A 1982 Honda CX500E, rebuilt as a CX650 café racer
Built outdoors under cover on a timber bench in Auckland, in nine stages, with the part numbers, the costs and the mistakes written down as I go.
Build progressUpdated 18 Oct 2026
Latest from the log
No posts yet. These three are on the bench now, and the first one goes up when it's written.
- 0 Planning, legal, benchThe planBeing written
- 1 DonorBuying the bikeBeing written
- 0 Planning, legal, benchBuilding the benchBeing written
Nine stages, 0 to 8
Each stage ends with a gate: a check that has to pass before the next stage starts. The certifier sees the bare welds before anything is powder coated.
0Planning, legal, benchCertifier talk, tools, the timber benchIn progress
1DonorBought 18 Oct, in transit from NelsonIn progress
2Teardown and engineLabelled teardown, then a shop-rebuilt 650Not started
3Rear endShock and single-seat subframeNot started
4Front end, wheels, brakesUSD forks, dash in the top clamp, moon discNot started
5Exhaust and cooling2-into-1 under the engine, bigger radiatorNot started
6Electrics and controlsNew loom, LED lights, clip-onsNot started
7Body, seat, paintMatte black, satin 2K, red accentsNot started
8Assembly and certificationLVV plate, WoF, first rideNot started
The bike it's becoming
- Engine
- CX650, rebuilt and painted by a shop. Satin black cases, polished fin edges
- Frame
- Factory triple-backbone, rear loop cut for a single-seat subframe
- Rear
- Pro-Link kept, better shock, solid moon disc
- Front
- USD sportsbike forks, gold or red, dash in the top clamp
- Brakes
- Gunmetal grey calipers, braided lines with gold ends
- Finish
- Matte black, satin 2K clear, small Honda red accents
