The Big H has commissioned a load of custom CB650Rs from its dealers – and some of them are really rather tasty…
The Wheels and Waves festival has become a bit of a fixture in the bike show catalogue over the past few years. It’s a cool backdrop (Biarritz is lovely) for a cool show: all the big firms tend to turn up and show off their latest retro-styled machines. Bikes like the Yamaha XSR range and BMW’s RnineT were shown off here – but there’s a big custom show to go alongside it too.
The show was cancelled again this year thanks to COVID-19 sadly. But Honda has decided to show off the ten custom CB650R bikes it commissioned for the show online – and you can vote for your favourite at www.hondacustoms.com/en.
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We’ve had a look, and we think our favourite is the Fenix flat tracker from Mototrofa in Trofa, Portugal. It’s got a stack of sweet mods including a VFR750 single-sided swingarm, and a CBR900RR FireBlade front wheel. The ‘Fenix/Phoenix’ name is apt – the dealership has recently reopened after its workshop was burnt down in 2019. The ‘93’ paint scheme (by Nexx Helmets) pays homage to the incredible Marc Marquez and also marks the year Mototrofa was founded – nice.
From the other models, we like the minimalist NTV600 Revere style of the Akira bike from Hakuba in Spain, with a carbon fibre single seat unit and titanium Arrow pipe, while the CB650 R Flat Tracker from ADN Motos in France features lush Kineo spoked rims, Dunlop Mutant tyres and a sweet twin-can titanium Arrow full exhaust system.
All the details are below – get voting for your favourite!
CB650R KarbOne EDITION by AZ Moto, France
CB650R HEDICION
Builder: Motor Sport, Madrid, Spain.
“Our CB650R Motorsport represents the transversal spirit of Honda, breaking the barrier that separates cars from motorcycles…”
In homage to Honda sporting history Motor Sport have used the 1966 Brabham Honda BT18 racing car as a rolling touchstone. Their bike’s unique, subtle green and yellow paint is complemented by blacked out handlebars, footrests, front forks and wheels. And, just like the car, its inline fourcylinder engine is the centrepiece, with cam cover picked out in yellow. A full titanium Akrapovič exhaust adds lightweight performance while the carbon fibre nose cone and seat cowl are finishing details.
CB650R AKIRA
Builder: Hakuba Motor, Santander, Spain.
“If there is a word that defines our concept then it is kaizen.”
From the Japanese Kaizen (meaning ‘to improve’), Hakuba Motor’s sleek CB650R Akira reflects the neverending quest for improvements, no matter how small. The classic single seat unit is a oneoff carbonfibre creation, topped with a nubuck leather seat trimmed in red to key with the subtle ‘straight line’ silver and red paint. CBR650R clipon handlebars bolt straight on and the electronics are now sited in their own compartment under the seat. A titanium Arrow muffler underlines the minimalist ethos.
CB650R CAFÉ RACER
Builder: Blanmoto Honda, Girona, Spain.
“A celebration of our custom dreams, and of a business founded in 1928.”
Blanmoto have gone down a ‘steam punk meets café racer’ route with their CB650R. And while its look is completely transformed, many of the parts used are from ‘mainstream’ suppliers such as Puig, PSR, Givi and Rizoma. Naturally, detail custom fabrication abounds: the seat has been modified and reupholstered (alongside upholstered side covers) and there are new sidescoops manufactured from 1.5mm aluminium sheet. A
blackedout Arrow endcan injects stubby simplicity
abounds: the seat has been modified and re upholstered (alongside upholstered side
covers) and there are new sidescoops manufactured from 1.5mm aluminium sheet. A
blackedout Arrow endcan injects stubby simplicity
CB650R FENIX
Builder: Mototrofa Honda, Trofa, Portugal.
“The name was obvious to us as, in 2019, our workshop was completely destroyed…”
As an emblem of renewal, the CB650R Fenix is a special symbol for the entire Mototrofa team, whose dealership has risen again from the ashes of a devastating fire. And while looking totally modern it also makes use of past Honda models. The singlesided swingarm and rear wheel are from a VFR750F, the front wheel from a CBR900RR FireBlade. Custom parts include the seat and rear cowl and the ‘93’ paint scheme (by Nexx Helmets) both pays homage to the incredible Marc Marquez and marks the year Mototrofa was founded.
CB650R FOUR
Builder: Sagaz Honda, Toulouse, France.
“The legend of the Bol d’Or meets Neo Sports Café…”
Honda’s 24 hour endurance efforts are the races of true legend, and this CB650R has been built to celebrate the 1976 edition and the Honda RCB1000 raced by JeanClaude Chemarin and Roger Ruiz. The red, white and blue colour scheme and Honda logos – seamlessly applied by A Brax Custom painting – instantly invoke a picture from the 1970s, as does the bikini nose fairing. A sports pack, including engine guards and seat cowl, maintain the racing feel while a Bagster seat neatly trims the midsection.
CB650R WHITE EDITION
Builder: 3C Motos, Anglet, France.
“It’s family. To mirror the beautiful CB1000R Black Edition we have its little sister – the CB650R White Edition!”
The 3C Motos’ CB650R White Edition was conceived by 3C Motos in Biarritz to complement their moody ‘Black Edition’ CB1000R of 2019. Its paint – using matt white and varying shades of gloss white – adds texture and depth, and crowns the muscular depth of the jetblack engine and wheels. A CB1000R front master cylinder clamps neatly to the handlebar and Dunlop Sportsmart TT tyres finish the subtle – yet aggressive – look.
CB650R BMX
Builder: Werther, Nice, France.
“Fun and stylish, just like doing a wheelie on a BMX bike.”
There’s more than a hint of BMX stunt bike on the Werther machine. The gloss black paint pops eyeballs, as do black forks, gold engine cases and wheels. And not to forget the whitewall tyres. For a bike built to perform, a shorter final drive gear ratio (plus black/gold chain, naturally) makes for instant acceleration, with a full Akrapovič exhaust system adding to the engine’s performance. An NMB Design seat, adjustable levers and grips, plus Puig gold bar ends and black footrests stand out, while smoked varnish on the front/rear lights and indicators are more subtle details.
CB650R KarbOne EDITION
Builder: AZ Moto, Rouen, France.
“A homage to the spirit of a famous and legendary model – the Honda CB750 Four K0.”
The bike that started it all for the modern era of motorcycling, the fourcylinder CB750 ‘K0’ stunned the world in 1969, and AZ Motos CB650R KarbOne, with its metallic gold paint, pays deep respect to its illustrious forbear. SEB Auto Shop are responsible for the bespoke carbon fibre parts like the rear seat unit and headlight surround; the stunning black rims (with chromed spokes) are supplied by EvoX Racing and wear Dunlop Mutant tyres. Black Topema epoxy paint covers the engine, handlebars, rear shock and cam cover while all the finishing parts are readily available from the likes of Puig and Chaft.
CB650R FLAT TRACKER
Builder: ADN Motos, Cognac, France.
“In the spirit of vintage flat track and supermotard here is our little gem.”
Flat track DNA runs through ADN Motos’ CB650R and they’re rightly proud of it. Choice parts include a remote licence plate holder with integrated brake light and indicators, black and red Kineo spoked rims and Acerbis hand guards. The evocative nose cone and rear seat are custom fabrications while the yellowtinted headlight glass adds a vintage feel. A twinmuffler titanium Arrow full exhaust system adds satisfactory bark and bite while Dunlop Mutant tyres have the look of cut slicks.
CB650R FOUR Limited Edition
Builder: Espace Motos, Angers, France.
“Neo Sports Café rides with the legendary CB750 Four”
For Espace Motos, the legend of the CB750 Four lives on in the spirit of the Neo Sports Café family, led by the CB1000R and hugely popular CB650R. To respect the legend they added a raised, flatter brown leather seat and for the paint chose green with gold pinstriping, plus an ‘80s Honda logo. The paint also extends to the headlight surround, front mudguard, rear scoops and spring. Vintagestyle barend mirrors, black footpegs and scrambler tyres complete the makeover.
