Last year, Honda entered the much-hyped scrambler segment with the CL500. The motorcycle made headlines in no time and gathered attention from all sorts of enthusiasts. Part of this club was the Thai custom shop K-Speed, which already has a plethora of builds based on Honda’s 500cc lineup. So a custom CL500 was definite, and the shop finally delivered on the expectations with this beastly off-roader–probably the first custom motorcycle based on Honda’s new CL.
Custom Honda CL500 “Cross Line” By K-Speed
In its stock self, the CL500 looks identical to the Rebel 500, with a similar round quad-LED headlight, wheels, and tank shape. But K-Speed has binned all that. Up top, you now get a motocross-inspired fender, complete with blacked-out fork tubes and a bigger headlight. The latter also has a square cage for added ruggedness. At the opposite end, the shop has slashed the subframe to make way for a custom fender that houses the puny LED tail lamp.
The shortened subframe also accommodates the leather saddle straight from the shop’s catalog. This, paired with the new handlebar and toothed pegs, should create an even more upright/relaxed posture. Once aboard, you’ll also notice the repositioned LCD instrument cluster, keyhole, custom grips, and swanky switchgear.
Diving deeper, the CL500 now rides on chunky, knobby tires instead of the OEM dual-purpose rubber. You also get custom shock absorbers at the rear (with increased travel), so no obstacle is big enough. And when you attack trails, the new chain guard and rugged bash plate will help keep the powerhouse safe.
Speaking of which, the motorcycle employs Honda’s popular 471cc, parallel-twin mill that produces 46 horsepower. But here, it is paired with an in-house free-flow exhaust system that not only looks super sexy but also bumps the output. Not to mention, this will be a lot lighter than the bulbous OEM exhaust too. The performance gain won’t be too elaborate, however, which is why the stock Nissin calipers and single disc brakes remain as it is.
Can You Buy The Custom CL500?
Yes, you can! K-Speed has priced the CL500 “Cross Line” at 350,000 Thai Baht (or $10,100). This is around $3,000 more than the CL500’s asking price in Britain, which seems rather justified given the tweaks here. There are two big problems for American customers, though. One, the CL500 is yet to hit US shores, so this will likely be illegal here, and second, the steep freight charges from Thailand to ‘Merica. But if you can find a way around these, it’s safe to say you’ll have an uber-unique Honda scrambler in possession. That is until Honda USA launches the CL500 here.