DAILY INSPIRATION: Alexander Herold's 1979 Honda CX500 "Samantha"

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Every once in a while I get e-mails from people who have been inspired by the CX500 I built to pick up their own. I think most of us have that one influence in our lives that sparked us to get on two wheels so it's always a great feeling to be that influence to someone else. A guy named Alex from Berlin sent me one of those e-mails back in early May. I congratulated him, passed on a few learnings I've had acquired over the years of ownership and wished him good luck with the build. Well I just received another e-mail from Alex exclaiming that he's finished his bike. This 1979 CX500 is the first bike he's dabbled with. It borrows much of it's visuals from the CX500 I built but what's interesting to me is where it differs. I always try to encourage people to put their own touches into their machines. Imitation is flattering but in the end you'll feel much more accomplished in knowing that the bike is original to you and your vision. Alex's chosen points of differentiation are very well done and his execution is up there with what I've seen from well seasoned wrenchers. Alex is now hooked and already has his eye on the next build, a Moto-Guzzi LeMans III for a friend of his. I'm excited to see where it goes!
Read on for a list of Alex's own personal touches.

Samantha
1979 Honda CX500



"Because of German laws for vehicles I needed to put blinkers and a speedo on the bike.
I've chosen simple mini blinkers and a 60mm retro speedo with all LED control lights.
Head and Taillight also needed to be certified. The headlight is a new H4 reflector in an old fully matte black housing and the taillight is a modern 9 LED tail and brake light in classic bates design. My Tires of choice are the Firestone Champion Deluxe. I shaped the fenders to be more in line with the tires. The front fender is the original CX fender. I just removed the round edge and shortened it on both sides to have it in line with the disc brakes and headlight in front and the lower edge of the water cooler in rear. It's a pity that we can't have this open look of the wheel here in Europe."
 


 "The rear fender is a universal fender I found online in nearly the same shape like the front one. I decided to make a higher seat and in brown to match the grips. For the stitching I worked together with Berlin fashion designer Karen Jessen from Benu Berlin who then made the leatherwork. I found a local shop who can laser all materials and they lasered my logo into the rear leather piece of the seat. For the stitching we've chosen sewing cotton in the same color like the exhaust wrap. I made a much shorter and a little curved and open ending for the exhaust out of an old exhaust pipe from my car. The fuel cap and fuse box I kept in black. My color of choice is a 1977 Porsche paint called Oak Green Metallic. I think to keep the side panels is important for the line of the bike so I kept them but decided to paint the lower parts in matte black to make them visually smaller. The green is so bright and it was just to much in full green. I've done nothing to the frame to keep the used and naturally aged look of it in contrast to the highly polished new metallic paint. Another regulation in germany is about the size of the numberplate. It must be lightened so I made a bracket on the left side of the rear wheel. We need to have a rear view mirror on the left side so I kept the standard CX mirror."


GEAR: Deus Perforated Riding Gloves

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Perforated Leather Riding Gloves
$155.00

"There is no doubting the quality, premium materials and attention to detail that kept us coming back to Harold's Gear. A staple for any rider, the gloves have been part of our go-to gear for as long as we can remember.
The unfortunate discontinuation of Harold's Gear gloves marks both the end of an era and a new beginning to the tradition of quality Japanese riding gear.
We are honoured to announce our continuation of the Harold's Gear legacy, working directly with the Japan factory to re-release three of the Harold's Gear favourites under the Deus marque.
Re-introducing the Gripping, Perforated Driver and Belted gloves. All three styles offered in two colours, handcrafted in Japan from 100% Napa cowhide leather."




DAILY INSPIRATION: 1982 Honda CM450 by Wrench Tech Racing

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I had the pleasure of meeting these guys and their show stealing CM450 at this year's Chicago Mods vs. Rockers event. It pleased me even more to find out they're also located here in the city. The Wrench Tech duo walked away with the Best Modern Japanese award, which may have been due to the amount of upgraded parts borrowed from modern day sport bikes. This bike is mean, outfitted, and stunningly well proportioned. It was hands down my favorite bike at the show and I can't wait to see more rolling out of this shop.
1982 Honda CM450







Owner: Andrew Krumtinger & Lou Dalgaard
Year/Make/Model: 1982 Honda CM450

Fabrication: Wrench Tech Racing
Assembly: Wrench Tech Racing
Build time: 5 Months
Engine: Stock CM450
Carburetion: Rejetted Stock Carbs
Exhaust: Custom stainless high pipes into a custom aluminum muffler
Forks: Honda CBR929
Rear Shock: R1 shock with CBR1000 spring
Front wheel: Honda CBR929
Rear wheel: Suzuki GS500F
Front Tire: Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S20 120/70ZR17
Rear Tire: Bridgestone BT003 140/70ZR17
Front Brake: Honda CBR929
Rear Brake: Suzuki GS500F
Fuel Tank: Honda CB360
Headlight: Custom LED light housed inside a vintage tractor light housing
Hand Controls: Honda CBR929
Handgrips: Granturismo GT
Foot Controls: Suzuki GS500F
Footpegs: Speed Dealer Customs  Yamaha XS650 Foot Pegs
Painter: Wrench Tech Racing
Upholstery: Jessie Milton
Powder coat: In-house








THE CIRCLE TOUR: Part 1 - The Accidental Museum

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- 2 weeks ago we made a 913 mile trip around Lake Michigan, known as the Circle Tour. These are our trip logs. -


Part 1: The Accidental Museum
 Leg: Milwaukee to Manitowoc
Route: WI-42

We had only just pushed off from Milwaukee a couple hours prior. We were still within the break in period, rustling to find our comfort zone between the tank and a week's worth of gear that was strapped to the tail of our bikes. I shifted and pushed in small increments to explore the boundary between comfort and Wisconsin's most disorganized yard sale. I hadn't found either yet. We buzzed past a break in the corn fields. My eye caught a glimpse of what appeared to be a bright blue restored Indian parked out front of a garage. The window read "Sorry, We're Closed." An off duty parking lot to stretch the legs without being bothered and a bit of eye candy to sweeten the deal. We pulled back around. Not a second after Kara killed the SR the garage door went up.

It's interesting how your surroundings can completely rewire your thought process over the years without you even noticing. Little by little, under the radar, it shaves and sculpts the way you function mentally. 5 years of brash Chicago meant as soon as that garage door cracked I was prepared to deal with a barrage of rhetorical questions phrased in a similar fashion to "Can't you read the sign?" Instead we were greeted with an experience that would embody all the interactions we would have with complete strangers over the next 8 days. It would also help me to ease my mind and reprogram. It turns out hundreds of miles of corn fields are the playground for metacognitive thought.

On the other side of the door was Daryl Wettenkamp. He runs an automotive glass repair shop in Manitowoc, WI. Daryl also collects mechanical things from the early 1900's and restores them. This includes cars, motorcycles, industrial machinery, pianos, signage, and parts and pieces of mechanical items with mysterious functions of a past life undefined. Daryl can also talk for an hour straight from one breath while exuding more passion then I even thought possible in human beings. He lives and works in the 2 story barn he converted into an auto repair shop and home. Daryl was the first and brightest milestone in our trip... and all we wanted to do was stretch our legs.










Stay tuned for more trip logs to be released over the coming week.

ABOUT

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This blog serves as a tack board of personal project updates, 
as well as everything that inspires me in the overlap of good design and custom wrenching.
My name is David Mucci. I'm a professional Industrial Designer based in Chicago, IL
with a passion for hand crafted items and custom vintage machines.

I do my best to respond to everyone, but please read the following FAQ before firing off an e-mail.

FAQ


How did you make / Where did you buy the seat on the CX500?

Do not be fooled by the seats that look similar to the one on the Moto-Mucci CX500 that pop up on eBay. There are NO long flat bolt on seats that you will be able to buy for a CX500. This is because the frame does not allow it. The CX500 frame kinks in many directions and has a large vertical looping support member. In order to get a long flat seat on a CX500 the seat portion of the frame must be chopped down and modified. You will then need to make a seat pan that matches your modifications and have it upholstered. I'd recommend sending the pan to a professional upholsterer for the best results. Us wrench turners aren't typically skilled with a needle and thread. 

I've never touched a wrench but have been inspired by your flustering charm and stunning good looks to start wrenching on bikes of my own. Do you have any advice?

 Yes,
1. Spend the money on a good repair manual (not a Haynes). Clymers and manufacturer manuals are the best.
2. Follow torque specifications in the repair manual you just bought. You'd be surprised how loosely some bolts need to be torqued. Over tightening leads to a world of immediate and future headaches.
3. Buy a common bike. If you're just starting out you don't need the added headache of not being able to find parts and having no one to talk to about it... which brings me to
4. Join a forum for your bike. The biggest one you can find. You're likely into vintage bikes which means there are guys out there who have been working on your bike since it rolled off the lot 40 years ago. They've acquired more knowledge then you can fathom and are usually willing to share it. Use them. They are a resource.
5. Never modify anything without fully understanding how it functions and, most importantly, it's relationship with everything it comes in contact with. The more you mechanically understand the more you can modify.
6. Likely the most important lesson - Use the right tool. These machines were engineered to be put together and to come apart in specific ways. Figure out how via your manual, parts diagrams or through the forum before trying to force something.

You can reach me at contact@motomucci.com