One-Off Honda CB500 Is Unusual in More Than One Way, But Also Quite Mesmerizing

Arpi doesn’t have a problem with throwing conventionality out the window at times, and that’s an integral part of what Mokka Cycles’ philosophy is all about. Now, Hungary doesn’t exactly have a bustling motorcycle customization scene, but it does have Sir Bozi and that’s nothing to sneeze at! For the most part, he specializes in old-school Japanese machines with a large emphasis on Yamaha and Honda.

It was the latter marque that provided a basis for the project we’ll be looking at today, more specifically a 1994-model CB500. Displayed at the Bike Shed MotoShow of London back in 2018, the finished build is one hell of a sight to behold, due in no small part to its unusual fuel tank and incredibly clean aesthetic. Street tracker styling cues are the name of the game here, but they’re far from what you’d normally see on such builds.

With the Honda CB500 delivered to his garage in Budapest, he promptly took it apart and ditched all the factory bodywork in the process. Items like the OEM subframe, shock absorbers, and exhaust system followed suit, leaving Arpi with a blank canvas ready to be customized however he saw fit. First things first, he busied himself with fabricating the surreal gas tank.

This would become the centerpiece of his makeover and getting its shape just right was no easy feat, but he did nail it in the end. Clearly, the stand-out feature of this low-profile tank is a large cavity carved out at the bottom, so as to make room for some premium aftermarket air filters. A flush-mounted aluminum filler cap adorns the gas tank up top, with a design similar to that of sport bike items.

A gorgeous layer of teal blue paint covers the tank from front to back, along with small Mokka logos done in black. Interestingly enough, inspiration for the base color came from the Fiat Ducato delivery vans used by France Express. That’s a very unusual livery to be inspired by, but it does suit Arpi’s CB tracker like a charm.

When it came to the powertrain-related mods, the project’s author chose not to fiddle with the parallel-twin engine’s internal workings. He refurbished and rejetted the carbs before installing the aforementioned pod filters, while taking quite a bit more time on the exhaust. A neat set of stainless-steel pipes were fashioned as a two-into-one configuration with the TIG welder.

They terminate in a reverse megaphone silencer on the right-hand side, close to the lower shock mount. Rear-end suspension duties are now managed by adjustable YSS shock absorbers, which connect to a custom looped subframe up top. A small license plate holder is attached to the bent tubing at the back, and a pair of dual-function LED can be seen on the flanks a bit further ahead.

Atop the rear framework lies a generously padded seat upholstered in black Alcantara, with a lithium-ion battery living in a handmade tray underneath. The entire setup out back looks incredibly tidy, and the battery along with all the other electronics are hooked up to a simplified wiring harness. Mokka’s stylish minimalism is in full swing at the front end, as well.

In the cockpit, there is a Renthal handlebar outfitted with the shop’s proprietary switchgear, while a single aftermarket dial is recessed into the frame a bit further back. The motorcycle carries a boxy, laser-cut headlight nacelle up north, surrounding a bright LED headlamp of aftermarket origin. For the final touches, Arpi added blue coolant hoses and a bespoke radiator cover built in the same manner as the headlight housing.

We still find the stock wheels down in the unsprung sector, but they’re now enveloped in K73 Super Rain tires from Heidenau’s range. Items like the frame, swingarm, and some engine covers have been powder-coated black, as were the fork lowers and handlebar. Lastly, the front-end blinkers got attached to the frame tubing for an ultra-clean look, keeping the bike road-legal without cluttering its appearance.

Given the small-capacity fuel tank and complete lack of any fenders, this restyled CB500 from Mokka Cycles isn’t the most practical thing out there. Nonetheless, it manages to look absolutely superb from every angle, and there’s not a single part that seems even remotely out of place. We’re suckers for neo-retro vibes and minimalistic designs, so it should go without saying that we love Arpi Bozi’s CB500 to bits!