Jaw-Dropping Honda CBF600 Cafe Racer Looks Like a Million Bucks, Rides Just as Well

The startling cafe racer pictured above offers a nice glimpse at what this Greek trio is all about, and it attained its current form in 2021. Built for a friend and professional photographer named Vasilis, the project is still worth talking about two years after its completion, so let’s dive in for a closer look. As a starting point, Custommade used a Honda CBF600 from the model-year 2004.

Although the donor’s overall condition left a lot to be desired, its 76-hp, 599cc inline-four powerplant was in great shape. Aiming to create a retro-looking cafe racer with upgraded suspension and brakes, the guys dug straight in. They took the CBF600 apart and deleted much of its stock componentry, including each and every last piece of factory bodywork.

A Triumph Bonneville replica fuel tank was then bought on eBay, modified to fit the CBF, and ultimately secured in place via bespoke mounting hardware. Further back, we come across a looped subframe fabricated from scratch, supporting a two-up saddle wrapped in a mixture of standard black leather and suede. Bright LED lighting is seamlessly recessed into the subframe’s rearmost portion, and the seat hump gives the impression of a cafe-style tail section.

Rear-end suspension duties are now assigned to a high-grade aftermarket shock absorber from Hyperpro, but things get even spicier at the front. There you’ll find the inverted Showa forks and triple clamps of a Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R, which was kind enough to donate its brake master cylinder and radial calipers, as well. Custommade added a new front fender in between the forks, securing it in place by means of tailor-made brackets.

Peek a bit higher up, and you’ll notice an aftermarket LED headlight keeping the way ahead nice and lit, while the turn signals are integrated into the lower triple clamp. The cockpit area is home to clip-on handlebars, once again taken from the aforementioned Kawi and fitted with bar-end mirrors. Barracuda Moto grips are also present, and the motorcycle’s instrumentation consists of a single Acewell dial with multiple functions.

Interestingly enough, Chris and his accomplices decided to keep the original wheels instead of swapping them with laced alternatives. This may surprise you, but we reckon the stock footwear is actually a great match for the bike’s neo-retro aesthetic. On the other hand, the swingarm has been reinforced for good measure, and it now carries a custom-built license plate bracket outfitted with LED blinkers. The whole setup works miracles in keeping the rear end as tidy as possible.

Moving on to the CBF600’s powertrain, the four-banger's internal workings were left mostly undisturbed. Its carbs did get treated to a revitalizing overhaul and a rejet, though, subsequently receiving a quartet of individual aftermarket pod filters. At the opposite end of the combustion cycle, we come across a replacement stainless-steel exhaust system that ends in a short muffler on the right.

The machine’s electronics have all been connected to a fresh wiring harness, and there’s a small but potent lithium-ion battery stashed beneath the saddle. Rounding out the electrical upgrades is a keyless ignition module operated through a remote control. Custommade spared no effort of expense when it came to the paintwork, either, cloaking the fuel tank, front fender, and headlight housing in a deep red hue we can’t get enough of.

It features a smudged effect for additional eye candy, while most of the other goodies on this CBF cafe racer were either anodized or powder-coated black. The gold Showa forks add a bit of variety to the color palette otherwise composed of just two hues. With the paint job completed, the Greek bike-modding artisans were finally happy to step back and call it a day.

There are scores of tasteful touches making this whole thing come together cohesively, like the lower subframe tubes whose arch follows the wheel curvature. The honeycomb pattern stitching on the saddle is also pretty sweet, done in both red and grey for contrast. We’re exactly sure how Vasilis reacted upon seeing the end result, but we bet he must’ve been over the moon.

Custommade's specialists are obviously not playing around with this whole customization affair, and you’ll probably see them doing it full-time in the future. Whereas most workshops take some time to develop and evolve, these guys already seem to be true masters of their craft. We’ll be sure to keep a close eye on their work in the future, because it’s just too good to miss!