The Conductress Is a Stylish Honda CG125 Scrambler Adorned With Copper

While taking the engine apart with his uncle, young Tim came across the nightmare scenario of a bent connecting rod, which put an end to his relationship with the little Suzuki. Despite this, the lad’s motorcycling craze only continued to grow, eventually turning into his full-time occupation many years later. And here we are today, preparing to admire one of the many incredible ventures he’d embarked on over time.

Even though this project started with an unassuming Honda CG125 as the donor, the result of Foundry’s transformation is nothing short of jaw-dropping. The commission came from UK-based boutique helmet brand Hedon, whose products are known and extensively praised for their premium quality. Back in 2016, Hedon’s co-founders Reginald Flint and Lindsay Chong sought to acquire a bespoke show bike of sorts.

It had to embody the exquisite feel of their helmets, and Tim Simpson was picked as the perfect guy for the job. Hedon wanted something elegantly raw, but a more specific and rather unusual request was also put forward. To be exact, the machine would have to make extensive use of copper, with heavy emphasis placed on its fuel tank in particular.

The reason behind this is the mesmerizing patina effect created by copper as it ages, something that can never be achieved with regular paint. However, this material would be thoroughly unsuitable for bodywork fabrication, so the frontman at Foundry had to get creative here. Inspired by the same metal’s conductive properties, he dubbed this custom head-turner The Conductress.

With the 1981-model CG125 taken apart, the first step of Tim’s makeover didn’t actually involve any copper. Instead, it was all about cleaning, tweaking, and powder-coating the frame, which was really showing its age by that point. The subframe got shortened and looped, subsequently gaining a discreet aftermarket taillight beneath its southernmost tip. Next up, there was the bike’s suspension to be taken care of.

Replacement telescopic forks with rubber gaiters made their way onto its front end, while the OEM shocks were swapped with progressive substitutes. Once the suspension-related work was out of the way, Tim got started on what would become the defining feature of this entire build – the copper. He retained and repaired the stock fuel tank, then it came time for some copper leaf to join the party.

The stuff is now present all over the tank, creating a raw, yet gorgeous visual effect we can’t seem to get enough of. Right behind this whole affair, Sir Simpson placed a handmade seat pan made of stainless-steel, topping it off with a stunning brown leather saddle. The upholstery is a direct – albeit subtle – nod to Hedon’s classy lids, and Foundry stashed a bespoke electronics tray beneath the supporting seat pan.

For his next port of call, Tim set his sights on the CG125’s footgear. He got rid of the factory rims, replacing them with fresh alternatives that measure 18 inches at the front and 17 inches at the other end. Dual-purpose rubber enables The Conductress to feel at home both on and off the tarmac, but a refurbishment of the drum brakes was also needed before the project’s author could move on.

They have therefore been treated to new shoes and bearings, along with fresh brake lines all-round. As the motorcycle’s posture had changed radically since the overhaul began, it spawned the need for a suitably-sized custom side stand. Oh, and of course, the unsightly full drive chain encasement once present on the CG125 is now a thing of the past.

Foundry went to town in the powertrain sector, too, first by taking the single-cylinder engine apart and getting it rebuilt wherever needed. The carburetor has been overhauled and rejetted, before getting topped with a tailor-made velocity stack. What’s more, The Conductress flaunts a free-flowing, high-mounted exhaust system, which was built from scratch using stainless-steel.

With the teeny thumper all freshened up, Tim turned his attention to its bearer’s front end. A Bates-style headlamp is the only lighting component you’ll spot there, and its housing wears copper leaf plating just like the fuel tank. In addition, simplicity is the name of the game up in the cockpit area.

There’s an aftermarket handlebar mounted on custom risers, which do double duty as a helmet lock and are fronted by a single analog dial. At each tip of the handlebar lies a fancy brown leather grip, with discreet switches fitted in close proximity. For the final touch, The Conductress received an offset license plate bracket that sits on the left-hand side.