United Kingdom |
Hand built exhaust |
Featured |
| Little Stranger |
502 Moto |
Cafe Racer |
CX500 |
Stock |
Stock |
Clip-ons |
Twin shocks |
Stock drum |
? |
Standard (Modified) |
CX650C or GL |
? |
497cc |
Silver |
Black |
Modified |
? |
2-1 |
Paiste cymbals in rear wheel, stretched swingarm |
LINK |
| All Business |
Greg Volkmann |
Cafe racer (Classic) |
CX500 |
Yamaha YZF-R1 (2005) |
Yamaha YZF-R1 (2005) |
Clip-ons |
Twin shocks |
Stock drum |
? |
Standard |
Mixed |
Stock, pods |
497cc |
Black, satin |
Polished |
Modified |
White |
2-2 |
USA, California, Sacramento |
LINK |
CBR954RR triple trees, mixed wheels (Rev. Comstar on rear) |
| Alex Musskopf's |
Musskopf Moto |
Cafe Racer |
CX500 Custom 1982 |
CBR600RR |
CBR600RR |
Clip-ons |
Monoshock conversion |
Disc conversion |
Rearsets |
Custom |
Spoke Conversion |
Murray's Carbs |
497cc |
Silver |
Black |
Modified |
Black |
2-2, black |
USA, California, Sacramento |
Featured Build |
Seats two |
| CXon Valdez |
Graham |
Cafe Racer |
CX500 Shadow |
Stock |
Twin disc (stock), braided lines |
? |
Stock |
Drum (stock) |
Stock |
Standard |
Comstars |
Keihin CV |
497cc |
Black (Rustoleum) |
Silver |
Unmodified Frame |
Pewter (Rustoleum) |
2-1, right exit |
Australia, Central Coast |
Featured Build |
- |
| Build Name |
Builder |
Type |
Base Model |
Front End |
Front Brakes |
Handlebars |
Rear Suspension |
Rear Brakes |
Footpegs |
Tank |
Wheels |
Carbs |
Engine |
Engine Colour |
Rocker Covers |
Frame modified? |
Frame Colour |
Exhaust |
Where? |
Link |
Notes |
| Build Name |
Builder |
Type |
Base Model |
Front End |
Front Brakes |
Handlebars |
Rear Suspension |
Rear Brakes |
Footpegs |
Tank |
Wheels |
Carbs |
Engine |
Engine Colour |
Rocker Covers |
Frame modified? |
Frame Colour |
Exhaust |
Where? |
Link |
Notes |
