We’re kicking off with a slick Honda CX650 from Bulgaria. Plus a GSX limited edition from Suzuki France, and a stunning Ducati 750 F1 Bol d’Or replica.
Honda CX650 by Tossa R Customs based on the Honda CX500 are two-a-penny, but we don’t see many using its CX650 big brother. That’s a shame, because the 673cc variant is a considerably sportier bike, with 25% more power and a much broader torque curve.
This elegant café racer from the Bulgarian workshop Tossa R amps up that sporting vibe, with upgraded suspension to match.
Shop boss Assen Zahariev deliberately avoided researching previous CX builds, preferring to start with a clean sheet. The major work includes a front end swap using Yamaha R6 forks, plus dual brake discs and floating calipers.
The exhaust system has been terminated just under the V-twin engine, lightening the visuals at the back. An airy subframe reveals the new rear monoshock, which sits just behind a pair of free-flowing air filters.
The new tail unit also introduces a clear line running from the back through the cylinder heads and header pipes, accentuating the hunched-forward stance. And to add visual balance, the rear wheel has been fitted with lightweight moon discs.
It’s a clever trick, and a very modern look for the CX650. If your appetite is whetted, contact Tossa R in Sofia for your own version—they are planning to build a series of these bikes. [Via]
Suzuki GSX-S950 R by AD Koncept The French arm of Suzuki has a track record of producing cool ‘specials.’ A few months ago, they released a kit for the GSX range to celebrate winning the Endurance World Championship. And at the recent French GP, they released a limited edition GSX-950.
We’re not sure what this bike is meant to commemorate, but it’s probably not Suzuki quitting the MotoGP championship at the end of this season.
There will be fifty ‘R’ examples of the GSX-S950 built, and the workshop behind the scheme is AD Koncept of Pons—a well-regarded carrosserier moto. AD Koncept have raided Suzuki’s parts bins and accessory catalogs, and made a few discreet further upgrades.
There’s an Akrapovič muffler, a new seat cowl, a radical headlight cluster, and new carbon fiber composite body panels. The whole shebang is finished off with a new black-and-gold paint job.
The cost for this work is entirely reasonable: a €1,550 ($1,670) premium over the price of the regular GSX-S950. We reckon these will be snapped up, and they’ll probably hold their value well in coming years. [Via]
Ducati 750 F1 Bol d’Or tribute We spotted this incredible endurance racer tribute a few days ago when it first popped up for sale. Not surprisingly, it’s sold already, with the price listed as $18,900.
The bike was built by South African Johann Keyser, who runs the Moto Motivo workshop in Raleigh, North Carolina. It started life as a 1993 Ducati 900 Supersport, which Johann upgraded with the engine and wheels from a 2005-spec 1000SS.
The tank was imported from Japan, and comes from a 1989 750 Sport. The seat unit, however, is an original Ducati 750 F1 seat. The beautifully integrated full fairing is a well-chosen aftermarket item, and the titanium exhaust was made by StradaFab.
Whoever bought this bike has got a great deal. It’s a superbly crafted build, without the lapses of taste you often see with replicas. And it’ll no doubt be enormous fun to ride.
We’re talking Panigale V2 money here, but even so, we’d struggle to choose between a new Ducati and this. [Via]
