Often overlooked on a CX mod is the tilted back tank. Second time round I had a little psychedelic help and it took shape in one session with an almost superbike inspired set of lines. Then I fucked it up, threw it out, and started again. Mounting a block of foam on the freshly bent and welded tubes, I set out cutting and sanding the cowl into shape. The sharp flowing cuts on the sub frame needed to be complimented by an equally definitive tail piece. The open ended tubes house the tail lights and support the hand laid carbon fibre tail cowl that floats above it. It took a few tries with my tube bender but turned out just as I set out to make it. The idea I landed on was a twin aluminium tube design that swept up similar to the exhaust design. The CX500 doesn’t speak to me for a classically styled bike, I wanted to re-think the way the tail was made so I set out specifically to not hoop the rear. With the wheels and tyres on and the front suspension level set, I cut the rear sub-frame from the backbone and behind the foot pegs removing it to make way for the monoshock conversion. After the wheels, I designed a custom triple clamp up that lowered the front suspension about 50mm. Rear is a 17’ x 4.5, Front 18 x 2.25 wrapped in Pirelli Angel GT tyres. The Honda was treated to some custom spoke rings on the stock comstar hub and laced to a set of Excel Alloy rims with Stainless steel spokes. Having this fitted to the stock CX500C spurred my next idea smaller, lighter wheels. A clean 2 into 1 header with a 2 up slash cut muffler on the end. The Concept stemmed from an exhaust design I had, I modeled the exhaust in my CAD program and had it fabricated. Modifications couldn’t stop at aesthetics, this thing needed to perform. I wanted it to be sharp, unashamedly modern, and a hot rod at heart. This build had to be mine, and like nothing else. Everyone has built one, but I didn’t want to take any cues from others. The CX is one of the most saturated donor bikes in the custom world today. He was also very open to my ideas which gave me the confidence to get really creative. I’d seen his previous bikes and he was no stranger to a more left of center bike. Michael wanted a custom like nothing else. The end result shows a drastically lightened motorcycle pushing an impressive boost in horsepower, all whilst showing off a blisteringly unique aesthetic. Kicking off in late 2016, and reaching completion in April 2018, the CX500 received a complete nut and bolt rebuild on top of a huge list of one off custom modifications. The CX500 just released out of the Purpose Built Moto Garage has been my longest running project yet. And I’m stoked to share with you the first in a hopefully long line of projects, the Purpose Built Moto CX500. The signature series will represent a motorcycle where I’ve had all but creative control over the finished product and been given license to test new ideas. Purpose Built Moto is a vehicle for progress and with every fresh set of wheels to hit the road, a lesson learned. That said, when you see the Purpose Built Moto signature on one of our builds, this marks a motorcycle that speaks to my ideas and skill set being pushed to the extent of my ability at the time. Purpose Built Moto has gotten to where it is because of taking pride in everything we do, not just the high budget builds. The small in-and-out seat hoop and lighting upgrades produce just as much enjoyment as the mammoth undertakings that get seen the world over. I aim to look after everyone in what I do regardless of budget and ideas, because everyone deserves to have a custom bike to call their own. Some bike’s- all of which I’m proud to put my name to- are restricted in terms of time, budget and owner input. As the idea of Purpose Built Moto has taken shape, there is an increasing difference in the amount of custom work and creativity put into our projects. The idea behind this stemmed from a need to differentiate between the customs that roll out of my garage. This CX500 marks the first in the Purpose Built Moto Signature series.
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