Honda CB500 Cafe Racer - Assembly and Finish

Hi all,

welcome back to our CB500 series. Today I'll show you the final assembly steps, many intricate details and which new components we selected.

By installing Fehling clip-ons, refurbished handlebar switches, new Probrake levers, LSL brake fluid reservoir and the Acewell chrome speedometer the front end received the modern technology touch we were aiming for, while maintaining a classic look. Furthermore, a proper six-and-a-half-inch headlight emphasizes the front from all viewing angles.

The custom upholstery of the seat is a perfect match, including a beautiful diamond stitch pattern. Light brown genuine leather and a stitched logo were used by a local upholsterer. Suiting the leather color are the brown vintage Biltwell rubber grips. The rear end is finished off with a classic LED tail light integrated into the seat cowl for a super clean and unique style.

In terms of color, we wanted to go with a very typical monochrome scheme to keep the paint simple, letting the shapes speak, while incorporating our customer’s wish to have some fine golden details. Just one of them is the new chain. The engine was painted black, while adding golden details on the side covers and valve caps. The gas tank and seat cowl received a stylish 'Silver Tempest' paint job taken from Bentleys color range. We do all the paint work professionally in-house, since my brother is a trained automotive refinisher. Aside from that, the gas tank features a golden Honda emblem. We added a 3D printed KASPEED logo badge to the cockpit, which perfectly links the classic cafe racer appearance of the bike with the modern technology, which is available to bike builders these days.

The devil's in the detail  - and so are style, precision and character. That's why we put a lot of emphasis on getting every small bit just right.

Motogadget 'm.blaze disc' handlebar indicators were installed in the front and Kellerman 'Atto Dark' in the back - which are arguably the smallest certified indicators on the market right now. The chassis is upgraded with the new brakes and supported by new Continental ClassicAttack tires, that are handmade in Germany for classic bikes and perfect handling capabilities. The four Keihin carbs have also been ultrasonic cleaned, restored, and re-jetted with the installed pod filters. These changes suit the new intake and exhaust setup to make the startup and running nice and smooth. The sound is quite impressive and surely will put a smile on anyone's face.

Soon enough the Honda CB500 Cafe Racer was completed and ready to be delivered to our thrilled customer, just in time for some spring riding.

See you next time! Cheers 

Mick

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