The turnaround in the reputation of the Honda CX500 is quite remarkable. Despite its unsavory nicknames, the water-cooled V-twin is now in serious demand by customizers?three decades since production ended.
It?s not an easy bike to modify. The tank sits awkwardly on the frame, higher at the front than the back. And behind the engine, said frame bears more resemblance to a Victorian baby stroller than a motorcycle capable of doing the ton.

So we have great admiration for the handful of builders who can make a CX500 look good. And it?s a pleasure to induct a new builder into that esteemed company: Justin Holmes of PopBang Classics, a small custom shop on Australia?s Gold Coast.
Justin is a one-man show, specializing in pre-85 bikes of any make or model. ?I’m a mechanic and spray painter by trade,? he tells us, ?but worked in automotive engineering for over six years.”
?I’m all about keeping bikes simple, classic and classy. Get rid of the excess, and give bikes the lines they should have.?
His latest build is long and low, and a far cry from the 1981-spec donor CX500 Custom. ?It cost $500 as a completely dismantled basket case, engine and all,? says Justin. ?But it came with enough to spares to build the bike five times over.?
Justin?s client Dan had just two simple instructions: paint it green, and put the biggest tires possible on it.

Justin started by molding a Norton-shape fuel tank out of fiberglass?modifying the tunnel to fit the CX500 backbo...