Super 6: Honda CBX1000 Cafe Racer

Honda CBX1000 Cafe Racer

Lys Motorcycles builds a carbon-clad CBX… 

The Honda CBX1000 remains one of our favorite Japanese motorcycles of all time. While the stock machine didn’t have the handling some expected from Honda’s first six-cylinder production bike, the GP-bred engine was simply a masterpiece: six 28mm Keihin carbs, 24 valves, and more than 100 horsepower on tap. It was directly descended from the shrieking 250cc Honda 6’s of the Mike Hailwood days, which reigned supreme in the 250cc and 350cc Gran Prix championships of the mid-1960s, stealing the thunder of Yamaha two-strokes and MV Agustas.

Honda CBX1000 Cafe Racer

Like the CB750 of a decade previous, the CBX put Honda at the cutting edge of two-wheeled development.

“The CBX weighed around 600 pounds wet, which meant it wasn’t a lightweight, but a serious motorcycle with tremendous performance and technical bravado from Honda’s golden years as the innovator of the motorcycle industry.”

Honda CBX1000 Cafe Racer

In 1981, Honda repositioned the CBX as a sport tourer, adding Pro-Link (monoshock) rear suspension, air-adjustable forks, a fairing, optional panniers, and other a slightly stronger frame. Given the bike’s heft and power, the changes made sense, but over the years, many riders, racers, and fabricators have longed for a sportier, more streamlined CBX.

Honda CBX1000 Cafe Racer

Enter our friend Dimitri from France’s Lys Motorcycles, whose Yamaha TR1 build we recently featured. Builders are often constrained by the budget, desires, and taste of a client…so it’s always liberating to build a bike just for themselves, with no one to answer to but themselves and the vision they have in their mind. For Dimitri, this is one of those builds, and we’re thrilled to unveil it today.

“This is a personal build.  I built it to take to different events, but due to the pandemic, this bike as never been featured in a show.”

Honda CBX Cafe Racer

The donor is a 1982 Honda CBX-C, which featured Pro-Link suspension and other sport touring improvements. However, little of the original CBX is left. Up front, it’s now running Ohlins forks from an Aprilia, complete with Brembo radial brakes and billet yokes with an integrated Motogadget speedometer.

Honda CBX1000 Cafe Racer

The swingarm is from a Ducati 1098, which required a ton of fabrication work to the rear suspension, and Dimitri designed and laser-cut the rearsets as he did with his recent TR1 build.

Honda CBX Cafe Racer

The homemade tail section and modified tank are covered in carbon fiber, and Dimitri’s friend “Didoo” laid down the gold leaf striping with two layers of clear on top.

Honda CBX Cafe Racer

Though the engine is mainly stock, it’s now running FCR33 racing carbs and a custom 6-into-1 exhaust from Irnox Motors.

Honda CBX Cafe Racer

Overall, this is one truly stunning CBX. We hope Dimitri gets to take it to the shows it deserves in 2022!

Modification List: In the Builder’s Words

Honda CBX Cafe Racer

  • Ohlins forks from an Aprilia.
  • Brembo radial brakes.
  • Billet top and bottom triple trees with integration of a Motogadget mini speedo.
  • Swingarm from a Ducati 1098.
  • Lot of fabrication work to the subframe and suspension linkages.
  • Rearsets designed by me, then laser cut.
  • Homemade rear cowl.
  • Gas tank modified with a Monza gas cap.
  • Cowl and gas tank are covered with real carbon fiber, four layers of resin.
  • My friend “Didoo” did the gold leaf decoration, then two layers of clear coat.
  • The engine is almost stock, new gaskets, valves shims, etc.
  • New paint.
  • The carbs are FCR33 racing carbs. The noise is really cool.
  • The 6-into-1 header and exhaust are custom-made by Irnox motors.
  • Electronic is new, custom harness, lithium battery, M-unit, M lock, Motogadget switches.
  • The seat is made by AdC Sellerie and hides the M lock.

Follow the Builder

Website: www.lysmotorcycles.com
Instagram: @lysmotorcycles
Facebook: Lys Motorcycles

Photos by ecrismoideslueurs.com | @ecrismoideslueurs

7 Comments

  1. michael h streuly

    Why does a street bike have slicks on.

  2. I wish you would post a sound byte of all these bikes.

  3. I restored 2 CBX’s. An 81 and 82. The 81 I did naked, as yours. Wish i could send a pic.

  4. Hey guys I was 14 years old in 1979 I went and bought a new candy apple red Honda CBX loved it took my savings cost me $3,000 plus $100 crash bar I wasn’t old enough to drive it but I was. Big enough to ride it I had the fastest bike in town for awhile sure miss it.

    • Wow, crazy acquisition for a minor during those times! How long did you have it?

      Concerning this CBX, definitely a cool build, the bodywork and paint are stunning, but again, what’s up with NO PICS OF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BIKE? C’MON!

  5. Silvio Mustich

    I have a Cbx 1000 six!
    I’d like to make it like yours!
    So how can I do ??
    I would ask you to help me!

  6. Pingback: Honda Cbx Cafe Racer: Sự Kết Hợp Hoàn Hảo Của Tốc Độ Và Phong Cách

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