Photo: AJ Moller Photography via Ellaspede
Many iconic motorcycles gain their status due to outstanding performance or great looks, but others are admired for completely different reasons. For instance, the unassuming Honda CT110 is something of a star down under, where it is affectionately known as the “Postie” bike. Loved for its dependable nature and simplicity, the model had been a part of Australia Post’s short-distance delivery fleet up until 2011.
It was around this time that Guy came into possession of one such machine, motivated by its plain, no-frills construction and low maintenance requirements. What’s more, he’d garnered a deep appreciation for the humble CT110 over the years, recognizing its potential as a reliable workhorse that’ll get the job done without so much as a complaint.
After owning the little commuter in stock form for just over a decade and riding the living hell out of it, Guy began flirting with the idea of a custom makeover. On his search for a workshop that could pull it off, he came across Ellaspede and was immediately stoked with their past projects. The lads were more than happy to take the commission, so the CT110 quickly found its way to their headquarters in Brisbane, Queensland.
Nowadays, the creature looks nothing like its former self, and the biggest structural changes took place in the center. First things first, Ellaspede’s artisans performed some intricate surgery on the bike’s step-through frame, so as to create the illusion of a straight backbone and give it entirely new look. This reworked aesthetic is further enforced by a Honda CG125’s fuel tank, as well as a tailor-made saddle that’s been put together in-house.
Up in the cockpit area, you will now find a chromed aftermarket handlebar outfitted with Vans x Cult grips, classy rear-view mirrors, and OEM controls. The standard dial and unmistakable CT110 headlight housing are still in play, but the clunky turn signals have been replaced with much smaller LED substitutes from Motogadget. A compact fender finishes off the modifications at the front.
Down south, the Aussies installed a Koso LED taillight and an off-the-shelf license plate bracket, with the latter hailing from their proprietary catalog of bolt-on parts. Since Guy is a self-confessed sucker for monochromatic finishes, it was decided that a plain black-and-white color scheme was the way to go here. The CG125 gas tank and factory headlight bucket were both painted white, while black powder coating predominates elsewhere.
With the paint job taken care of, the build was thought to be complete and thus handed back to the owner. However, it wasn’t long before the CT110 came back to Ellaspede’s shop for another round of customization, as its gearbox lost the will to live and required a full rebuild. Thus, the team’s crosshairs were aimed straight at the mechanical side of things this time around.
After beefing up its clutch and four-speed transmission, they also fitted the engine with a 125cc kit to unlock some additional grunt. Moreover, the mill received a fresh Mikuni carburetor topped with an aftermarket pod filter, and the original exhaust system got swapped with bespoke pipework made of stainless-steel. The finishing touches consisted of sturdier sprockets and a youthful drive chain.
Now boasting enhanced performance and a startling appearance, this restyled CT110 continues to serve as Guy’s daily rider for commutes around Brisbane’s bustling streets. We doubt he’ll be letting go of it anytime soon, because the motorcycle’s custom charm is sure to make up for its modest power output digits twice over!
After owning the little commuter in stock form for just over a decade and riding the living hell out of it, Guy began flirting with the idea of a custom makeover. On his search for a workshop that could pull it off, he came across Ellaspede and was immediately stoked with their past projects. The lads were more than happy to take the commission, so the CT110 quickly found its way to their headquarters in Brisbane, Queensland.
Nowadays, the creature looks nothing like its former self, and the biggest structural changes took place in the center. First things first, Ellaspede’s artisans performed some intricate surgery on the bike’s step-through frame, so as to create the illusion of a straight backbone and give it entirely new look. This reworked aesthetic is further enforced by a Honda CG125’s fuel tank, as well as a tailor-made saddle that’s been put together in-house.
Up in the cockpit area, you will now find a chromed aftermarket handlebar outfitted with Vans x Cult grips, classy rear-view mirrors, and OEM controls. The standard dial and unmistakable CT110 headlight housing are still in play, but the clunky turn signals have been replaced with much smaller LED substitutes from Motogadget. A compact fender finishes off the modifications at the front.
Down south, the Aussies installed a Koso LED taillight and an off-the-shelf license plate bracket, with the latter hailing from their proprietary catalog of bolt-on parts. Since Guy is a self-confessed sucker for monochromatic finishes, it was decided that a plain black-and-white color scheme was the way to go here. The CG125 gas tank and factory headlight bucket were both painted white, while black powder coating predominates elsewhere.
With the paint job taken care of, the build was thought to be complete and thus handed back to the owner. However, it wasn’t long before the CT110 came back to Ellaspede’s shop for another round of customization, as its gearbox lost the will to live and required a full rebuild. Thus, the team’s crosshairs were aimed straight at the mechanical side of things this time around.
After beefing up its clutch and four-speed transmission, they also fitted the engine with a 125cc kit to unlock some additional grunt. Moreover, the mill received a fresh Mikuni carburetor topped with an aftermarket pod filter, and the original exhaust system got swapped with bespoke pipework made of stainless-steel. The finishing touches consisted of sturdier sprockets and a youthful drive chain.
Now boasting enhanced performance and a startling appearance, this restyled CT110 continues to serve as Guy’s daily rider for commutes around Brisbane’s bustling streets. We doubt he’ll be letting go of it anytime soon, because the motorcycle’s custom charm is sure to make up for its modest power output digits twice over!
Google News