1147cc CBX from a restomod master…
Ten years after their introduction of the CB750, Honda unveiled the CBX 1000 — a six-cylinder, 1047cc superbike intended to show the world they were still the tip of the spear in the motorcycle game. According to the bike’s designer, Shoichiro Irimajiri, who’d previously developed Honda’s six-cylinder GP race engines, the CBX was about far more than performance figures and numbers on paper:
“There was something exhilarating and exciting about the 6-cylinder CBX that was lacking in the 4-cylinder… something in the CBX that could not be measured in numbers like speed and weight, (which) made it a very sexy machine.”
The bike made 103 hp at 9000 rpm, good for a quarter-mile time of 11.3 seconds — not bad for a 600-lb machine. While the CBX remains a vintage legend, modern riders complain of the bike’s inadequate brakes, flimsy chassis, and overall girth.
Enter Darren Begg of Canada’s dB Customs, who’s been making a name for himself building some of the sexiest air-cooled restomod superbikes on the planet. The recipe is deceptively simple: stay true to the original style of the machine while upgrading the suspension, wheels, brakes, geometry, and power.
In this case, Darren had originally built a CB900F restomod for a client in New York, who also happened to be the original owner of a ’79 Honda CBX. While the bike already sported some cool 80s-era parts, it still needed the dB Customs touch…
“It seemed to have an identity crisis and needed a lot of updating and dB Customs styling cues to make it a modern restomod monster.”
The full arsenal of upgrades is listed below, including Öhlins suspension, aftermarket swingarm, Brembo brakes, carbon-fiber wheels with Avon sport rubber, a new wiring loom and ignition, and a fully built 1147cc motor with JE pistons, Web cams, Carrillo rods, Xtreme Motorsports head, and a hand-bent titanium 6-into-1 exhaust.
All in all, this has to be the sexiest CBX we’ve seen, a super six that’s 135 pounds lighter than stock! Says Darren:
“What makes me most proud is that I was able to take a bike that normally weighs almost 600 lbs (wet), down to 464.5lbs (with oil, brake fluid, and ¼ tank of gas).”
Below, we get the full details on this stunning machine.
Honda CBX 1000 Restomod: Builder Interview
• Why was the bike built?
dB Customs built a CB900F restomod (985 Evolution) for a customer in NY and he loved it so much that he returned for a follow-up build on his CBX (original owner). The bike had some really cool parts from back in the 80’s (PM wheels, Calfab swingarm, Kerker exhaust), however it seemed to have an identity crisis and needed a lot of updating and dB Customs styling cues to make it a modern restomod monster.
• Design Concept
Customer wanted all the restomod features that dB Customs is known for (Öhlins suspension, Brembo brakes, high-output engine with race carbs and exotic exhaust, high-end wheels, etc).
• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride this bike?
Haven’t ridden it yet. Winter hit shortly after the bike was completed and photographed. Bike is in storage until Spring at which time it will be test ridden.
• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?
I was never a big fan of the CBX, however as I was taking the pictures I thought to myself, wow, this thing is absolutely stunning, has the perfect stance, looks balanced (design wise), and looked nothing like any CBX I’ve ever seen before. What makes me most proud is that I was able to take a bike that normally weighs almost 600 lbs (wet), down to 464.5lbs (with oil, brake fluid, and ¼ tank of gas).
BUILD SHEET
1979 Honda CBX (original paint)
Stripped and powder-coated frame
Suspension and Rearsets
- Öhlins FGRT 202 Forks (BMW S1000RR specification with custom 10mm longer stroke)
- Öhlins KA149 rear shocks
- Over Racing Swingarm (ZRX1200 specification modified to fit CBX)
- Billet 7075 aluminum alloy triple clamps (custom)
- JB Power Billet Rearsets
Brakes
- Brembo front and rear billet calipers
- Brembo rotors (320mm)
- Custom rear brake hanger and tie rod
- Brembo RCS front radial brake master with RCS levers
- Spiegler braided brake lines
Wheels and Tires
- Dymag CA5 carbon fiber wheels (5.5 rear / 3.5 front x 17) with Avon Spirit ST tires (180/120)
Electronics
- Modern GSXR1000 switch gear
- New wiring harness
- KOSO RX-2 Gauge
- KOSO signals
- JW Speaker Headlight
- Ignitech Ignition with Dyna 2.2 Ohm coils
Engine
- 67.5mm (1147cc) JE Pistons
- Webcams 118 grind camshafts
- Ray Mancini (Xtreme Motorsports) flowed head
- Carrillo Rods
- Vince & Hyde Racing (New Zealand) cam chains, cam chain guides and manual tensioners
- JB Power FCR flat slide carbs
- JB Power oil cooler
- JB Power hand bent titanium 6-1 exhaust
Follow the Builder
Web: www.darrenbeggcustoms.com
Facebook: @dBCustomRestoMods
Instagram: @dbcustoms_restomods
All photos by Darren Begg.
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This is spectacular and well-integrated! Shame we don’t have a power output stated. I’d love to see all the old parts that were removed laid out, removing over 100 lbs is impressive, but even more impressive is imagining the CBX being under 500 lbs, wet. Wow.
Beautiful job, Darren.
Thought you might dig this one, Roland!
Hello, how can one will be able to get a bike like it?, and how much will it cost?.to ship it to Hampton, Va……
Just awesome fantastic build, could look at these pictures all-day and never get bored. You have to show it running!