This head-turning 1982 Honda CBX 1000 was built by Norm Wilding for the 2019 Handbuilt Motorcycle Show - opens in new window or tab.. That’s the beloved bike show featuring cream-of-the-crop customs.
Motorcycles at the show, held every year in Austin, Tex., must meet the highest levels of hand-craftsmanship and ingenuity. Wilding’s sporty remake of an old Honda sport-tourer passes on both accounts.
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Who knew that a sultry sporting motorcycle was hiding under the dated Hondaline fairing and saddlebags of the stock 1982 CBX? Wilding, the founder of Mid Missouri Motorcycle Customs - opens in new window or tab., revealed its glory.
Custom Power
When stripped down, Honda’s 1047cc Inline six-cylinder engine takes center stage. With six cylinders, six carburetors, 24 valves, and two overhead camshafts, Honda’s CBX 1000 SuperSport engine registers around 100 horsepower at the crank.
This bike for sale on eBay features a custom-built stainless steel exhaust and top-of-the-line CR carburetors imported from Japan. Those components give the motorcycle more oomph than ever before, especially considering it weighs about 100 pounds less than the original.
Wilding also boosted handling by swapping out the suspension from 1982 for components from a 2018 superbike. The addition of a 2018 Honda CBR1000RR SP fork and Unit Pro-Link swingarm is better suited to a big inline-six.
- Damping duties are entrusted to Ohlins, one of the best in the business - opens in new window or tab.
- Brembo superbike brakes - opens in new window or tab. provide the stopping power
- The wheels - opens in new window or tab. are from a Honda CBR1000RR SP
Neat and Tidy
Eliminating all the bike’s bulky bodywork and side covers leaves the motorcycle’s nifty three-tube, backbone truss frame exposed. The 1982 Honda CBX 1000’s engine serves as a stressed frame member. Wilding left that section alone. But he built a new subframe for the custom seat and tail section.
The battery and some electricals are hidden inside the tail and under the tank. Wilding did a bang-up job of running almost everything out of sight. Tidiness is a big part of the custom Honda’s appeal.
Other examples of Wilding’s craftsmanship include the custom headlight bracket and motor mount. He also designed the rear-set foot pegs. Wilding use carbon fiber for the front fender and the small rear debris deflector in front of the Ohlins shock.
While the gas tank is stock, it sports new paint and fresh pinstripes—a nod to the sweet striping that was a big part of the OG CBX’s styling.
For Show and Go
The current owner says:
I’ve had a lot of custom CBX in the past, but nothing like this one. This thing runs and rides like a brand new bike. It’s amazing.
It’s a big deal that this 1982 Honda CBX 1000 qualified for the Handbuilt Motorcycle Show in 2019. More recently, it won honors in the Dania Beach Vintage Motorcycle Show - opens in new window or tab. in Florida, adding another notch on its belt of accomplishments.
Many motorcycle customizers create bikes mostly for show. But this custom 1982 Honda CBX 1000 is also built to go like mad.
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