Despite how new it is, the Honda CBX750 remains one of the most interesting models from the Japanese brand. At the time, it stood out for its modern DOHC four-cylinder engine and its sporty appearance. Its bodywork and jagged graphics were the essence of the 80s.
The CBX750 is not as successful in the custom scene as the CB750, which is why when a renowned workshop gives it a chance, it doesn’t go unnoticed. This Honda CBX750 by Ellaspede is well worth showcasing.
According to its owner, Leo Yip, many clients arrive with clear ideas about the design of their bikes, while others are more open to suggestions.
In this case, the client asked for a bike that Leo himself would want to own and ride, with the only condition being that it had twin square headlights like the originals. For any custom builder, an order like this is a dream.
Leo and his team started by looking for inspirations before getting to work. And the ideas didn’t take long to start taking shape.
From the very beginning, they knew they wanted to draw inspiration from the CBX’s 1980s contemporaries, and nothing was more striking than the Ferrari Testarossa. The horizontal lines and rounded surfaces of the Testarossa’s rear were essential, reflected in the taillights.
“We also knew we would be removing the front cowl and fairings, which would make the tank look out of place. We took the opportunity to add volume to the body lines by designing tank flares that would cover the exposed mounts and serve as a base for CNC-machined emblems.”
Continuing with this “muscle” effect, they designed CNC-machined two-into-one manifolds to showcase a pair of large exposed air filters. Additionally, since there were many electrical components to hide, they incorporated side covers with deep cavities to house the K&N filters.
Another idea that came up was to install a CBR1000R swingarm along with custom wheel covers to give the bike an “anime” look, but the concept never fully convinced them. Ultimately, Ellaspede opted for a Ducati 1198 swingarm and got their client to agree to add lightweight BST carbon fiber wheels to the project. The front end was completed with an Öhlins fork, originally intended for a BMW R nineT, obtained from the leftover stock of the Australian importer, thus completing the rolling chassis.
With the design plan taking shape and the bike equipped with modern high-performance parts, Ellaspede finally received the CBX750.
Since they didn’t want to install a worn engine in a project like this, especially after reducing so much weight with the carbon wheels, they removed the engine and sent it to Stuart Firth of Firth Racing, renowned for his work with high-performance engines.
The heaviest work began at the rear, where Ellaspede cut the original subframe and designed a new one that allowed the bike to be converted from a twin-shock to a monoshock setup.
The initial installation of the front end confirmed their calculations: the new fork could alter the steering geometry, affecting the rake and trail. With geometry issues at both ends, they measured and modeled a new steering neck that would allow the CBX750 to maintain the correct posture. Once manufactured, they cut out the original neck and welded in the replacement at the proper angle.
The team designed the entire rear piece, including the taillight, using CAD software before 3D-printing a prototype. After several adjustments between the printer and the bike, the design was refined and sent to a third party to machine the necessary parts from aluminum and polycarbonate. Similar techniques were used to create the fuel tank details.
Once they had the rebuilt engine, Ellaspede again used digital modeling and 3D printing to bring their air intake concept to life. After several trials, the airflow worked efficiently, and the prototypes could be sent to be machined in aluminum. Following the style of 1980s Hondas, a four-into-one Yoshimura exhaust system was added.
Next, the bike was fully wired with a complete set of Motogadget products, including the mo.unit controller, a digital dash, buttons with color-coded LEDs, mirrors, and bar-end turn signals. To keep everything as tidy as possible, the team cut a section out of the underside of the fuel tank to house the battery.
The last major item on the list was the headlight. The client had indicated it was his only requirement, so Ellaspede made sure to get it right. They considered keeping the iconic original headlights, something other similar projects had achieved to great effect.
However, with all the modern parts added, they wanted to put their own twist on the design, combining the classic style with high-performance components. The custom headlight housing was partially inspired by the Viewmaster, a toy predating the 1980s but very popular during that decade. They also took the opportunity to incorporate an “X” motif and upgrade the light source to LEDs.
Ellaspede has a special talent for creating striking finishes, and the CBX750 is one of the best projects they have delivered so far. The design combines several concepts presented to the client, with contrasting black and white sections accented by bright red details.
